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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Establish parameters of current internal improvement systems
  2. Distinguish breakthrough improvement processes
  3. Develop continuous improvement practice
  4. Establish parameters of current external improvement systems
  5. Explore opportunities for further development of value chain improvement processes
  6. Review systems for compatibility with improvement strategy

Evidence Required

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

Demonstrates skills and knowledge required to

critically review continuous improvement processes

In particular look for evidence of

ongoing review of processes

improvements in the practice of continuous improvement

better alignment of internal and external systems

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment may occur on the job or in an appropriately simulated environment Access is required to real or appropriately simulated situations including work areas materials and equipment and to information on workplace practices and OHS practices

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 andor assessment support when required Where applicable physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed assessment guidelines of the Manufacturing Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts together with application of underpinning knowledge

Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure its correct interpretation and application

Assessment may be applied under project related conditions real or simulated and require evidence of process

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required

Guidance information for assessment

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

Range Statement

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/standards

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

Health, safety and environment (HSE)

All changes implemented are expected to be at least neutral, or preferably beneficial, in their impact on health, safety and environment

Organisation systems

Organisation systems may include:

problem recognition and solving

process improvement

improvement projects

product/process development

processes for making incremental improvements

Relevant metrics

Relevant metrics include all those measures which might be used to determine the performance of the improvement system and may include:

hurdle rates for new investments

key performance indicators (KPIs) for existing processes

quality statistics

delivery timing and quantity statistics

process/equipment reliability ('up time')

incident reports

Improvement process yield

Improvement process yield may be regarded as:

the benefit achieved for the effort invested

Breakthrough improvements

Breakthrough improvements include:

those which result from a kaizen blitz or other improvement project or event and are a subset of all improvements

Timing of breakthrough improvements

Timing of breakthrough improvements includes:

frequency (which should be maximised) and duration (which should be minimised) of events/projects

Continuous improvement

Whereas breakthrough improvement/kaizen blitz occurs by way of an event or project, continuous improvement is part of normal work and does not require a special event to occur (although may still require authorisations)

Resources for improvement

Resources for improvements include:

improvement budget

guidelines for trialling of possible improvements

mechanism for approvals for possible improvements

business case guidelines for proposed improvements

indicators of success of proposed improvement

mechanisms for tracking and evaluation of changes

forum for the open discussion of the results of the implementation

mechanisms for the examination of the improvement for additional improvements

organisation systems to sustain beneficial changes

Capturing value chain improvements

Capturing value chain improvements includes:

revised contractual arrangements

revised specifications

signed agreements

other documented arrangements which formalise the raised base line

Systems impacting improvements

Systems which impact/are impacted on improvements and the improvement system include:

purchasing

rewards (individual or team at all levels)

sales

marketing

maintenance

process/product

Problems

Problems may include:

non-conformances and other opportunities for improvement

Develop

Develop includes:

establishing and improving

Knowledge forms

Knowledge may be quantified or otherwise modified to make its outcomes measurable or observable as appropriate to the knowledge and its application

Improvements

Improvements may:

be to process, plant, procedures or practice

include changes to ensure positive benefits are maintained

Manager

Manager may include:

any person who may have either a permanent or an ad hoc role in facilitating the function of multiple teams in a workplace, departments or entire organisations