Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify enterprise utilities and energy requirements, manage their use and control waste and costs.
Utilities and energy are a significant cost component in the production of meat and meat products. Their efficient use affects the quality of the product, costs and profits.
This unit is particularly applicable to maintenance, engineering, production, environment and finance personnel working in a meat industry context.
At this level individuals exercise considerable responsibility and accountability within enterprise structures and are required to make primary contributions to the values, goals and operations of the enterprise. They will typically have responsibility for establishing and reviewing systems for their site or department. They may be assisted by external experts to develop plans and strategies.
This unit must be delivered in the context of Australian meat industry standards and regulations.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Identify enterprise utility and energy requirements and costs | 1.1 Identify utility and energy requirements for all areas and operations of the enterprise in accordance with workplace, customer and regulatory requirements 1.2 Measure current utility and energy costs and identify impact on profitability 1.3 Determine enterprise's future utility or energy requirements in accordance with enterprise goals and directions 1.4 Include utility and energy requirements and costs in all forward planning |
2. Monitor and control enterprise utility and energy use | 2.1 Establish performance standards and indicators using agreed benchmarks and best practice methods 2.2 Develop team commitment to utility or energy management using consultative approaches 2.3 Develop systems for the accurate monitoring of utility and energy use and costs 2.4 Audit enterprise operations to assess use, misuse and waste of utilities and energy 2.5 Monitor enterprise performance and adjust or correct systems and operations 2.6 Prepare contingency plans for failure of utility or energy supply and service 2.7 Update workplace safety systems and procedures to include requirements for safe use of utilities or energy |
3. Review performance and utility or energy costs | 3.1 Identify, evaluate and recommend strategies and procedures for wastage minimisation and more efficient use of utilities and energy 3.2 Assess alternative utility or energy sources and services for availability, suitability, contribution to sustainability, efficiency of operations and effectiveness of costs 3.3 Recommend appropriate utility or energy services and negotiate utility or energy supply conditions and charges 3.4 Monitor and measure enterprise utility and energy performance 3.5 Analyse and report performance information, including team feedback, to stakeholders 3.6 Prepare and implement recommendations for further improvements |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence must demonstrate the candidate's consistency of performance over time.
The candidate must:
analyse utility or energy tariffs and charges and options available to the enterprise
apply relevant mathematical and communication skills
communicate effectively with internal and external personnel with diverse roles, communication skills and cultural backgrounds to determine utility or energy requirements and use
calculate and analyse enterprise utility or energy costs and their impact on production costs
consult with personnel across the enterprise to identify and resolve utility or energy waste problems
determine current and future utility or energy requirements for enterprise operations, including analysing company goals, conducting utility or energy audits to identify consumption inefficiencies and measuring consumption and cost, including waste, against agreed benchmarks
develop performance measures and indicators for utility or energy consumption and costs, based on benchmarks and enterprise goals
develop strategies for minimising and optimising utility or energy usage, including assessing and monitoring equipment performance, introducing energy efficient plant and equipment, comparing sources and recommending utility or energy substitution, changes to procedures, and assessing and minimising non-working day use of utilities (including lighting)
evaluate, cost and recommend alternative plant, equipment, procedures and utility or energy sources to improve efficiency, including researching sources, reviewing enterprise procedures, evaluating suitable alternatives, and calculating initial and maintenance costs and payback periods
identify and apply relevant workplace health and safety requirements
include safety requirements for use of utility or energy in workplace health and safety systems and procedures
interpret and review performance information and recommend strategies for improvement
manage utility and energy costs, including calculating current utility or energy charges, comparing and recommending supply sources and costs, monitoring utility or energy budget, determining the impact of changes in utility or energy costs on budgets and profitability and taking actions to correct budget variations
prepare contingency plans relating to utility or energy supply failures or incidents, including emergency and safety procedures, alternative supply sources and communication strategies
prepare strategies to spread utility or energy use to avoid supplier peak demand or cost periods
prepare reports, resource proposals and recommendations in styles, formats and language appropriate for relevant audiences
present reports according to legal and enterprise requirements
recommend utility or energy suppliers and negotiate supply and costs
research best practice models in utility or energy assessment, planning, use and sustainability, and assess their applicability for the enterprise
use information and communications technology, including budget and cost modelling software
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate an in depth technical and theoretical knowledge of:
principles and methods of heat transfer and how they impact on utility or energy use, waste and cost
concepts of base load and variable load
principles of demand control, including co-generation or outage, peak load shedding and shifting to minimise costs
use of steam generation process as an energy source for plant
cost components related to the use of utility or energy including capital, purchase, replacement and maintenance costs for plant and equipment, payback periods and net utility or energy costs
enterprise appropriate procedures and systems for measuring utility and energy use and waste
utility or energy supply status and sources available to the enterprise
Assessment Conditions
The candidate must demonstrate competency through sustained performance over time, at an appropriate level of responsibility and authority under typical operating and production conditions for the enterprise.
Assessment must be conducted in a workplace context under normal production and operating conditions.
A minimum of three different forms of assessment must be used.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.