Assessor Resource

MSS014002A
Evaluate sustainability impact of a work or process area

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies inside organisations and their value chains. It typically applies to only a portion of a value chain. The unit has been developed with manufacturing operations as a focus. However, because of the range of organisations in a typical manufacturing value chain it may also be applied to processes in non-manufacturing parts of organisations and other types of organisations.

This unit applies to establishing the overall or broad sustainability impact of processes undertaken in a work area and making recommendations for mitigating negative sustainability impacts. The unit scope includes evaluating the impact on products made, services offered, and use of sites by an organisation or manufacturing value chain member, such as a contractor. This unit covers only that portion of the value chain which is totally within the boundaries of the selected work area. For entire value chains or value chains outside the boundaries of the organisation, consider MSS015015A Evaluate sustainability impact of a process.

This unit applies to employees with work area responsibilities, such as team leaders, maintenance staff, technicians and others who have some sustainability responsibility as part of their job.

Environmental sensitivities referred to in this unit are at the issue level. The technical measurement of operational performance or measurement of emissions or other environmental impact is not covered by this unit.

This unit of competency covers evaluating the impact on sustainability of a work or process area or a stage of production or logistics. This may be undertaken as a stand alone evaluation or as part of an overall evaluation of an entire process or a value chain.

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

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

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.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to evaluate a work area, identify the sustainability issues and propose a range of solutions and strategies to improve sustainability.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

identifying steps in the process and portion of manufacturing value chain

determining ecological and sustainability impacts of processes

determining root causes of impacts

evaluating solution and mitigation strategies.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Method of assessment

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.

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.

Guidance information for assessment

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 knowledge includes:

process mapping with regard to sustainability

process and changes which occur within the process

environmental impacts of materials and energy used/emitted

environmental sensitivities of all areas impacted by the work/process area (and related areas where impact spreads beyond immediate area, e.g. by loss of containment)

root cause analysis and problem solving

mitigation strategies as relevant to work/process area

simple benefit/cost analyses techniques

sustainability issues relevant to the work/process area

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards

Required skills include:

identifying sustainability goals of the enterprise and identifying implications for process or work area

analysing and prioritising sustainability related issues

liaising and discussing with stakeholders on possible solutions and strategies for sustainability improvement

using problem solving techniques, including root cause analysis

process mapping the process area

Process

Process may include:

any manufacturing, logistics, administrative, information technology or business process which may be in a manufacturing value chain

Interactions with the environment

Interactions with the environment may include:

drawing physical resources from the environment

releasing materials to the environment (e.g. emissions)

drawing energy from/releasing energy to the environment

Environmental sensitivities

Environmental sensitivities may include:

fragile areas, rare or threatened species

heritage or cultural sensitivity issues

hazardous emissions

regulated emissions or other regulatory issues

community perceptions or other issues

other issues, such as those identified in ISO 14001 Environmental Standards

Priority rankings

Priority rankings may include:

issues of high impact and high probability of occurrence

issues aligned to organisations strategic direction

issues related to regulatory requirements

Determine

Determining may include:

developing solutions within the scope of skill

discussing issues with relevant experts to develop a solution

undertaking research (literature or physical) within the scope of skill to develop a solution

Sustainability issues

Sustainability issues (as relevant to the work/process area) may include:

need to reduce the carbon footprint of product and process through reduction in use of:

energy

water

raw materials

emissions

embedded carbon in transport, storage, rework and errors, inefficient processes and design, and general facility efficiencies

Sustainability related issues may also exist irrespective of the carbon equivalence aspects of the issue. This may include:

current and future availability of raw materials

current and future availability of energy

extent and type of waste generation and disposal

efficiency of process in terms of consumption of materials and energy regarded as in short supply or which are regarded as environmentally sensitive

the extent to which the production process, product and waste affects the environment, including effects on:

climate

quality of local air and water

ecology

noise

relationship with the local and broader community (e.g. effect of operations on aesthetic appearance, preservation of heritage, proximity to schools, religious facilities, and impact on local residents and infrastructure)

extent of regulatory oversight and extent and cost of compliance

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards

consumer demand for more sustainable products and processes

ethical supply chain

Desirability ranking

Desirability ranking includes:

direct dollar benefit/cost

customer benefit

stakeholder perception:

shareholders

employees

community

financial community

other

life cycle improvements

compliance with regulations

company sustainability strategy and strategic plans

company commitment to covenants and initiatives

availability of incentives

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
Identify the boundaries of the process or work area to be evaluated 
Identify all process steps within this area 
Identify the change which occurs at each step 
Define sustainability interactions at each step 
Identify sustainability goals of enterprise as they relate to the process or work area 
Identify environmental sensitivities at each step in the process or work area 
Identify other sustainability issues at each step in the selected portion of the value chain 
Short-list high priority sustainability issues 
Determine root cause of each short-listed sustainability issue 
Determine possible solutions to root causes 
Estimate resources required for solutions and alternative mitigation strategies 
Rank possible solutions strategies by desirability 
Recommend preferred solutions in accordance with organisational procedures and protocols 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS014002A - Evaluate sustainability impact of a work or process area
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

MSS014002A - Evaluate sustainability impact of a work or process area

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: