FDFRB4006A
Explore and apply baking techniques to develop new products

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply baking techniques to create new products that respond to consumer demand or extend commercial offerings of enterprise.

Application

This unit has application in a retail baking environment. It targets application of baking, cooking and food preparation skills and knowledge to create and develop baking products and may include development of products to meet the dietary, religious or cultural needs of customers. This unit includes confirming commercial viability of product development activity and ensuring legislative requirements are adhered to.

New products may be new to the enterprise or a variation of existing products. Exploration may involve variations to ingredients or processes to refine the taste, texture, aroma, dietary value, religious or cultural appropriateness, or presentation of the product.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

Identify and refine product ideas

Marketplace opportunity and product ideas are identified

Marketplace testing is conducted to assess market acceptance of ideas and feedback used to refine concept

Product concept is developed and documented to determine production requirements

Commercial viability of product concept is estimated

Legislative requirements relating to product development are identified and compliance ensured

Product concept proposal is documented and features and benefits of product described

Prepare for product development

Ingredients and equipment required for production are checked for availability and readiness and ingredient orders completed if required

Technical aspects of development are identified and production plan prepared

Work area is prepared according to workplace food safety standards

Work is conducted according to workplace environmental guidelines

Apply baking skills and knowledge

Production plan is followed and results documented

Baking skills are applied to experiment with ingredients and production process and assess impacts of variations to product outcome

Variations to product concept are identified

Packaging and presentation requirements for product are identified and shelf life determined

Process and findings are documented

Evaluate product concept

Technical integrity of the product is assessed against quality standards of enterprise and expectation

Market testing is conducted to assess product acceptance

Commercial viability of actual production is reassessed and evaluated against enterprise requirements

Variations and improvements to process and outcome are identified

Product is reproduced to confirm final specifications

Product concept is documented and process specified to ensure consistent quality and commercial standards are achieved

Required Skills

Required skills

Ability to:

identify market opportunities and assess value to enterprise

conduct basic market testing of product ideas and outcomes

cost ingredients and production processes to determine estimated and actual costs

identify the ingredients and method used to produce product

assess baking process and make adjustments

determine product assembly and presentation

present product proposal

assess commercial viability of products

evaluate technical properties of product

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

work cooperatively within a culturally diverse workforce

research and present information

Required knowledge

Knowledge of:

sources of information on local market, product range and performance of similar products

expected quality and taste of products to meet business and customer expectations

baking methods used to produce retail bakery products relevant to the business

availability of ingredients and processing equipment required by new product

food safety issues related to production, preparation, presentation and storage of product

methods of gaining customer feedback (e.g. conducting tastings)

methods of estimating fixed and variable costs, and profit margin to determine sale price range

trade practice issues when pricing products

Evidence Required

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

Assessment must be carried out in a manner that recognises the cultural and literacy requirements of the assessee and is appropriate to the work performed. Competency in this unit must be achieved in accordance with food safety standards and regulations.

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

Evidence of ability to:

identify market opportunities and determine commercially viable product solutions

apply baking skills and knowledge to develop product to meet quality standards

evaluate technical aspects of product

prepare product development proposal, including production processes, costings and rationale

present product ideas

conduct market testing.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must occur in a real or simulated workplace where the assessee has access to:

local market for which product is to be developed

existing product range, ingredients, recipes/formulas, equipment and methods used in the workplace

product development procedures used in the workplace.

Method of assessment

This unit should be assessed together with other units of competency relevant to the function or work role.

Guidance information for assessment

To ensure consistency of performance, competency should be assessed on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.


Range Statement

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.

Policies and procedures

Work is carried out according to company policies and procedures, regulatory and licensing requirements, legislative requirements, and industrial awards and agreements

New products

New products may include:

products that meet specific dietary, religious or cultural needs,

products based on established products or involve entirely new ingredient combinations or production or cooking processes

Market testing

Market testing may include:

consumer product tasting and sampling

promotional activity

evaluation from colleagues or industry experts

Commercial viability

Commercial viability refers to:

the net profit margin of the product

consumer support and repeat purchase

ability to reproduce to establish standards

availability of ingredients

compliance with legislative and regulatory standards

compatibility with business objectives and standards

Technical aspects

Technical aspects relate to:

moisture

structure

taste

symmetry

appearance

aroma

organic

yeast free

dairy free

gluten free

Experimentation

Experimentation may relate to:

variations in ingredients or processes to affect taste, texture, aroma or presentation


Sectors

Unit sector

Retail baking


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.