Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Recognise complex problem
   • Identify a complex issue which needs to be addressed.
   • Undertake an initial investigation of the issue.
   • Determine initial areas of expertise and data which may be required to analyse the problem.
   • Develop an initial definition of the problem.
2. Develop problem-solving methodology
   • Draft a problem-solving methodology.
   • Develop required approaches and protocols for obtaining required data and information.
   • Establish group to assist with problem solving.
   • Allocate tasks, responsibilities and reporting arrangements to group.
   • Develop arrangements for consultation with required people outside of group.
3. Analyse problem
   • Apply methodology.
   • Obtain data/information.
   • Review problem definition.
   • Review methodology.
   • Obtain additional data/information as required.
4. Identify root cause
   • Map causal links for the problem.
   • Determine indicators of the problem or the problem precursors.
   • Identify causes which can be controlled/brought under control.
5. Develop a solution
   • Develop solutions for controllable causes.
   • Determine benefit/cost for proposed solutions.
   • Investigate proposed solutions for efficacy.
   • Select the best available solution.
   • Obtain necessary support and authorisations for proposed solution.
6. Check problem is solved and standardised
   • Monitor indicators of problem/problem precursor.
   • Review problem solution/implementation as required.
   • Ensure appropriate solution is standardised.

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.
Competitive systems and practices include one or more of:	lean operations agile operations preventative and predictive maintenance approaches statistical process control systems, including six sigma and three sigma Just in Time (JIT), kanban and other pull-related operations control systems supply, value, and demand chain monitoring and analysis 5S continuous improvement (kaizen) breakthrough improvement (kaizen blitz) cause/effect diagrams overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) takt time process mapping problem solving run charts standard procedures current reality tree.
Complex problem includes one or more of:	requires going into the value stream for data/information is wider than just applying to a single job applies to less common solutions or problems requires a higher level of knowledge and skill requires significant specialist knowledge requires significant specialist skill requires more theory/understanding of technology or process data is not easily available and may need particular strategies to obtain requires overcoming resistance from people, including employees, customers or suppliers requires extracting data not regularly reported from SCADA or similar systems the problem and/or proposed solutions require reporting or authorisations from a Board or external authorities, such as licensing or regulatory bodies.
Problem recognition includes one or more of:	an obvious and current complex problem an intractable problem which has been known about and ‘lived with’ for some time a complex problem which has not been previously recognised.
Group includes one or more of:	real (i.e. physical or face to face) nominal (i.e. never meets and may not know who each other is) or any combination in between.

---

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include the ability, for one (1) or more complex problems, to:

undertake complex problem identification

establish appropriate methodologies, including establishing team responsibilities, to achieve root cause identification

prioritise solutions

recommend solutions and implementation procedures within the organisation and the value stream

evaluate implementation of solutions

standardise solutions.

---

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates sufficient knowledge to interact with relevant personnel and be able to lead a problem-solving process, including knowledge of:

organisational goals, products and processes

sources of data (actual and possible) within the organisation and the value stream

understanding of the techniques and methodologies of formal problem solving

data required for problem solving and alternative/proxy data sources

benefit/cost analysis.

---