Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to spread chip and fibre blend over a former and press it with heat and pressure to produce hard panels of chipboard and fibreboard.
The unit applies to production operators and technicians who form boards in a forest and wood products factory setting and includes shutting down and cleaning equipment.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. |
1. Prepare for forming | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Obtain type and quantity of chip and fibre blend required for production. 1.4 Plan forming process in line with organisational procedures. |
2. Prepare form board equipment | 2.1 Maintain stock tanks at correct level in line with organisational requirements. 2.2 Adjust spreader stations to deliver material according to required board cross-section distribution. 2.3 Check operational condition and set-up of former to confirm mat condition. 2.4 Check forming equipment for defects and position to load press in line with manufacturer’s instructions. |
3. Operate equipment | 3.1 Use equipment in line with organisational safety procedures, manufacturer’s instructions and environmental protection practices. 3.2 Start former and forming line; operate and adjust to produce board in line with work order. 3.3 Set slitters or saws and cut formed board to required width and length. 3.4 Dispose of sub-standard boards in line with environmental protection practices. 3.5 Respond to critical situations requiring emergency shutdown to prevent personal injury or damage to machine or product. |
4. Shut down and clean equipment | 4.1 Clear material from conveyor belts prior to shut-down. 4.2 Coordinate shutdown with other line operators in line with organisational safety procedures. 4.3 Clear material spillage from areas around conveyors and forming stations in line with environmental protection practices. 4.4 Clean spreading stations, formers and forming lines internally and externally in line with environmental protection practices. 4.5 Record and report production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
produce formed boards in line with individual work orders that prescribe different lengths, widths and quantities for each job; types of board are to include:
chipboard
fibreboard
after each of the above jobs, complete operator maintenance to clean equipment.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental protection practices for forest products factory settings:
reducing water and energy use
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber
disposing of hazardous substances
typical flow of material supply in and out of the board forming area
typical work flow processes and range of processing techniques used to form and trim boards from chip and fibre blends
composition of chip and fibre blends
purpose, features and operation of equipment used to form board:
spreading stations
former and forming line
forming equipment:
mats
screens
trays
plates
slitters or saws
screens
stock tanks
methods used to clean equipment
organisational procedures specific to forming board:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out, use of personal protective equipment and handling hazardous substances
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
tools and equipment used to form board:
spreading stations
former and forming line
forming equipment:
mats
screens
trays
plates
slitters or saws
screens
stock tanks
personal protective equipment suitable for forming board
chip and fibre blends to be compressed
manufacturers’ instructions for use and cleaning of equipment
work order with specific instructions for forming board
template documents for recording production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements
relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information
organisational procedures for forming board.
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | identify quantities of required material within work orders and measure volume of flakes or fibre read basic numerical machine settings to maintain correct stock tank levels interpret order sizes and set up equipment to achieve specified width and length of mat and boards. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders and coordinate shut-down procedures. |
Reading skills to: | interpret: workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders manufacturers’ instructions. |
Writing skills to: | complete accurate basic records for production outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation and production using work order to guide activities. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Wood Panel Products