Assessor Resource

MSS015015A
Evaluate sustainability impact of a process

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to establishing the overall or broad sustainability impact of a process and making recommendations for mitigating negative sustainability impacts. It may apply to value chains beyond the boundary of an organisation, or the entire value chain within an organisation. The unit scope includes products made, services offered, and use of sites by an organisation or part or all of its value chain. This unit covers the application to substantial portions of value chains and may be beyond the boundaries of the organisation. For portions of value chains within an organisation consider MSS014002A Evaluate sustainability impact of a work or process area.

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.

If the impact is to be evaluated across a value chain and the extent of the value chain is not known, MSACMS601A Analyse and map a value chain should also be selected.

It would typically be undertaken by a manager or technical specialist who had a major responsibility for sustainability as part of a broader work role, or sustainability may be their primary work responsibility. The manager or technical specialist may undertake this alone or as part of a team.

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 an entire process (manufacturing, logistics, office or other process) or the product from such a process. It does not specifically address the regulatory requirements for an environmental impact statement.

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 the sustainability impact of a whole process or internal or external value chain, determine root cause for sustainability issues and propose and rank solutions.

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:

value chain mapping and analysis 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 value chain (and related areas where impact spreads beyond immediate area, e.g. by loss of containment)

root cause analysis and problem solving

mitigation strategies

benefit/cost analyses techniques

methods of dealing with sustainability issues and the benefits arising from each

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards

Required skills include:

analysing and prioritising issues

consulting and negotiating with stakeholders on possible solutions and strategies for sustainability improvement

using problem-solving techniques, including root cause analysis

mapping the value chain

Process

Process may include:

any operational, manufacturing, logistics, administrative, information technology or business process in a manufacturing value chain (e.g. manufacturer, supplier of goods or services or a customer)

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 and rare or threatened species

heritage or religious issues

hazardous emissions

regulated emissions or other regulatory issues

community perceptions or other issues

Sustainability issues

Sustainability issues may include:

resource footprint (e.g. carbon and water) of product and process

current and future availability of raw materials

current and future availability of energy

waste generation and disposal

efficiency of process

the extent to which the production process and product 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, and proximity to schools and religious facilities)

extent of regulatory oversight and cost of compliance

Desirability ranking

Desirability ranking includes:

direct dollar benefit/cost

customer benefit

stakeholder perception:

shareholders

employees

community

financial community

other

life cycle improvements

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
Select portion of the value chain for analysis 
Identify process steps along the chain 
Identify the change which occurs at each step 
Define the interactions with the environment at each step 
Identify environmental sensitivities at each step in the value chain 
Identify other sustainability issues at each step in the value chain 
Short-list sustainability issues which will require action to mitigate or eliminate negative sustainability impacts 
Determine root cause of each short-listed issue 
Develop possible solutions to root causes 
Develop alternative mitigation strategies where needed 
Estimate resources required for solutions and alternative mitigation strategies 
Rank possible solutions strategies by desirability 
Produce and present report to stakeholders 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS015015A - Evaluate sustainability impact of a process
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

MSS015015A - Evaluate sustainability impact of a process

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: