Assessor Resource

MSS405050A
Determine and improve process capability

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to an individual (who may be a production manager, plant/process engineer, technical specialist or similar) who is responsible for developing plans to stabilise and then improve process capability and following agreement the implementation of the plans to improve process capability. The organisation may use either a six sigma or three sigma process.

This unit primarily requires the application of skills associated with communication in gathering and analysing data and consulting with relevant personnel. Teamwork, problem solving, initiative and enterprise, and planning and organising are required to determine causes to variations and implement solutions. This is done in an environment using computer technology and also requires aspects of self-management and learning to ensure feedback and new learning is integrated into process improvements and operations management control systems.

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to determine the actual (as distinct from design) capability of a process and then to analyse that process to remove assignable causes and reduce random causes. This would typically be done by a manager or technical expert support person either working in a team, or in close liaison with key stakeholders. Process capability is typically calculated using standard deviations.

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

Prerequisites

MSS404052A Apply statistics to operational processes

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.

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

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of their ability to:

collect or obtain data relevant process capability data from a variety of sources data

work with people and analyse data to determine assignable causes

plan and prepare improvement proposals

monitor implementation of improvement proposals.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of performance must be undertaken in a workplace using or implementing one or more competitive systems and practices.

Access may be required to:

workplace procedures and plans relevant to work area

specifications and documentation relating to planned, currently being implemented, or implemented changes to work processes and procedures relevant to the assessee

documentation and information in relation to production, waste, overheads and hazard control/management

reports from supervisors/managers

case studies and scenarios to assess responses to contingencies.

Method of assessment

A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.

Competence in this unit may be assessed by using a combination of the following to generate evidence:

demonstration in the workplace

workplace projects

suitable simulation

case studies/scenarios (particularly for assessment of contingencies, improvement scenarios, and so on)

targeted questioning

reports from supervisors, peers and colleagues (third-party reports)

portfolio of evidence.

In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess underpinning knowledge.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

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:

using a variety of statistical methods and calculations

communicating and negotiating at all levels in the organisation and value stream and with individuals of different levels of literacy and numeracy

negotiating with employees, suppliers and customers, where necessary, to achieve access to, or collection of, data

planning process and data collection changes required for process improvement, including:

objectives

performance indicators to be monitored to indicate success of change

resources required

training required

communication and liaison required with employees, suppliers and customers

implementation period required

analysing variations and categorising into assignable and random cause

undertaking self-directed problem solving and decision-making on issues of abroad and/or highly specialised nature and in a wide variety of contexts

working in and leading teams for data collection and process improvement

using software computers and terminals, as required, to collect and analyse data

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

data collection methods

data processing techniques required to establish variability and normal distribution

calculate three sigma or six sigma processes, as relevant

random and non-random results and processes for recognition of assignable causes

causes of different types of non-random results

causes of random variation

process understanding sufficient to translate the data into variations in the process and determine methods of controlling them

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.

Competitive systems and practices

Competitive systems and practices may include, but are not limited to:

lean operations

agile operations

preventative and predictive maintenance approaches

monitoring and data gathering systems, such as Systems Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Materials Resource Planning (MRP) and proprietary systems

statistical process control systems, including six sigma and three sigma

Just in Time (JIT), kanban and other pull-related operations control systems

supply, value, and demand chain monitoring and analysis

5S

continuous improvement (kaizen)

breakthrough improvement (kaizen blitz)

cause/effect diagrams

overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)

takt time

process mapping

problem solving

run charts

standard procedures

current reality tree

Competitive systems and practices should be interpreted so as to take into account:

the stage of implementation of competitive systems and practices

the size of the enterprise

the work organisation, culture, regulatory environment and the industry sector

Six sigma

Six sigma refers to:

a statistical tool for recording defects and determining capability which equates to only 3.4 defects per million opportunities for each product or service transaction

Six sigma is also used as a general term covering a competitive systems and practices approach. Six sigma training typically covers several units of competency in this Training Package

Three sigma

Three sigma refers to:

a traditional statistical process control uses three sigma limits which equates to 3 defects per thousand opportunities for each product or service transaction

Process capability data

Process capability data includes:

customer requirements for product or service

process stability (control chart) performance

other charts and data

Procedures

Procedures may include:

work instructions

standard operating procedures

formulas/recipes

batch sheets

temporary instructions and similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant

good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. good manufacturing practice (GMP) and responsible care)

government regulations

Procedures may be:

written, verbal, computer-based or in some other format

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 process requiring capability analysis including relevant procedures 
Identify customer specifications for product or service 
Obtain process capability data 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS405050A - Determine and improve process capability
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

MSS405050A - Determine and improve process capability

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: