This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to optimise the process performance of a complete process, plant area or system. It requires optimising a more significant portion of a plant than would be required for one of the PMAOPS3## series. It also requires a more strategic approach to the optimisation than the routine, day-to-day optimisation undertaken as a routine part of plant operation. The optimisation may, or may not involve capital expenditure.

It includes ensuring that the process/plant area complies with health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements, that process, plant and equipment improvement is planned and carried out, and that problems are solved to meet operational needs and ensure that production of finished goods meets customer requirements. It includes all items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the production process of a complete area.

This unit of competency requires the application of detailed operational and process knowledge, including the principles of operation of equipment, and the chemistry and/or physics and/or biology/biochemistry of changes to materials occurring during processing. It embodies a significant breadth and depth of technical knowledge and process understanding which is applied to process improvement.

This competency is typically performed by a senior operator, team leader or frontline manager.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and demonstrate the ability to:

identify and interpret information from a range of internal and external sources

use analytical techniques to identify cause of a complex problem

determine corrective actions to optimise the condition of the process, plant and equipment

plan and coordinate corrective/optimisation actions and related changes that may be required

develop written plans

complete documentation

identify and control hazards by applying the hierarchy of control as part of the optimisation process

distinguish between:

optimum and marginal performance of the plant

effective and marginal performance corrections and actions

communicate and consult with stakeholders at all levels

read and interpret technical information and relevant regulatory requirements

develop and implement continuous improvement strategies.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

hazards that may arise in the job/work environment, including:

their possible causes

potential consequences

appropriate risk controls

relevant technical theory of the plant area

an in depth understanding of plant and process across the entire plant area being optimised

process parameters and limits, including:

temperature

pressure

flow

pH

effects of variations in process conditions and materials

functions and principles of operation of equipment in the production process

chemistry and/or physics and/or biology/biochemistry relevant to changes to materials during processing.

The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.

The collection of performance evidence is best done from a report and/or folio of evidence drawn from:

a single project which provides sufficient evidence of the requirements of all the elements and performance criteria

multiple smaller projects which together provide sufficient evidence of the requirements of all the elements and performance criteria.

It is desirable that this evidence comes from implemented optimisation projects. However, where the project does not receive sanction to be implemented, or is otherwise not implemented, then sufficient evidence may be able to be obtained from a detailed implementation plan and a simulated implementation.

A third-party report, or similar, may be needed to testify to the work done by the individual, particularly when the project has been done as part of a project team.

Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or practical, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.

The regulatory framework will be reflected in workplace policies and procedures and is not required to be independently assessed.

Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 assessor requirements

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Operations