Diploma of Sustainable Operations

This qualification provides the skills and knowledge required to work in a technical, supervisory or operational role in sustainability in an organisation and/or it’s value chain (e.g. suppliers of goods or services, or customers). The qualification has been developed with manufacturing operations as a focus. However, because of the range of organisations in a typical manufacturing value chain it may also be applied to other types of organisations.

The qualification packaging has been developed on an assumption that competency will be developed through a combination of on and off-the-job learning strategies.

Job roles/employment outcomes

The MSS50111 Diploma of Sustainability specifies the competencies required for employment in job roles related to assisting organisations to improve sustainability and to meet their obligations under sustainability related regulatory arrangements, government or similar incentives, or other initiatives that apply to their operations.

Employment outcomes related to this qualification may include specialist roles, such as a sustainability manager, or the qualification can provide specialist sustainability competencies to technical, supervisory or operational employees.

This qualification provides sustainability skills that can be applied inside an organisation and its value chain. Examples include:

manufacturing enterprises

organisations in a value chain, such as:

suppliers

customers

distributors, warehouses, transport suppliers and other logistics support organisations

professional service suppliers to manufacturing, for example, legal, engineering, accounting and auditing suppliers

sustainability consulting enterprises.


Subjects

To be awarded the MSS50111 Diploma of Sustainable Operations, competency must be achieved in twenty (20) units of competency.

six (6) core units of competency

fourteen (14) elective units of competency, as specified below.

Note: Units with prerequisites are marked with an asterisk. Refer to the unit for details.

Core units of competency

Complete the following six (6) units of competency.

Unit code

Unit title

P

add topic MSS015001A

Measure and report carbon footprint

add topic MSS015002A

Develop strategies for more sustainable use of resources

add topic MSS015007A

Develop a business case for sustainability improvements

add topic MSS015008A

Develop strategic sustainability plans

add topic MSS015009A

Implement sustainability plans

add topic MSACMT671A

Develop and manage sustainable environmental practices

Elective units of competency

Complete fourteen (14) units of competency, made up of:

a minimum of seven (7) units from Group A

a minimum of three (3) units from Group B

the balance of units, to a maximum of four (4), may be selected from:

Group A or B units, not previously selected

Group C elective units, listed below.

Group A: Specialist sustainability elective units

Unit code

Unit title

P

add topic MSS014001A

Improve sustainability through readily implementable change

add topic MSS015003A

Analyse product lifecycle for sustainability

add topic MSS015004A

Design sustainable product or process

add topic MSS015005A

Develop required sustainability reports

add topic MSS015006A

Report to Global Reporting Initiative guidelines

add topic MSS015010A

Conduct a sustainability water audit

add topic MSS015011A

Conduct a sustainability energy audit

add topic MSS015012A

Conduct an emissions audit

add topic MSS015013A

Conduct a sustainability related transport audit

add topic MSS015014A

Develop response to sustainability related regulation

add topic MSS015015A

Evaluate sustainability impact of a process

add topic MSS015016A

Implement and monitor reengineering for sustainability

add topic MSS015017A

Develop regulated sustainability reports

add topic MSS015018A

Inform and educate organisation and community representatives on sustainability issues

add topic MSACMT670A

Develop and manage sustainable energy practices

add topic PMASUP520B

Review procedures to minimise environmental impact of process

add topic PMASUP620B

Manage environmental management system

Group B: Elective units

Unit code

Unit title

P

add topic MSS025001A

Assist with assessing site environmental indicators

*

add topic MSS025002A

Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process

*

add topic MSACMC610A

Manage relationships with non-customer external organisations

add topic MSACMC611A

Manage people relationships

add topic MSACMC612A

Manage workplace learning

add topic MSACMC613A

Facilitate holistic culture improvement in a manufacturing enterprise

add topic MSACMC614A

Develop a communications strategy to support production

add topic MSACMS600A

Develop a competitive manufacturing system

add topic MSACMS601A

Analyse and map a value chain

*

add topic MSACMS602A

Manage a value chain

*

add topic MSACMS603A

Develop manufacturing related business plans

add topic MSACMT452A

Apply statistics to processes in manufacturing

add topic MSACMT620A

Develop quick changeover procedures

add topic MSACMT621A

Develop a Just in Time (JIT) system

*

add topic MSACMT631A

Undertake value analysis of product costs in terms of customer requirements

*

add topic MSACMT632A

Analyse cost implications of maintenance strategy

add topic MSACMT640A

Manage 5S system in a manufacturing environment

add topic MSACMT641A

Implement a continuous improvement system

add topic MSACMT650A

Determine and improve process capability

*

add topic MSACMT660A

Develop the application of enterprise systems in manufacturing

add topic MSACMT661A

Determine and establish information collection requirements and processes

add topic MSACMT662A

Develop a documentation control strategy for a manufacturing enterprise

add topic MSACMT675A

Facilitate the development of a new product

*

add topic MSACMT681A

Develop a proactive maintenance strategy

add topic MSAENV672B

Develop workplace policy and procedures for sustainability

add topic MSAPMOHS510A

Manage risk

Group C: Elective units

Unit code

Unit title

P

add topic MSS024003A

Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

add topic MSACMC410A

Lead change in a manufacturing environment

add topic MSACMS400A

Implement a competitive manufacturing system

add topic MSACMT230A

Apply cost factors to work practices

add topic MSACMT260A

Use planning software systems in manufacturing

add topic MSACMT261A

Use SCADA systems in manufacturing

add topic MSACMT280A

Undertake root cause analysis

add topic MSACMT423A

Monitor a manufacturing levelled pull system

add topic MSACMT451A

Mistake proof a production process

add topic MSACMT453A

Use six sigma techniques

*

add topic MSACMT460A

Facilitate the use of planning software systems in manufacturing

*

add topic MSACMT481A

Undertake proactive maintenance analyses

add topic MSAPMSUP390A

Use structured problem solving tools

A maximum of four (4) elective units may be selected from this Training Package, other endorsed Training Packages and accredited courses, where those units are available at Diploma level. Units chosen should be relevant to the workplace and would normally be drawn from the appropriate sector Training Package, or possibly the Business Services Training Package.


