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.

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

Assessment for this unit of competency will be on the job.

It is essential that the process and equipment be understood and that the importance of critical material properties, settings and readings is known. Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

waste is minimised

product is made efficiently and to standard

tools and equipment are appropriately maintained.

Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this unit of competency.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require the fabrication of suitable objects using closed mould techniques.

Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Method of assessment

Typically, persons engaged in composites trade work are required to apply their skills and techniques across a range of jobs and specifications.

A single assessment event is not appropriate. On the job assessment must be included as part of the assessment process. Assessment judgements must consider evidence of the candidate's performance in a productive work environment that includes a sufficient range of appropriate tasks and materials to cover the scope of application for this unit.

Assessors should gather a range of evidence that is valid, sufficient, current and authentic. Evidence can be gathered through a variety of ways including direct observation, supervisor's reports, project work, samples and questioning. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

The candidate must have access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required. The candidate must be permitted to refer to any relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications, codes, standards, manuals and reference materials.

Guidance information for assessment

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

Required skills

Required skills include:

resin infusion:

applying tack tape

applying bag (pleats, sits well, and so on)

inlet and outlet plumbing (connect/disconnect)

managing flow medium (e.g. cloth)

managing cores, as required

managing flow and gel times (relationship to positioning and spacing of lines)

managing and monitoring vacuum pressure

monitoring cure cycles

checking for leaks

accessing and operating relevant computer programs

vacuum bagging:

see infusion + protect bag from contamination

applying breather cloth/films

applying of peel ply

achieving correct ply location and orientation

using release processes

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

reinforcement and lay-up schedules (e.g. layers of reinforcement, direction and darts)

release systems and processes

tool sealing

gel coating

sealing of mould (use of tack tape (e.g. butyl (or other) mastic and mechanical seals and clamps)

vacuum and vacuum systems, adjustment and measurement, and vacuum control (e.g. switches, controls and regulators)

resin systems applicable to process (e.g. vacuum infusion or vacuum bagging – polyester and epoxy)

gel times and working times

initiator/catalyst or hardener rates to temperature (hot/cold)

free amine/amine blushes

heat curing requirements and how it is done (e.g. ovens, hot bonders (blankets), and autoclaves)

heat curves

TG (glass transition)

understand design briefs (e.g. tool design and part lines)

Darcy’s Law and its application to the flow of resins through porous media (e.g. reinforcing and cores)

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.

Procedures

Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form, and may include:

all work instructions

standard operating procedures

formulas/recipes

batch sheets

temporary instructions

any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant

good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. Responsible Care) and government regulations

Requirements of product

Requirements of product may be determined from various sources, including:

drawings

product specifications

customer requests

descriptions of required use of product

Closed moulding techniques

Closed moulding techniques include techniques which may have several names, including:

resin infusion under flexible tooling (RIFT)

vacuum bagging

This may also be applied to other closed moulding techniques

Mould equipment

Mould equipment includes major items and ancillary items and may also include consumable equipment, such as:

airlines

catchpots

moulds and mould components

infusion system for laminate

Prepare reinforcing

Preparing reinforcing includes:

cutting to size/shape, as required

any pre-treatment required

Logs and reports

Logs and reports may include:

paper or electronic based

verbal reports

items found which require action

Appropriate action

Appropriate action includes:

determining problems needing action

determining possible fault causes

rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility

following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred

reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person

Typical problems

Typical problems may include:

dead spots trapping air

resin curing too quickly

resin curing too slowly

Health, safety and environment (HSE)

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent HSE requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory 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 HSE requirements take precedence