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 evaluate continuous improvement processes for production, engineering and related services. This includes working individually and as part of a team in accordance with organisation procedures.

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

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

determine measurable and controllable parameters of product or service and their suitability in continuous improvement processes

identify WHS, regulatory requirements, risk management and related organisational procedures

evaluate manual and automatic methods for measurement and data gathering, including analysis and performance indices, software analysis and visual display

evaluate qualitative continuous improvement processes

evaluate sustainability implications of improvements

measure and gather data, record and analyse for trends and improvements

evaluate continuous improvement, systems thinking, constraint and contingency management and lean systems requirements

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:

determining suitability of measurable parameters of products, processes, systems and services for continuous improvement activities

undertaking measurement, data gathering and analysis, including identifying trends and improvements

reviewing performance indices, software for data analysis and visual representations and continuous improvement techniques

evaluating continuous improvement, systems thinking, constraint and contingency management, and lean systems requirements

producing and interpreting charts used in production and service control, including:

histograms

Pareto diagrams

flowcharts

tallycharts

scatter plots

run chart

evaluating sustainability implications of improvements

reporting and documenting results of scoping, identification of principles and techniques and evaluation of continuous improvement techniques, data, graphics, flow charts and performance indices

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

features of products, processes, systems and services subject to improvement processes

economic, social and sustainability implications of products, processes, systems, services and implications of improvement processes

continuous improvement drivers and mechanisms, such as:

market competitiveness

maintenance of a technological edge

customer expectations

WHS requirements, codes of practice, regulatory requirements, and standards problem solving and decision making techniques:

brainstorming

current and future state mapping

seven tools of quality:

Ishikawa ‘Fishbone’ diagrams

histograms

Pareto analysis

flowcharts

scatter plots

run charts

control charts

data, performance metrics, graphics and visual indicators

software options, such as:

budgeting, financial and business planning performance metrics analysers and graphics generators

maintenance downtime and cost data generators

system control and data acquisition (SCADA), distributed control systems (DCS), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and materials resource planning (MRP) system data generators

performance data analysis and graphics generators

statistical process control (SPC) techniques

qualitiative improvement techniques

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.

Features, functions and measurable parameters of products, processes, systems or services, assets and operations subject to continuous improvement

Features, functions and measurable parameters of products, processes, systems, services and assets subject to continuous improvement may include:

sustainability

software

product manufacturability

process design

process control

equipment and tooling

material and product flow

plant layout and transfer operations

standard operating procedures

maintenance

lean systems

labour and skills distribution

information flow

value chain

sales, marketing and planning

management

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

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

Standards and codes

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

Systems thinking

Systems thinking refers to the conduct of engineering work in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of how the interaction of different technical systems on equipment, machinery or structures, as well as the skills and techniques of personnel, combine to perform or support engineering-related operations, processes or projects. It embraces determining or establishing how the function of each technical system or component, as well as the skills and techniques of personnel, effects or potentially may effect, outcomes. Systems should be interpreted broadly within the context of the organisation and depending on the project or operation can include equipment, related facilities, material, software, internal services and personnel, and other organisations in the value chain

Continuous improvement processes

Continuous improvement processes may relate to plant, products, production processes, systems and services, including design, development, implementation or manufacture, commissioning, operation or delivery and maintenance.

Improvement processes may include techniques, such as:

balanced scorecard

current and future state mapping

measuring performance against benchmarks

process improvement, problem solving and decision making

data management, generation, recording, analysing, storing and use of software

training for improvement systems participation

technical training

qualitative improvement processes, such as:

toolbox meetings

suggestion schemes

mentoring

changes in work organisation, responsibilities and recruitment

Constraints and contingencies

Constraints and contingencies may be:

financial

organisational, procedural or cultural

physical constraints, such as limits to resources, limits to site access or logistical limitations

Lean principles

Lean manufacturing uses cost, capacity and responsiveness, quality, reliability and waste minimisation as drivers of the process and measures for process improvement. Lean manufacturing is the response of many organisations to local, regional, national and global market competitiveness