The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to apply controller principles to ensure safe practice, assist with systems development, component selection and maintenance and broadly evaluate electrical, electronic and controller features and functions.

This includes working individually and as part of a team and recognising and complying with normal control procedures on engineering projects.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently:

identify and apply WHS, regulatory and risk management procedures

review dangers and effects of electricity on humans

identify effects and dangers of electricity, automated systems and specialist requirements, such as licensing related to technical work

confirm personal functions and responsibilities and that of team and support functional group

review sustainability implications, functions and features of controllers and related devices, machines and systems

assess and apply basic electrical and electronic control principles, controller programming principles and techniques to simple machine control functions

ensure safe electrical working practice

ensure clear and logical process of analysis

report and document results.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both on and off the job. Where assessment occurs off the job then a simulated working environment must be used where the range of conditions reflects realistic workplace situations. The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package.

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge.

Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure correct interpretation and application.

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process.

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is not only able to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances.

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Required skills

Required skills include:

identifying parameters and context of tasks, WHS, regulatory requirements, risk management and organisational procedures

reviewing effects of electricity on humans, dangerous high currents and voltages and automated systems, regulatory requirements related to extra low, low and high voltage applications, and relating these to electrical and electronic applications in engineering

reviewing sustainability implications of functions and features of devices, machines, controllers, interfaces, signal conditioning and networks programming and interfacing of PLCs, including sequencing two or more actuations with start, stop and actuation motion confirmation signals

ensuring safe electrical working practice, including use of licensed personnel

describeing information flow and control as a flowchart

reporting and documenting results of investigation, evaluation and application, calculations, diagrams, programs and files

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

the effects of electricity on humans

electrical laws:

Ohm’s law

Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws

analogies with hydraulics, pressure drop and continuity

automated systems and mechatronic devices (Note: This unit does not include design or modification of interfacing with these devices)

common software requirements of control systems, including SCADA, distributed control systems (DCS) and programming

PLC and microcontroller basic programming functions

SCADA, including basic editing and programming techniques

documentation techniques, circuit diagrams, programs and applications

specifications for hardware applicable to controller techniques in engineering

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Controllers

Controllers may be:

PLCs

microcontrollers

DCS

SCADA

other systems and equipment, including proprietary equipment

Controller tasks

Controller tasks covered by this unit include, but are not limited to:

determining WHS, regulatory, risk management and automation safety requirements

programming and interfacing a PLC capable of sequencing two or more actuations with start, stop and actuation motion confirmation signals

developing a simple SCADA application capable of interacting with inputs and outputs of PLCs and/or microcontrollers

Automation safety

Automation safety refers to the reliance on emergency stop, failsafe design, redundancy, interlocks and data integrity

Appropriate licensed trade, technical and professional assistance

Appropriate licensed trade, technical and professional assistance may include:

availability of licensed electrical tradespersons for work covered by electrical licensing regulations

technical support and advice relating to elements which have intrinsic dangers, such as:

high pressure

energised fluid vessels

high temperatures and heat energy capacity

wiring with high current control voltages above extra low voltage

professional support for technologies may include:

specialist electric motor drives and controllers

specialist materials, plastics, metal alloys and nano materials

special processes, foundry, alloy welding, heat treatment, sealing and fastening

WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures

WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures may include:

WHS Acts and regulations

relevant standards

codes of practice from Australian and overseas engineering and technical associations and societies

risk assessments

registration requirements

safe work practices

state and territory regulatory requirements applying to electrical work

Sustainability

Sustainability is used to mean the entire sustainable performance of the organisation/plant, including:

meeting all regulatory requirements

conforming to all industry covenants, protocols and best practice guides

minimising ecological and environmental footprint of process, plant and product

maximising economic benefit of process plant and product to the organisation and the community

minimising the negative WHS impact on employees, community and customer

Standards and codes

Standards and codes refer to all relevant Australian and international standards and codes applicable to a particular task