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Elements and Performance Criteria
Required Skills
Evidence Required
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. ContextThis competency applies to technicians who develop new compounds/formulations or who make significant modifications to existing compounds. They will typically be based in a laboratory/office or similar and will also have responsibility for ensuring the new compound works in the factory.A technician working at this level would typically take the lead responsibility for the development of a new compound, but may work with other technicians of similar or greater responsibility for large or complex projects or as part of the development of a new productCompoundCompound is used to mean any mixture of materials which is undertaken to a set formula and in specified proportions.TestsTests includes the normal range of physical, chemical and environmental (weathering) tests which might be applied to the product.Identify polymersIdentification of base polymer is a necessary starting point for any compound, but this competency does not necessarily require the choosing of a polymer from an understanding of its characteristics. Identification may be done in liaison with others, or by choosing the base polymer used in other products with similar requirements.Select componentsSelecting of components, and the proportions of components to be used should be done from a knowledge of a wide range of possible components, the properties each would bring to the compound, the relative advantages and disadvantages of each and the change in compound properties with changing amounts of each component.ProceduresAll 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. Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)All operations are subject to stringent Health, Safety and Environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the technician needs to ensure the HSE requirements take precedence.