MSAPMOPS200A
Operate equipment

This unit covers the skills and knowledge needed to operate a plant item/unit of equipment and the resolving of routine problems in accordance with procedures. This competency is for units of equipment/plant items which are not otherwise covered in this Training Package and may be organisation specific.

Application

This unit applies to a person who has the responsibility for undertaking the routine operation of an individual unit of equipment or a plant item. The key factors are operating to organisation requirements, meeting quality standards and other workplace requirements. The type of people to whom this unit may apply include (but are not limited to):

plant operators.

This unit applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator as appropriate.

This unit applies:

typically to ‘outside’ or ‘field’ operators, but may also apply to

‘panel’ or ‘control room’ operators.

This unit requires a detailed knowledge about the unit being operated and some knowledge about related units and processes.

This unit has been written to apply to both fluid and solids processing units. It does not include the operation of any packaged unit which only requires operation as a ‘black box’ (regardless of its engineering complexity) which is covered by MSAPMOPS100A Use equipment.

If several units are combined to form a unit which must be operated as an integrated unit then please see PMAOPS300B Operate a production unit.


Prerequisites

This unit has no prerequisites.


Elements and Performance Criteria

1

Check work requirements

1.1

Identify work requirements from work plan or request

1.2

Check product, materials and equipment meet requirements for job(s)

1.3

Recognise requirements which may not be in accordance with usual practice

1.4

Ask questions of appropriate person to confirm unusual practice

1.5

Ensure housekeeping is to requirements

1.6

Identify hazards associated with the job and take appropriate action

1.7

Perform other pre-operational checks in accordance with procedures

2

Start up item of equipment as required

2.1

Conduct pre-start checks

2.2

Start up item of equipment

3

Operate equipment to procedures

3.1

Check equipment is operating within required limits

3.2

Check product meets specifications and quality standards

3.3

Ensure product is consistently ready for next duty/ operation as appropriate

3.4

Maintain supply of material(s) as required

3.5

Complete logs and records as required

3.6

Collect and segregate scrap, trim and other materials as required

3.7

Keep equipment and work area clean

3.8

Pause equipment and perform emergency stop, as required

4

Respond to routine problems to procedures

4.1

Recognise known faults that occur during the operation

4.2

Identify and take action on causes of routine faults

4.3

Log problems as required

4.4

Identify non-routine process and quality problems and take appropriate action

Required Skills

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

Application of knowledge of the materials, equipment and process sufficient to recognise out of specification products, process problems and materials faults.

Knowledge of the organisation's procedures and relevant regulatory requirements along with the ability to implement them within appropriate time constraints and work standards.

Knowledge of and skills in the operation of the item of equipment and main components sufficient to consistently meet required specifications and standards, including:

operation of equipment and components

workflow sequences and materials demand

reasons for checking process control panels and reporting readings which do not conform to the work instructions

approved hazard control and safety procedures and the use of PPE in relation to handling materials and using equipment

equipment operation and clean-up; potential effects of variations in raw materials and equipment operation in relation to quality of product

waste management and importance of reusing non-conforming products wherever possible

correct selection and use of equipment, materials, processes and procedures

monitor equipment operation and product quality

identify factors which may affect product quality or production output and appropriate remedies

distinguish between possible causes of routine faults, such as:

incorrect quantity of materials

contaminated materials/additives

equipment faults/damage

wrong raw materials/additives

machine failure.

Competence also includes the ability to:

plan own work, including predicting consequences and identifying improvements

identify when the operator is able to rectify faults, when assistance is required and who is the appropriate source for assistance

identify and describe own role and role of others involved directly in the process.

Language, literacy and numeracy requirements

This unit requires the ability to read and interpret typical product specifications, job sheets, procedures, material labels and safety information as provided to operators.

Writing is required to the level of completing workplace forms.

Basic numeracy is required, e.g. to determine that two 25 kg bags are needed to make up a requirement for 50 kg.

Evidence Required

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 this Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.

Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria and skills and knowledge.

Assessment will occur on an industrial example of the equipment and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.

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

It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:

operating the plant unit

following approved procedures

take appropriate action to resolve faults or report faults to appropriate personnel

explain and implement relevant emergency procedures.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:

production standards are met consistently

upstream and downstream communication is timely and effective operating procedures and work instructions are read and interpreted correctly

problems are identified and appropriate action is taken (i.e. the problem is fixed or reported)

all safety procedures are followed.

Assessment method and context

Competence in this unit may be assessed:

in an appropriate, industrial item of equipment requiring demonstration of operation start and stop procedures

in a situation allowing the generation of evidence of the ability to respond to problems

by using a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios

through a combination of these techniques.

In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge and theoretical assessment will be combined with appropriate practical/simulation or similar assessment. Assessors need to be aware of any cultural issues that may affect responses to questions.

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.

Specific resources for assessment

This section should be read in conjunction with the Range Statement for this unit of competency. Resources required include suitable access to an operating plant or equipment that allows for appropriate and realistic simulation. A bank of case studies/scenarios and questions will also be required to the extent that they form part of the assessment method. Questioning may take place either in the workplace, or in an adjacent, quiet facility such as an office or lunchroom. No other special resources are required.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.


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.

Standards and codes

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 operators working either independently or as part of a work team.

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

Procedures mean all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.

Tools and equipment

This competency includes use of equipment and tools, such as:

process equipment and its major components

hand tools used in the this process

material loading equipment used for loading of raw materials

relevant personal protective equipment

Hazards

Typical hazards include:

spills

dusts/vapours

slips trips and falls

temperature

hazardous substances

moving equipment

manual handling hazards

Problems

'Respond to routine problems' means 'apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems'. Typical process and product problems may include:

equipment malfunction

variations in process conditions

variations in materials or contamination of materials

equipment, tool, die or mould damage

routine product faults

machine malfunction

mould/tooling problems

variations in materials and/or contamination of materials

Variables

Key variables to be monitored include:

atmospheric conditions

temperature (hot/cold) variations in equipment or product

die/product tolerances

system/operating pressure

programming variables

operator variability

timing or product cycles

Product

Product includes anything produced by a process step and so includes intermediate products such as the product from one process step which then becomes the feed for another


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.