Required skills

Required skills include

assessing the suitability of software controlled calibration procedures

researching current alternative calibration methods and equipment

developing or modifying calibration procedures to automate as many processes as possible

writing efficient calibration procedures using an unambiguous logical sequence of instructions that meet statutory and regulatory requirements

writingediting efficient software programs for a range of calibration applications and assessing their integrity under test

applying specialised technical knowledge to critically analyse and resolve complex problems associated with measurement nonconformances where solutions are not obvious or readily available

explaining automated calibration procedures to clients and clarifying their requirements

conducting reliable calibrationtesting trials to ensure a high degree of reproducibility

liaising with peers and technical staff from other laboratories to clarify and validate automated procedures

estimating measurement uncertainty and applying statistical techniques for analysing test andor calibration data

critically examining each calibration step to ensure repeatability and validity of data

preparing all test documentation accurately concisely and in accordance with requirements

recognising opportunities for improvements to procedures

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories eg AS ISOIEC as they affect job role and responsibilities

limits of authority and procedures for creating or modifying automated calibration procedures

structure and terminology used in standard calibration methods procedures requests and instructions

current automated calibration methods procedures and technology applications used in laboratory

computer operationautomation using graphical user interfaces

equipment specifications and limitations and the implications of equipment substitution

equipment and testing method troubleshooting procedures

the hierarchy and appropriate selection of reference materials

handling transport storage and operation of reference and working standards

laboratory environmental control requirements

calculation procedures to give results in appropriate accuracy precision and units

methods for statistical analysis means ranges and standard deviations and estimation of uncertainty of measurement may include the use of software

enterprise procedures and legislative requirements for documenting calibration procedures

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

relevant health safety and environmental requirements

layout of the enterprise divisions and laboratory

organisational structure of the enterprise

lines of communication

role of laboratory services for the enterprise and customers

Specific industry

Additional knowledge requirements may apply for different industry sectors For example testing conducted in the following fields

acoustic and vibration measurement

chemical testing

construction materials testing

electrical testing

heat and temperature measurement

mechanical testing

metrology

nondestructive testing

optics and radiometry

pressure testing

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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can

assess the suitability of software controlled calibration procedures

research current alternative calibration methods and equipment for a given request

develop or modify calibration procedures to automate as many processes as possible

write efficient calibration procedures using an unambiguous logical sequence of instructions that meet statutory and regulatory requirements

writeedit efficient software programs for a range of calibration applications and assess their integrity under test

apply specialised technical knowledge to critically analyse and resolve complex problems associated with measurement nonconformances where solutions are not obvious or readily available

explain automated calibration procedures to clients and clarify their requirements

conduct reliable calibrationtesting trials to ensure a high degree of reproducibility

liaise with peers and technical staff from other laboratories to clarify and validate automated procedures

estimate measurement uncertainty and apply statistical techniques for analysing test andor calibration data

critically examine each calibration step to ensure repeatability and validity of data

prepare all test documentation accurately concisely and in accordance with requirements

recognise opportunities for improvements to procedures

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSLA Analyse data and report results

MSL925001A Analyse data and report results

MSLA Analyse measurements and estimate uncertainties

MSL925002A Analyse measurements and estimate uncertainties.

Resources may include

specialised calibrationtest equipment reference standards and materials and laboratory facilities

access to a library of calibration methods procedures and equipment specifications

laboratory calibration software and programs and manufacturers proprietary software

enterprise quality manual and procedures

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of documented automated procedures modified or developed by the candidate and associated validation data

feedback from supervisors andor customers regarding quality of automated procedures developed or modified by the candidate

observation of the candidate trialing automated procedures as part of their development

oral or written questioning to check underpinning knowledge of automated procedures calibration software and programming techniques used in the laboratory

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

Access must be provided to appropriate learning andor assessment support when required

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

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Background

Automated calibration relies heavily on computers to assist technicians do their jobs While calibration software is used to conduct the actual calibrations it is usually not necessary to know how to program in a computer programming language to conduct the actual tests Most systems do not require highorder programming expertise for generating calibration procedures Often procedures are selfdocumenting and resemble familiar manual procedures Most offtheshelf applications incorporate error checking online help screens tolerance calculation and test uncertainty ratio checking Many systems display illustrations that show connection points or operator locations of adjustments in devices being tested Sample procedures are often provided to guide new users through the steps of writing an automated procedure for an instrument

Calibration

The laboratory supervisor presents a signal generator to a senior calibration technicianspecialist and explains that a client will send another units for calibration if the laboratory can calibrate each item within a day The laboratory currently has an automation station configured to test similar instruments in five hours and therefore the clients request should present no problem On closer inspection the specialist realises that the instrument is fitted with a higherspecification option rendering the laboratorys automated procedure deficient in a number of respects The specialist searches the internal database for something more applicable but concludes that either a new procedure needs to be sourced externally or the current one needs to be modified

Checks on the internet confirm that no suitable procedure has been developed yet so they obtain approval from the supervisor to edit the current one The specialist determines which tests have to be modified and where new instructions have to be compiled They analyse all the equipment specifications including calculating the measurement uncertainties and what data is to be collated Particular attention is paid to highlighting the safety measures that must be observed

On completion of the software program the specialist conducts a dummy run to confirm that the program is bug free A colleague vets the procedure and verifies that each step is technically justified The supervisor emails a copy of the procedure interstate for external validation by means of interlaboratory comparison Following successful feedback the laboratory obtains agreement from the client to use the procedure calibrates the instrument in hours and returns it with a certificate of conformance The automated procedure is entered into the laboratorys database as an authorised procedure and distributed to affiliated laboratories

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Editing or creating automated procedures

Hazards

Safety procedures

Communication

Working environment

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements