Competencies for production machine shop are provided for the first of four topic areas: principles and practice of machine shop. Each competency appears in a one-page format. It is presented as a goal statement followed by one or more "indicator" statements, which are performance objectives describing an ability that, upon attainment, will establish competency for the stated goal. Indicator statements are further qualified by one or more "benchmark" statements or observable behaviors describing what the trainee will do to prove that he/she is demonstrating achievement of the performance objective. Benchmark statements are followed by an "assessment" statement, which describes how the observer determines that the benchmark is achieved and establishes the criteria for performance. The competencies for this topic are divided into 11 sections: machine shop occupations; safety; project design; machine tools; reading drawings and sketching objects; metric system of measurement; rules, gauges, calipers; metals; principles of measurement and inspection; hand tools and benchwork; and planning projects. (YLB)