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.

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 engineering-related situations that require referral to other experts

identify and establish any risks or consequences for advice offered

offer advice that takes into account the engineering operations and procedures of the organisation, the discipline area, and accepted engineering ethical practice

identify situations where modelling, calculations or other investigations should occur before advice is offered

understand and apply verification procedures to a range of engineering solutions in own area of expertise.

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, that is, the candidate is not in productive work, 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 include assessment of underpinning knowledge to ensure correct interpretation of guidance required and provision of appropriate advice.

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 able not only 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 a range of information sources to develop and strengthen present engineering knowledge of other technical employees

proposing options to achieve engineering solutions within discipline area

proposing means of testing, measuring and evaluating solutions that fit with organisation objectives and accepted engineering practice

providing advice on engineering-related costs and risks

encouraging learning and professional practice in other engineering and technical employees, including adherence to legislative and regulatory requirements and ethical, OHS and quality standards

assisting individuals and teams in setting performance targets for engineering-related activities

advising on budgeting and financial management of engineering activities

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

the principles of engineering as applied by designers in own area of expertise

normal planning and scheduling approaches to engineering operations and tasks

relationship of levels of practice in own engineering discipline, including situations where professional engineering, engineering technologist and engineering associate assistance or decision making is appropriate

the situations where mathematics, including statistics, calculus or other advanced mathematics, must be used by to generate solutions to engineering problems, as well as situations where professional or other expert assistance should be accessed

the structure, roles and capabilities of the engineering workforce in the organisation

the interactions between engineering technologies and business operations, including impact of engineering on meeting client, employee, shareholder, regulatory and community expectations of the organisation

regulatory and OHS responsibilities of technical and engineering workforce of the organisation

administrative, human resources (HR) and other support services available to technical and engineering staff in the organisation

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.

Expert technical and professional assistance

Areas where expert technical and professional assistance may be sought include:

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 or devices with high current or voltages above extra low voltage

professional support for technologies, such as:

specialist electric motor drives and controllers

specialist materials, plastics, metal alloys and nano materials

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

professional advice on issues that may overlap with:

finance, accounts and tax

insurance and legal

training and HR

OHS requirements, codes of practice, regulations, standards and other regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures

OHS requirements, codes of practice, regulations, standards and other regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures may include:

OHS Acts and regulations

relevant standards

industry codes of practice

risk assessments

registration requirements

safe work practices

state and territory regulatory requirements

Legislative requirements

Legislative requirements may include:

industrial law and awards

customer protection law

restrictive trade practice

environmental protection

workers compensation

equality and antidiscrimination

contract law

Sustainability

Sustainability includes consideration of economic, social, ecological and resources implications of activities. Sustainability issues may include:

resources and energy:

sources, access, processing and consumption

food security and agriculture, health, education and shelter

land, energy and water

social and economic factors affecting design of machines and equipment

life cycle design of product (manufacture to re-manufacture or recycle)

raw material, solids and hazardous waste, and production by-products

contamination of land, air and stormwater pollutants, and discharge to sewerage

climate change

Standards and codes

Standards and codes refer to all relevant Australian and international standards and codes applicable to a particular design or engineering related task

Planning and scheduling techniques

Planning and scheduling techniques may include:

critical path or Pert network plans

Gantt charts

Software and validation techniques

Advice may need to be offered on software and validation techniques. These include:

software employed for performance analysis/modelling (Underpinning program techniques and algorithms should be understood, such as the use of failure effects analysis (FEA) and numerical methods within object oriented modelling techniques)

Validation techniques include:

comparison of traditional solutions for simple design problems with software solutions to the same design problems

review of previously implemented design challenges which were completed using the software