• MSL933002A - Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives

Assessor Resource

MSL933002A
Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency is applicable to samplers/testers, production operators and laboratory/field assistants working in all industry sectors. These personnel have defined roles and responsibilities within the enterprise's quality system which are set out in quality manuals and workplace procedures.

Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These are found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'.

This unit of competency covers the development of a working knowledge of quality principles and their application in laboratory/field work.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

apply the required quality control principles and procedures to their work

contribute to improvements in productivity and quality

maintain their personal commitment to quality objectives.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSL913001A Communicate with other people

technical units of competency dealing with sampling and testing.

Resources may include:

enterprise quality manual and procedures

standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of quality control data collected by the candidate

review of quality improvements suggested by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers

oral or written questions about quality concepts and enterprise procedures

flow charts or diagrams prepared by the candidate to describe work flows and workplace layout (alternatively, the candidate could explain existing charts or diagrams).

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

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.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment.

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Manufacturing

Laboratory assistants must have a good working knowledge of quality control procedures and how they contribute to the achievement of enterprise quality objectives. An assistant was measuring the moisture content of coke by a standard method. The SOP for this test stated that the limits for moisture should be between 2% and 5% by weight. The assistant obtained a result of 5.8%. The assistant had followed the SOP correctly and performed the determination in triplicate and had confidence in the precision of the result. The assistant recognised and reported the non-conformance to the laboratory supervisor. The production manager took corrective action and modified the drying process to reduce the moisture content and provide a product which met the customer's requirements.

Biomedical

A laboratory assistant working in the pathology department of a rural hospital was responsible for serum lithium estimations by flame photometry. When asked by the office staff when the lithium results would be ready, the assistant replied that the testing schedule of the laboratory meant that the test would not be done until the following week and asked why the office staff needed to know. The answer was that an outpatient clinic was being held, and the results were needed for a consultation. Although samples were often taken a week before the clinic was to be held, the assistant realised that results were not always ready for the clinic because of the testing schedule of the laboratory. The assistant reported the situation to the laboratory supervisor. The supervisor rescheduled lithium testing to match the clinic times, so that results would always be ready for the clinic consultation. This pleased the clinic staff, the patient did not waste a visit, the office staff no longer got irate phone calls and the quality of service was improved overall.

Food processing

A fruit processing company produced many tonnes of solid vegetable waste annually. This was dumped as landfill at considerable cost and the local council was concerned that the method of disposal was not sustainable. The laboratory assistants at the company were included in a quality improvement team to investigate the problem. The team concentrated on alternative production methods to minimise waste yields and additional production methods that would enable the waste to be profitably utilised. They identified four potential uses of the waste: a source of pectin, alcohol and sugar and conversion of raw fruit peel to glazed peel.

A cost-benefit analysis was performed in consultation with supporting industries, including a local winery to assess the merits of these value adding activities. The outcome was that the amount of waste produced by the company was significantly reduced with much of the waste channelled into marketable products with full cost recovery. After some initial doubts, the laboratory personnel realised that they were able to make useful contributions to the project. As a result, they became part of an ongoing investigation of waste minimisation and value adding practices.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Required skills include:

applying the required quality control procedures

providing quality products and services to customers consistent with the job role

resolving simple customer requirements

minimising waste and rework

contributing to improvements in productivity and quality through teamwork and commitment to personal work standards

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

concepts of metrology

continuous improvement and waste minimisation principles

enterprise procedures associated with the candidate's regular technical duties

layout of the enterprise, divisions and laboratory

lines of communication

organisational structure of the enterprise

products and services provided by the enterprise

quality requirements of the candidate's job role and functions

recording, reporting and document control requirements

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

role of internal and external audits

role of laboratory services to the enterprise and customers

scheduling of tests and procedures to meet customer requirements

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.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

Australia New Zealand Food Standards (ANZFS) Code

Australian code of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products (GMP)

customer specific requirements/standards

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Accreditation programs requirements

principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1009

Quality control procedures

Quality control procedures may include:

standards imposed by regulatory and licensing bodies

enterprise quality procedures

working to a customer brief and associated quality procedures

checklists to monitor job progress against agreed time, costs and quality standards

the use of hold points to evaluate conformance

the use of inspection and test plans to check compliance

Concepts of metrology

Concepts of metrology may include:

that all measurements are estimates

measurements belong to a population of measurements of the measured parameters

repeatability

precision

accuracy

significant figures

sources of error

uncertainty

traceability

Sustainable energy principles and work practices

Sustainable energy principles and work practices may include:

examining work practices that use excessive electricity

switching off equipment when not in use

regularly cleaning filters

insulating rooms and buildings to reduce energy use

recycling and reusing materials wherever practicable

minimising process waste

Reporting

Reporting may involve:

verbal responses

data entry into laboratory information management system (LIMS) or enterprise databases

brief written reports using enterprise proformas

Quality improvement opportunities

Quality improvement opportunities that relate to the work of laboratory assistants could include:

improved methods for sampling, testing and recording data

improved hygiene and sanitation procedures

minimisation of waste and rework

improved laboratory layout and work flow

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Record data for quality control purposes 
Recognise and report non-conformances in keeping with job role and quality procedures 
Review own work practices for opportunities to continuously improve performance 
Identify and report opportunities for improvements in procedures, processes and equipment in work area 
Maintain an objective of 'right first time' 
Conduct work in accordance with sustainable energy work practices 
Minimise waste and rework in accordance with enterprise guidelines 
Demonstrate 'job ownership' for whole tasks through a commitment to finish and follow-up 
Ensure that personal actions conform with the code of ethics relevant to the workplace 
Demonstrate an understanding of the business goals, products and services of the enterprise when dealing with customers in relation to own function 
Communicate appropriately with customers in keeping with knowledge and authority limitations and quality requirements 
Recognise own strengths and limitations and take advantage of opportunities for skill development 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSL933002A - Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

MSL933002A - Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: