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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan own work requirements.
   • Identify equipment and processes used for production process and upstream and downstream operations from production plan or request.
   • Identify component, electrode and bath materials.
   • Recognise hazards and follow appropriate hazard control/minimisation methods.
   • Identify and check emergency stops, guards and controls Identify requirements for materials, quality, production and equipment checks.
   • Identify materials, waste management and housekeeping needs.
2. Check electroplating process set-up.
   • Determine equipment requirements.
   • Set process to specifications as required.
   • Set up and adjust bath conditions.
   • Check materials are correct.
   • Check racking, baskets or supports are as required.
   • Discard, or make adjustments to the process for, non-conforming materials.
   • Set up date, batch and materials markings to specifications, as required.
   • Complete other pre-start checks in accordance with procedures.
3. Operate electroplating equipment.
   • Start equipment safely and correctly to procedures.
   • Load components to be plated onto racks, supports or fixtures.
   • Compare measures of plating deposition and quality against specifications.
   • Monitor controls including operating temperatures, voltage/current relationships, plating time.
   • Record production data as required.
   • Shut down equipment safely and correctly to procedures.
4. Anticipate and solve problems.
   • Recognise a problem or a potential problem.
   • Determine problems needing priority action.
   • Refer problems outside area of responsibility to appropriate person, with possible causes.
   • Seek information and assistance as required to solve problems.
   • Solve problems within area of responsibility.
   • Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred.

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Application of knowledge of the materials equipment and process sufficient to recognise material and equipment conditions which may lead to out of specification production

Knowledge of organization procedures and relevant regulatory requirements along with the ability to implement them within appropriate time constraints and work standards

Competence includes the ability for the practical completion of the job to apply andor explain

products materials and material characteristics

quality requirements at each production stage

different types of electroplating material

nature of plating solutions

relationship between electrical controls for baths

controls of electroplating equipment and explain purpose

safety procedures and the use of PPE in relation to handling materials equipment operation and cleanup

the hierarchy of control including engineering controls

waste management and importance of nonconforming materials

material properties and their interactions with process conditions

relationships between material properties and process conditions

changes to material properties to better suit process requirements

product problems related to material properties

product problems related to process conditions

adjustments to process conditions to meet material and product requirements

Competency also includes the ability to

plan own work including predicting consequences and identifying improvements

identify and describe own role and role of others involved directly in the process

identify factors which may affect product quality or production output and appropriate remedies

identify when the operator is able to rectify faults and when assistance is required

Language literacy and numeracy requirements

This unit requires the ability to read and interpret typical product specifications job sheets and material labels as provided to operators

Writing is required to the level of completing workplace forms and production reports

Basic numeracy is required eg to determine how many kg kg and kg bags are needed to make up a requirement for kg

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria Required Skills and Knowledge the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package

Overview of assessment

A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment

Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole as defined by the Elements Performance Criteria and skills and knowledge

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

It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit These may include the ability to

identify critical materials properties and electroplating process characteristics in relation to the process requirements and the end product

take appropriate action to observe equipment materials and products for out of specification results make adjustments and identify problems to be reported

Consistent performance should be demonstrated For example look to see that

production quality and output standards are met consistently

the process runs consistently and smoothly

Assessment method and context

Assessment will occur on industrial electroplating equipment and will be undertaken in a worklike environment

Competence in this unit may be assessed

on a processing plant allowing for operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions

in a situation allowing for the generation of evidence of the ability to respond to problems

by using a suitable simulation andor a range of case studiesscenarios

through a combination of these techniques

In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge and theoretical assessment will be combined with appropriate practicalsimulation or similar assessment Assessors need to be aware of any cultural issues that may affect responses to questions

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

Specific resources for assessment

This section should be read in conjunction with the Range Statement for this unit of competency Resources required include suitable access to an operating plant or equipment that allows for appropriate and realistic simulation A bank of case studiesscenarios and questions will also be required to the extent that they form part of the assessment method Questioning may take place either in the workplace or in an adjacent quiet facility such as an office or lunchroom No other special resources are required

Access must be provided to appropriate learning andor assessment support when required Where applicable physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities

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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. Add any 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.

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

Context

This competency applies to advanced operators demonstrating some relevant theoretical knowledge and using a range of well developed skills requiring some discretion and judgement.

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

Procedures means all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.

Tools and equipment

This competency includes use of equipment and tools such as:

hand tools as required

racks, baskets, clips or supports

pre-treatment baths

plating baths and equipment

relevant personal protective equipment.

Hazards

Typical hazards include:

hazardous plating materials

electrical equipment and controls

manual handling

humidity, air temperatures, radiant heat, hot surfaces

stationary and moving machinery, parts and components.

Problems

'Anticipate and solve problems' means resolve a wide range of routine and non-routine problems, using product and process knowledge to develop solutions to problems which do not have a known solution/a solution recorded in the procedures.

Typical process and product problems may include:

plating solution contamination or out of specification

electrode material contamination or wrong material/grade

equipment settings

temperature variations

process variations

sequencing problems

poor surface coverage contamination

plating thickness variation blemishes

missing detail.

Variables

Key variables to be monitored include:

plating speed

current density

surface condition

product size and complexity

coating material

solution concentrations.

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