Required skills

Required skills include

analysing trial objectives and specifications to accurately determine resource requirements

liaising with relevant personnel to ensure trials are organised and conducted efficiently

following safety requirements

working within production constraints priorities and pressures

communicating effectively with personnel

collecting accurate trial data and samples in the time available

recognising interpreting and reporting problems atypical situations or unacceptable products

recommending product modifications and improvements

reporting trial outcomes in accordance with enterprise procedures

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

trial objectives laboratory trial requirements documentation and reporting requirements

recipesformulations technical specifications and quality parameters for trial products

effect on product properties of variations in recipesformulations

product properties process stages and unit operations involved in the trial

relationship between temperature and viscosity

friction pumping and fluid flow

expected naturecondition of materials at each process stage

causes and remedies for common processing problems associated with trial products

sampling and test methods for trial products

occupational health and safety OHS food safety and or environmental management procedures relevant to trial

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

analyse trial objectives and specifications to accurately determine resource requirements

liaise with relevant personnel to ensure trials are organised and conducted efficiently

follow all safety requirements on the production floor

work within production constraints priorities and pressures

communicate effectively with personnel

collect accurate trial data and samples in the time available

recognise interpret and report problems atypical situations or unacceptable products

recommend product modifications and improvements within scope of responsibility

report trial outcomes in accordance with enterprise 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 Process and interpret data

MSL924001A Process and interpret data

relevant MSL series units of competency

relevant MSL series units of competency

Resources may include

access to operating plant or pilot plant for duration of trials

trials sampling and testing enterprise procedures for

sampling containers and sampling equipment

test equipment laboratory instruments and reagents

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of trial documentation completed by candidate to ensure quality and timeliness

feedback from personnel involved in trials supervisors

observation of candidate participating in production trials

oral or written questioning to check underpinning knowledge of trial procedures sampling and test methods common causes and remedies for productprocessing problems

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 new manufacturing plant has been constructed to produce titanium dioxide TiO for use in food and paint manufacture An experienced laboratory technician is involved in the plants commissioning process which has been designed by plant engineers The commissioning involves trial operation of each section of the plant to achieve intermediate products such as titanium tetrachloride TiCl of acceptable quality for use in subsequent stages The technician provides input to the trials by collecting and testing samples analysing the results and providing regular reports to the engineers The importance of the technicians work cannot be overestimated They have to work under tight time deadlines quality requirements and the overall pressure of commissioning the plant on time and within budget

Food processing

The laboratory is notified of an upcoming trial for sour cream using a new starter culture A technician is assigned to perform the laboratory assessment of the trial The technician discusses with the production supervisor about when the cream will be cultured It is agreed that the technician will monitor the fermentation collect samples and coordinate testing of the final product The technician obtains protective footwear and hearing protection to wear while in the production area On the day of the trial the technician calibrates the process pH meter and monitors the pH of the vat as fermentation progresses Once the desired pH is reached the technician advises the production team to commence packing of the product After collecting samples of the final product from the start middle and end of packing the technician records the sample details and distributes the sample for both internal and external laboratory testing Final product results are collated by the technician who reports any out of specification results to the quality and production departments

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Product properties, process stages and unit operations involved in the trial

Trial specifications

Hazards

Safety procedures and hazard control measures

Resources

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements