Required skills

Required skills include

using software application features and instructions to input save analyse sort retrieve and display the records or data

using software for the analysis reporting and management of laboratory and field data and information

using inhouse software manuals to augment skills and solve operational problems

selecting the most appropriate software package for the task

backing up electronic storage

using scanning software to protect inhouse software and data

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

applications of the software package

terminology associated with the software packages

basic knowledge of the types of spreadsheet database data analysispackages that are available

application ofspecific software package features torelevantlaboratory tasks

relationship between the protocol for data input and file storage of the data

general file and record maintenance

relevant health safety and environment requirements

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

select the most appropriate software package for the task from the suite of software applications available

use routine instruction sets of the software package to complete the task

use software to analyse data such as quality control and instrument performance characteristics

back up electronic storage

use scanning software to protect inhouse software and data

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

relevant MSL series units of competency

relevant MSL series units of competency

Resources may include

access to a computer network or a personal computer

software packages that include a database package spreadsheet statistical analysis and simple graphics output

input and output data

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of analysis tasks linking test results to the generation of meaningful reports by the candidate

review of simple statistical andor graphical analysis of quality control data completed by the candidate

oral and written exercises in preparation for keyboard activities

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

Manufacturing

A laboratory technician performs tests on starting materials such as appearance identity melting point moisture content trace elements sulfated ash and assay The results are entered in a computer database that allows trend analysis to be carried out on the test results for materials from each supplier As a result the technician may recognise when a supplier is experiencing potential problems with their production process The technician would then notify the supervisor andor supplier that there is a high probability that future supplies may be out of specification and that constant monitoring of starting materials will be required

Biomedical

An important task of the technical officer in a pathology laboratory is to perform statistical analysis for quality control purposes The software package provides for the input of data analysis of mean value and variance as well as graphical reporting The technical officer uses a dedicated software package or a package within the customised pathology data management system in order to assess the validity of the results produced from the analytical instrument

Food processing

A technical officer is required to perform a nutrient analysis of a food product the results of which will be displayed on the food container The output from the nutrient analysis is fed into a software program that calculates the levels of these components per portion and per g and displays the information in the correct tabular format The software package is designed so that the technical officer can input new data or access existing data and manipulate that data to provide a full and accurate nutrient display or report

Codes of practice

Information sources

Software packages

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements