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

Evidence of the ability to:

operate a pad printing machine ensuring an efficient specialised production flow that maintains product quality standards. Any production problems are rectified with minimum downtime. The machine is correctly shut down and cleaned according to OHS guidelines

demonstrate use of computerised control, monitoring and data entry systems if available and appropriate

demonstrate an ability to find and use information relevant to the task from a variety of information sources

produce TWO complex pad printing jobs (if possible on different substrates) according to job specifications, enterprise procedures and the Performance Criteria

evidence for assessment may be gathered from assessment of the unit of competency alone or through an integrated assessment activity.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

assessment may take place on the job, off the job or a combination of these. Off the job assessment must be undertaken in a closely simulated workplace environment

a pad printing machine.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

ICPPR342C Produce complex pad printed product

ICPPR441C Set up for complex pad printing.

Required skills

OHS in relation to operating machinery such as safely switching off machinery before cleaning is started

communication of ideas and information by providing feedback to internal and external clients about printing processes and job specifications

collecting, analysing and organising information by identifying and recording specialised production practices

planning and organising activities by adjusting the production process to achieve specialised printing requirements

teamwork when communicating with work team members and workers involved in prior and subsequent processes to ensure efficient production

mathematical ideas and techniques by calculating consumables and personnel requirements to meet production schedules

problem-solving skills by adjusting machinery settings to determine the required tolerances to meet specialised requirements

use of technology by using machinery to produce specialised pad printed product

Required knowledge

major OHS concerns when operating this machine

MSDSs that are stored and the information do they contain

improvement of the colour density of a light image on a dark substrate by selection of a different machine cycle mode

selection of the appropriate machine cycle mode to provide the highest production output for a particular product

special cycle modes that are available on your machine and their application

determining that the ink has been mixed to the correct viscosity

correcting ink viscosity during production

causes of unreleased ink remaining on the printing pad and how do you identify them

effect of adding a catalyst on the pot life of ink and other factors that affect pot life

recognising a damaged pad

correct method of cleaning a pad during production

effect of different pad shapes for different colours In multicoloured printing

determining the time the ink should take to cure before scratch and adhesion tests can be performed

method that can be used to check for correct pre-treatment of polypropylene during production

ensuring the correct drying conditions for the product

effects that will be visible in the image if the ink viscosity is incorrect

identifying the cause of incorrect registration and preventing its recurrence

cause of a fine coating of ink over the whole cliché surface

machine manuals, safety and other documentation that are relevant to this task and where they are kept and information that is included in these documents

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.

Inks/coatings may include:

range of standard inks commonly used in multicoloured printing.

Machines may include:

a range of pad printing machines with manual, semi-automated, fully automated or computerised operation.

Colour matching systems may include:

use of visual colour assessment to match basic standard colours and/or Pantone shades under controlled lighting conditions.

Design may include:

multicoloured, complex graphics and text. Critical tight registration, fit and position

pre- and post-treatment processes

range of pre- and post-treatment techniques used in pad printing.

Substrate types may include:

range of substrates within the major categories of paper, wood, glass (ceramics), plastics, metal.

Substrate handling may include:

manual handling.

Specialised may include:

specialised within this context relates to the set up and production of print runs that involve new products, or a new mix of substrates and inks that requires a certain amount of problem solving and experimentation with the substrate and press settings. The set up of equipment and production involves the development of new set up and production approaches based on solving technical problems arising from new product or equipment combinations.