Pathways...

    Pathways into the qualification

    This qualification has no formal entry requirement due to the wide variety of sustainability applications in industry. However, most enterprises will expect technical skills relevant to their operations or equivalent vocational experience and for this reason the qualification is unlikely to be suitable for direct entry from school.

    Pathways from the qualification

    Further training pathways from this qualification include the MSS70111 Vocational Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Operations.

    Additional qualification advice

    This qualification provides the skills needed to measure current sustainability performance and to establish processes for improved sustainability performance within organisations. It complements but does not duplicate qualifications supplying technical skills related to engineering, chemical, environmental and other technical analyses that may be needed for improving sustainability. Where these skills are required appropriate qualifications from other Training Packages, such as the MEM05 Metal and Engineering, PMA08 Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining and MSA07 Manufacturing Training Packages, should be considered.


Entry Requirements

This qualification has no formal entry requirement due to the wide variety of sustainability applications in industry.


Licensing Information

There are no specific licences that relate to this qualification.


Employability Skills

The following table contains a summary of the employability skills as identified by industry for this qualification. This table should be interpreted in conjunction with the detailed requirements of each unit of competency packaged in this qualification. The outcomes described here are broad industry requirements that reflect skill requirements for this level.

Employability Skill

Industry/enterprise requirements for this qualification include:

Communication

Manage implementation sustainability improvement procedures and develop and distribute related information

Develop standardised documentation on behalf of an area or group of work teams

Share and discuss information with others about enterprise activities

Develop and communicate workplace procedures

Provide information and clarifications to team leaders and other employees on workplace procedures in relation to sustainability

Provide and interpret instructions, specifications, standard operating procedures and other work-related documents

Provide assistance or information to relevant personnel

Debrief on workplace changes with relevant stakeholders

Record production, emissions and other work-related information

Access and use workplace communication tools and equipment

Apply numeracy skills to work procedures

Provide information about team activities to managers, supervisors and customers

Teamwork

Identify roles of work teams where teamwork is used as the form of work organisation

Supervise and lead others in a production environment

Share work-related information with peers, including team members, supervisors and management

Identify hazards to employees and visitors

Identify the value chain and advise other employees as to how they can contribute to the final quality of the product

Review changes to work practices and work relationships with team leaders and other employees

Provide assistance with planning work operations as required

Seek assistance with work operations from specialists and other employees as required

Participate in multidisciplinary teams as required

Problem solving

Monitor production and maintenance activities

Analyse inconsistencies, non-compliances, faults or hazards

Identify factors within work area that are a constraint to work efficiency or reaching of production outcomes

Identify essential and non-essential practices

Implement methods of increasing features/benefits of products or processes

Monitor responsibilities of teams and make improvements to work organisation

Identify process steps which cause a problem and implement improvement processes

Monitor sustainability performance and implement improvement processes

Compare shift or area required performance with actual performance

Identify situations where compliance to specifications or safety standards is unlikely

Identify, recommend and implement improvements

Identify causes of identified faults and take appropriate action

Investigate causes of deviations from targets and standards in relation to sustainability

Undertake root cause analysis

Initiative and enterprise

Manage procedures and systems for optimum outcomes

Analyse feedback on procedures and systems

Analyse problems, implications or suggestions for improvements

Adjust work activities according to changes in customer requirements

Identify methods of increasing contribution of work teams to sustainability

Identify and implement changes and improvements

Monitor processes and equipment to ensure cost efficiency

Implement and monitor work practices to reduce waste

Participate in multidisciplinary teams to develop new products or processes

Planning and organising

Ensure work areas comply with sustainability obligations and requirements

Identify and manage processes, tools and materials

Implement improvements in accordance with procedures

Distinguish between essential and non-essential practices

Implement use of planning tools within work of teams

Determine and prioritise required actions

Collect, organise and analyse information from work activities

Monitor work activities according to safety and workplace standards

Set production targets and outcomes

Interpret data and information as required by own job

Ask questions to ensure there is understanding of work requirements in teams and among other employees

Self-management

Recommend methods of increasing own contribution to the value chain

Adjust work processes according to procedures and customer requirements

Identify and manage impact of change in own work

Minimise waste in own work activity

Assess own work performance

Set personal objectives for work performance

Manage own time

Learning

Identify skill requirements of self and team members

Arrange skill development training for self and others

Adapt to changing work requirements

Ask questions to aid learning of others

Identify personal skill gaps and additional skill needs

Ask questions to ensure understanding of own work requirements

Monitor own work and identify areas for improvement

Seek feedback on work performance

Provide feedback on work performance to team leaders and team members

Technology

Monitor technology to ensure sustainability according to legislative requirements and workplace standards

Identify equipment and processes appropriate for jobs and skill levels of employees

Provide appropriate equipment to ensure safety and efficiency according to skill levels of employees

Assess operational efficiency of technology within own skill level and that of team members

Analyse data and other information from equipment reports

Use information technology appropriate for job

Manage maintenance procedures appropriate to job and processes according to skill levels of team members