Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

MSS017007A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Design for sustainability

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSS017007A - Design for sustainability
Description This unit of competency covers the designing of a new product, or the redesigning of an existing product as a sustainable product or to improve its sustainability. It may be applied to a physical product, a service or some other type of ‘product’.
Employability Skills Not applicable.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit is a Vocational Graduate Certificate unit and follows the AQF guidelines for such units in that it assumes an entry qualification, such as:an Advanced Diploma or Diploma in sustainability or relevant technical field,a Bachelor Degree in a relevant technical fieldother relevant higher education qualifications, often with relevant vocational practicerelevant extensive vocational practice, without formal qualifications but which result in appropriate entry level skills.This unit covers the analysis of the benefit received by the consumer and then an examination of how best this benefit can be delivered to maximise both the benefit and the sustainability of this benefit. It includes an analysis of the cradle to grave/cradle to cradle impacts of the product and the various sustainability impacts along the value chain.This unit will lead to the design specification for a sustainable/more sustainable product. It does not include the implementation of that design.It would typically be undertaken by a manager or senior technologist who has a significant sustainability responsibility work role.Skills covered by this unit may be applied individually or in a team context.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Define the benefit received by the customer
  • Select an existing or potential new product for analysis
  • Determine who the customers are for the product
  • Determine uses of product by customers
  • Analyse the benefits received by the customer from using the product
  • Define and rank the benefits received
  • Validate benefits in an appropriate manner
       
Element: Develop alternative ways of delivering benefit
  • Brainstorm alternative methods of delivering required benefits
  • Brainstorm related benefits which may also be able to be delivered
  • Analyse sustainability impacts of each alternative
  • Consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate
  • Rank alternatives by sustainability
  • Prepare an initial business case for top ranked alternatives
       
Element: Develop product and process design
  • Develop product design specification for alternatives most likely to be implemented
  • Determine likely production process for alternatives most likely to be implemented
  • Analyse life cycle sustainability for alternatives most likely to be implemented
  • Select alternative to develop
  • Consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate
  • Confirm selected alternative does deliver key customer benefits
       
Element: Confirm design for selected alternative
  • Develop and document product specification
  • Develop and document key production process parameters
  • Consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate
  • Prepare business case for implementing selected alternative
  • Negotiate solutions to value chain issues caused by changed design
       
Element: Communicate required responses as appropriate
  • Identify what communications are required and to whom
  • Prepare appropriate reports and recommendations
  • Pitch reports and recommendations, as appropriate
  • Brief appropriate persons as required by determined responses
  • Finalise appropriate recording
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to determine the sustainability related benefits sought by customers for products and design a product to maximise the identified sustainability related benefits.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

determining customer benefit

identifying and ranking alternative ways of providing that benefit

specifying preferred, sustainable alternative

communicating the above, as appropriate.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Method of assessment

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Required skills include:

using lateral thinking techniques

conducting market research

writing and interpreting specifications, operating procedures, manuals, regulations and other complex documents

consulting and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders

conducting life cycle analysis

analysing and problem solving, including root cause analysis

interpreting and manipulating data

drafting reports

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

process and changes which occur at each step in selected value chain

principles of sustainability

sustainability impacts at different points in the value chain

principles of sustainable design

the sustainability hierarchy

sources and transport of materials and components and alternatives

processes for producing products, and alternatives

life cycle analysis techniques

hierarchy of hazard control and its application to sustainability hazards

relevant legislation, regulation and protocols, government incentives and other initiatives

risk analysis and its application to sustainability risks

Sustainability

Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:

survival of the ecology/physical environment (to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment)

economic viability (efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business)

social sustainability (to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community)

Product

Product may include:

physical product

service

some other type of product

A product will be something which is produced/developed for/provided to a customer or client

Benefit

Benefit includes, but is not limited to, consideration of the:

deliverable the customer expects

location in which it should occur

timing, duration, frequency and longevity of the deliverable

value to the customer

required maintenance and other ‘running’ inputs

disposal/replacement required by the customer

the degree to which the designed product is:

portable

modular

reusable

recyclable

returnable

easily able to be repaired after malfunction

durable

aesthetics

price

Alternative methods of delivering benefits

Alternative methods of delivering benefits may include:

selling a redesigned product

selling the benefit obtained from the product rather than the product

selling a combination of physical product and service rather than either

leasing (or similar) of the above

providing buy back/take back or similar

other alternative strategies

Alternatives to be considered also include design for:

reuse

remanufacture

recycling

Portion of the value chain

Value chain is the sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value/product (good or service). Portion of the value chain includes sections internal or external to the organisation

Sustainability issues of particular relevance

Sustainability issues of particular relevance include:

particular sensitivities of the local ecology, such as:

endangered species

sensitive local flora/fauna

material scarcity

water availability

general ecology issues and regulations, such as:

climate change and carbon footprint

pollution control measures

particular local social issues, such as:

distortions to the housing market

disruption to local lifestyles

general social issues, such as:

corporate citizenship

use or/deterioration to infrastructure

particular local economic issues, such as:

cost of capital

profit margins

competition

general economic issues, such as

state of the economy

stage of the business cycle

Appropriate response

Appropriate response includes:

application of the hierarchy of hazard control to sustainability hazards

when the impact cannot be prevented application of mitigation and amelioration techniques, such as:

capture and storage (e.g. scrubbing) and similar ‘end of pipe’ solutions

dilution/dispersion and similar techniques which reduce concentration but not amount

other approaches which meet the sustainability requirements

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Select an existing or potential new product for analysis 
Determine who the customers are for the product 
Determine uses of product by customers 
Analyse the benefits received by the customer from using the product 
Define and rank the benefits received 
Validate benefits in an appropriate manner 
Brainstorm alternative methods of delivering required benefits 
Brainstorm related benefits which may also be able to be delivered 
Analyse sustainability impacts of each alternative 
Consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate 
Rank alternatives by sustainability 
Prepare an initial business case for top ranked alternatives 
Develop product design specification for alternatives most likely to be implemented 
Determine likely production process for alternatives most likely to be implemented 
Analyse life cycle sustainability for alternatives most likely to be implemented 
Select alternative to develop 
Consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate 
Confirm selected alternative does deliver key customer benefits 
Develop and document product specification 
Develop and document key production process parameters 
Consult with relevant stakeholders, as appropriate 
Prepare business case for implementing selected alternative 
Negotiate solutions to value chain issues caused by changed design 
Identify what communications are required and to whom 
Prepare appropriate reports and recommendations 
Pitch reports and recommendations, as appropriate 
Brief appropriate persons as required by determined responses 
Finalise appropriate recording 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS017007A - Design for sustainability
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

MSS017007A - Design for sustainability

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: