Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to develop or adapt analyses, including methods and procedures, to meet workplace and/or regulatory requirements. New analyses, methods and associated procedures may be required to meet a customer's brief, analyse new products or raw materials, improve laboratory efficiency or meet changing regulatory requirements.
This unit applies to senior technical officers, laboratory supervisors and technical specialists working in all industry sectors. All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or workplace requirements. The work may involve developing new testing methods or adapting existing methods to satisfy a testing need.
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 | Determine gaps and deficiencies in present methods and procedures | 1.1 | Identify opportunities to improve analyses and procedures |
1.2 | Identify requirements for new analyses and procedures to meet testing briefs | ||
1.3 | Define the scope of analysis required by the improvement or new testing brief | ||
1.4 | Establish that existing workplace test methods/procedures do not meet requirements | ||
1.5 | Prepare development proposal | ||
1.6 | Confirm development requirements and development proposal with appropriate personnel | ||
1.7 | Obtain authorisation to proceed | ||
2 | Research and propose alternatives | 2.1 | Source relevant documented methods/procedures |
2.2 | Review relevant documented methods/procedures according to workplace procedures | ||
2.3 | Consult with relevant technical personnel regarding project development issues | ||
2.4 | Evaluate resource requirements for proposed methods/procedures | ||
2.5 | Ensure that methods/procedures meet work health and safety (WHS), environmental, regulatory and workplace requirements | ||
2.6 | Document development requirements, timelines and proposed methods/procedures | ||
2.7 | Obtain authorisation to proceed | ||
3 | Evaluate alternatives, develop analyses and recommend methods and procedures | 3.1 | Investigate possible alternative methods and procedures and choose appropriate method/procedure |
3.2 | Develop and/or adapt analytical method or test procedure to meet requirements | ||
3.3 | Trial method/procedure against test method/procedure requirements | ||
3.4 | Validate method/procedure | ||
3.5 | Maintain records to substantiate and justify chosen method/procedure | ||
4 | Document and report new methods and procedure | 4.1 | Prepare and/or update analytical method/procedure and associated standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
4.2 | Obtain final approval for new method/procedure | ||
4.3 | Withdraw, document and archive superseded method/procedure | ||
4.4 | Issue new method/procedure according to workplace procedures | ||
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Learning skills to applying theoretical concepts and practical principles to develop or adapt methods and procedures to meet requirements
Numeracy skills to apply method performance measures, such as accuracy, precision, uncertainty, linearity, selectivity, range, limit of detection and matrix characteristics.
Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.
Competency Field
Testing