Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the work or functional area and ensuring that quality system requirements are met and continuous improvements are initiated.
This unit applies to senior technical officers and laboratory supervisors working in all industry sectors. Quality audits and evaluations for the work area may be undertaken as an individual or as part of a team under broad direction from scientists/medical staff/engineers.
No licensing or certification requirements exist at the time of publication. However, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements for laboratory operations exist, so local requirements should be checked. Relevant legislation, industry standards and codes of practice within Australia must also be applied.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Develop and maintain quality framework within work area | 1.1 | Distribute and explain information about the workplace's quality system to personnel |
1.2 | Encourage personnel to participate in improvement processes and to assume responsibility for quality outputs | ||
1.3 | Allocate responsibilities for quality within work area in accordance with quality system | ||
1.4 | Provide coaching and mentoring to ensure that personnel are able to meet their responsibilities and quality requirements | ||
2 | Maintain quality documentation | 2.1 | Identify required quality documentation, including records of improvement plans and initiatives |
2.2 | Prepare and maintain quality documentation and keep accurate data records | ||
2.3 | Maintain document control system for work area | ||
2.4 | Contribute to the development and revision of quality manuals and work instructions for the work area | ||
2.5 | Develop and implement inspection and test plans for quality controlled products | ||
3 | Provide training in quality systems and improvement processes | 3.1 | Analyse roles, duties and current competency of relevant personnel |
3.2 | Identify training needs in relation to quality system and continuous improvement processes | ||
3.3 | Identify opportunities for skills development and/or training programs to meet needs | ||
3.4 | Initiate and monitor training and skills development programs | ||
3.5 | Maintain accurate training records | ||
4 | Optimise and report performance | 4.1 | Review performance outcomes to identify ways in which planning and operations could be improved |
4.2 | Enhance customer service through the use of quality improvement techniques and processes | ||
4.3 | Adjust plans and communicate these to personnel involved in their development and implementation | ||
5 | Evaluate relevant components of quality system | 5.1 | Undertake regular audits of components of the quality system that relate to the work area |
5.2 | Implement improvements in the quality system in accordance with own level of responsibility and workplace procedures | ||
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Oral communication skills to:
interact effectively with auditors, supervisors, managers and quality managers, laboratory and production staff, customers and suppliers
gain commitment of individuals and teams to apply quality principles and practices
encourage ideas and feedback from team members when developing and refining techniques and processes.
Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.
Competency Field
Quality