This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to provide operational expertise to a project team. It applies to discrete projects for new facility, expansion or other major works.

This unit of competency applies to senior technicians or those in similar roles who are required to apply in-depth knowledge of process and plant operations and problem solving in order to review project design for safety and operability considerations, provide advice on the operational requirements and implications of the project, and prepare operator training materials and operation procedures.

The provision of operations expertise to a project team provides a critical, practical link to the operational requirements of the planned works. Project teams usually comprise engineers with various technical specialisations (e.g. process, mechanical, electrical and control,) and project managers.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

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 to:

analyse and interpret schematics, technical information, performance data and operational practices

review project designs for safety and operability issues

communicate and negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders

clearly convey complex/technical information in writing

use language, structures and formats that are appropriate to information needs, the reader and organisation requirements.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

plant equipment, its characteristics and limitations

impact of variations in plant/process and the distinctive signs of each variation

process chemistry, physics and biochemistry as relevant (e.g. to the extent of writing chemical equations and identifying factors controlling reaction rate and yield or equivalent, or determining mass or heat transfer rates for a process)

organisational operating procedures and training materials

safety review procedures and techniques (e.g. hazard and operability study (HAZOP))

systems operating parameters, system integrity limits, product specifications and tolerances

process control philosophies and strategies

principles of operation of plant/equipment

hierarchy of control

hazards that may arise in the job/work environment. and:

their possible causes

potential consequences

appropriate risk controls.

The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.

The collection of performance evidence is best done from a report and/or folio of evidence drawn from:

a single project which provides sufficient evidence of the requirements of all the elements and performance criteria

multiple smaller projects which together provide sufficient evidence of the requirements of all the elements and performance criteria.

A third-party report, or similar, may be needed to testify to the work done by the individual, particularly when the project has been done as part of a project team.

Assessment should use a real project in an operational workplace. Where this is not possible or practical, assessment must occur using a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.

The regulatory framework will be reflected in workplace policies and procedures and is not required to be independently assessed.

Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.

Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.

In addition, the assessor or anyone acting in subject matter expert role in assessment must demonstrate both technical competency and currency. If the assessor cannot demonstrate technical competency and currency they must assess with a subject matter expert who does meet these requirements.

Technical competence can be demonstrated through one or more of:

relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment

appropriate workplace experience undertaking the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions

appropriate workplace experience supervising/evaluating the type of work being assessed under routine and non-routine conditions

Currency can be demonstrated through one or more of:

being currently employed undertaking the type of work being assessed

being employed by the organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed and having maintained currency in accordance with that organisation’s policies and procedures

having consulted/had contact with an organisation undertaking the type of work being assessed within the last twelve months, the consultation/contact being related to assessment

conducting on-the-job training/assessments of the type of work being assessed

being an active member of a relevant professional body and participating in activities relevant to the assessment of this type of work.

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Operations