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

The meat industry has specific and clear requirements for evidence. A minimum of three forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in the meat industry. This is specifically designed to provide evidence that covers the demonstration in the workplace of all aspects of competency over time.

These requirements are in addition to the requirements for valid, current, authentic and sufficient evidence.

Three forms of evidence means three different kinds of evidence - not three pieces of the same kind. In practice it will mean that most of the unit is covered twice. This increases the legitimacy of the evidence.

All assessment must be conducted against Australian meat industry standards and regulations.

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

Competency must be demonstrated through sustained performance over time, at an appropriate level of responsibility and authority under typical operating and production conditions for the enterprise.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Resources may include:

a real work environment

relevant documentation, such as:

manufacturer instructions and operations manuals

regulatory requirements

workplace policy and procedures

relevant equipment and materials.

Method of assessment

Recommended methods of assessment include:

a third-party referee report of sustained performance at appropriate level of authority and responsibility

assignment focusing on understanding and application of principles and theory to workplace operations

workplace projects with focus on company environment and conditions.

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander, gender, or language backgrounds other than English. Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role.

Guidance information for assessment

A current list of resources for this unit of competency is available from MINTRAC www.mintrac.com.au or telephone 1800 817 462.

Required skills

Ability to:

analyse enterprise forecasts for orders, livestock and raw material availability and prices, and determine the operational requirements to achieve enterprise goals

analyse performance data to determine achievement of profit, productivity and other targets

analyse the implications of blockages or stoppages (e.g. breakdowns, no stock or materials and staff shortages) at particular points in the process flow, including upstream and downstream effects and costs

outline enterprise directions, goals and ethical standards and analyse the implications for enterprise operations

assess current operational capability to achieve enterprise goals, including an analysis of current technology and configurations and mixes of personnel and processes, and a review of procedures to identify any gaps or shortfalls in capability of resources

apply methods and theories of workplace or work team organisation and job design, and review to enterprise operations

apply relevant communication skills

apply scheduling techniques and principles to enterprise operations

consult, collaborate and negotiate with personnel from all levels and areas of the plant

maintain currency of knowledge through independent research and/or professional development

develop action plans to implement changes to improve performance

evaluate and recommend strategies for achieving enterprise goals and forecasts, including assessment of alternative configurations/mixes of personnel, processes and work organisation structures and calculating the impact changes in operations have on the productivity of the enterprise/department and the preparation of resource proposals

evaluate the costs, benefits, consequences and implications of adopting alternative risk management strategies and make recommendations to senior management

identify and apply relevant Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) and workplace requirements

manage operations for area of responsibility, including developing operational strategies and schedules in response to short, medium and long term forecasts and plans for the enterprise; obtaining and scheduling required resources, including raw materials, personnel, equipment, refrigeration, storage and transport; and monitoring product or process flow

maximise value of enterprise operations, including identifying opportunities for gaining commercial value from co-products and by-products, evaluating relative returns on enterprise products to determine overall impact on profitability, controlling waste and energy consumption

minimise workplace conflict and build positive relationships using consultation, negotiation and problem-solving strategies

monitor enterprise performance, including developing productivity and operational performance measures for enterprise operations, linking monitoring systems to quality requirements and performance measures, interpreting performance information and taking/authorising corrective action

prepare and monitor operational budgets, including identification of operational cost components, calculation of resource requirements, calculation of cost per unit of finished product (e.g. cost per kilogram dressed weight and processed weight), monitoring of costs, taking action to adjust budget variations, including budget requirements and projections in enterprise financial planning

prepare contingency plans to minimise disruption to production

present reports according to legal and enterprise requirements

research and evaluate available technologies and systems for suitability for enterprise products and directions or plans

take action to improve own work practice as a result of feedback from others, self-evaluation, or in response to changed work practices organisation or technology

use detailed product knowledge to describe the processing or production requirements necessary to maintain the quality of enterprise products (e.g. handling, processing methods, equipment, and storage for different species and breeds)

use mathematical skills to analyse performance relating to costs, waste, production levels, yields

utilise available information and communications technology (e.g. productivity analysis and scheduling software).

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

enterprise's scope of operations

enterprise budget planning and management processes and cycles

regulatory requirements affecting enterprise operations

potential impact of operational changes on personnel and develop strategies to minimise negative effects on individuals, the team and enterprise operations

factors which affect the productivity of the enterprise, including workforce costs, capital investment, materials, waste and overheads.

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.

Operational budgets and expenditure may include:

asset management

capital expenditure

environmental management

equipment and technology

livestock, raw materials and ingredients, packaging and other supplies

replacement, repair and maintenance

risk management strategies

staffing levels

utilities.

Operational budgets may be developed using:

activity based costing approaches

limited input approaches or global budget approaches.

Forecasting methods may:

be qualitative and include market research, customer surveys, executive team consensus, sales staff information and feedback

be quantitative and include long range data from internal and external sources, statistical analysis methods of linear regression, moving averages, weighted moving averages and trend analysis

include data relating to:

livestock from contacts or cattle markets

manpower availability

prices, exchange rates and inflation

sales and consumption patterns

seasonality, cycles and growth patterns

other factors.

Resources to support operations may include:

administrative systems and procedures

buildings, plant and equipment, technology, and energy and water supply

financial resources

human resources

stock ingredients and materials.

Enterprise systems and technologies include:

customer service

food safety

production, processing, manufacturing or preparation

quality

resources (e.g. personnel and finances)

waste and environmental management

workplace safety.

Stakeholders may include:

company owners, directors, shareholders and financiers

competitors

management and employees

suppliers, customers and consumers

unions and employer associations.

Communication may:

be formal or informal and involve face to face and technological or electronic methods

be with culturally, ethnically and socially diverse individuals and groups

involve the preparation of reports which may be complex, contain information from a range of technical sources and include mathematical and graphic information and data

require reading and interpreting workplace related documentation

occur in a variety of sensitive, conflictive, collaborative and supportive environments

require analysis and presentation of complex concepts, technical information, mathematical information and other data in simple or complex formats

require persuasion, negotiation and assertiveness skills.

OHS requirements may include:

enterprise OH&S policies, procedures and programs

hygiene and sanitation requirements

OH&S legal requirements

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include:

coats and aprons

ear plugs or muffs

eye and facial protection

head-wear

lifting assistance

protective boot covers

protective hand and arm covering

protective head and hair covering

uniforms

waterproof clothing

work, safety or waterproof footwear

requirements set out in standards and codes of practice.

Workplace requirements may include:

enterprise-specific requirements

OH&S requirements

Quality Assurance (QA) requirements

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

the ability to perform the task to production requirements

work instructions.

By-products may include:

fellmongery skins and hide processing

food ingredients and processing (e.g. gelatins)

pharmaceutical and medical products (e.g. valves, organs, collection and processing of foetal blood)

rendered products (e.g. meat meal and tallow).

Mathematical skills may:

be complex and relate to product and product quality, financial operations, personnel, operations, sales and turnover, and exports

relate to complex actual and hypothetical technical and financial modelling, calculations and interpretation or analysis.

Scope of operations may include interactions with:

producers and suppliers

meat processing

further processing, including smallgoods manufacture

food service operations and wholesale and retail operations

storage

transport and distribution

customers.

Regulatory requirements may include:

animal welfare

commercial law, including fair trading and trade practices

consumer law

corporate law, including registration, licensing and financial reporting

environmental sustainability and waste management

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), anti-discrimination and sexual harassment

Export Control Act

industrial awards and agreements

relevant regulations

state and territory regulations regarding meat processing

taxation.