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 apply basic JIT systems to the reduction of waste.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently perform all elements of the unit as specified by the criteria, including required knowledge, and be capable of applying the competency in new and different situations and contexts.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both. Where assessment occurs off the job, i.e. the candidate is not in productive work, then an appropriate simulation must be used where the range of conditions reflects realistic workplace situations. The competencies would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team. The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate.

This unit could be assessed in conjunction with any other units addressing the safety, quality, communication, materials handling, recording and reporting associated with applying basic JIT systems to the reduction of waste or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

Method of assessment

Assessors should gather a range of evidence that is valid, sufficient, current and authentic. Evidence can be gathered through a variety of ways including direct observation, supervisor's reports, project work, samples and questioning. Questioning should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit. The candidate must have access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required. The candidate must be permitted to refer to any relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications, codes, standards, manuals and reference materials.

Guidance information for assessment

Required skills

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

analysing

communicating

negotiating

reading/interpreting/following information on written job instructions, specifications, standard operating procedures and other applicable reference documents

planning and sequencing operations

Required knowledge

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge of:

JIT manufacturing philosophy

push and pull systems

Kanbans

work cells

set up time reduction techniques

group technology

ABC analysis of inventory

principles of TQM

principles of TPM

hazards and control measures associated with applying basic JIT systems to the reduction of waste

safe work practices and procedures

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.

Value chain

Includes the entire production system, beginning with the customer, and includes the sales outlet, product design, processing and supply

Waste

Includes activities and results to be eliminated within manufacturing

Categories of waste include excess production and early production, waiting, materials queuing, not moving, people not working, transporting, double handling, poor process design, inventory, stores, buffers, lot sizes, inefficient performance of a process, reaching, bending, exertion, making defective items, rework, rejects, unnecessary inspection

JIT

Includes a production scheduling concept that calls for any item needed at a production operation - whether raw material, finished item, or anything in between, to be produced and available precisely when needed

JIT systems may also be known as part of other manufacturing systems such as lean manufacturing, agile manufacturing or similar

Kanban

Includes a card or sheet used to authorise production or movement of an item

Kanban is typically applied to batch type operations and the production is measured in units produced. In continuous manufacturing organisations, production is measured in terms of production rate

Flow authorisation indicator

May include Kanban bin, ticket or similar, or may be some other indicator of demand pull

Housekeeping principles

Principles of 5S which refer to the five Japanese words seiri, seiton, seison, seiketsu, shitsuke. These words are shorthand expressions for principles of maintaining an effective, efficient workplace:

seiri - eliminating everything not required for the work being performed

seiton - efficient placement and arrangement of equipment and material

seison - tidiness and cleanliness

seiketsu - ongoing, standardised, continually improving seiri, seiton, seison

shitsuke - discipline with leadership

Key measures

May include inventory levels, lead time, delivery, productivity/ production rate, set up time, other measures of pull through the value chain, quality, rework, scrap rates

Pull system refers to a manufacturing planning system based on actual real-time needs from sales or equivalent - i.e. 'make what we sell'