The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation may be required to allow for assessment of parts of this unit. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include walk-throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of what-if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk-throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

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

Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to formulate an appropriate surface coating using correct raw materials. In particular:

formulate a decorative coating to customer's requirement

formulate to a cost benefit

manufacture using appropriate equipment

select appropriate test methods

make recommendations to improve formula

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Method of assessment

In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with other relevant units.

Guidance information for assessment

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

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills

This competency includes the following skills:

analysis

selection

discrimination

maths

Required knowledge

Competence in this unit includes the following knowledge:

select appropriate raw materials and have knowledge of their chemistry

select appropriate manufacturing equipment based on their principles of operation

formulation parameters

flow point curves

MSDSs

toxicity and other hazards of raw materials

other OHS requirements

maintenance of records to substantiate and justify chosen formulations

the role of the formulator

the function of raw materials

selection of appropriate raw materials

impact of differing raw material suppliers

principles of dispersion, let down and mixing

identify the different types of equipment used for coating manufacture

establishment of the specification of the product to be formulated

establishment of the manufacturing procedure that will convert the selected raw materials into the specified product on a production scale.

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 italicized wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Codes of practice/ standards

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Context

This competency applies to the practical techniques used by the formulator in the selection of raw materials and their correct combination to develop a new product for the decorative market.

Pigment/binder relationships

Pigment binder relationships include:

specific gravity

weight and volume solids

Pigment/Binder ratio

Pigment Volume Concentration (PVC)

Application methods

Application methods include:

brush

spray

roller.

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

Procedures include all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards. These may include:

manufacturing instructions

work instructions

batch cards

OHS procedures

test methods.

Problems

Typical process and product problems may include:

incorrect equipment

incorrect raw materials

inadequate ventilation when manufacturing

inability to meet customer specifications

inadequate quality control tests

Variables

Key variables to be monitored include:

substrates

physical properties

cost of raw materials

application methods

curing conditions

drying times

Health, safety and environment (HSE)

All operations to which this unit applies 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 HSE requirements take precedence.