This unit of competency covers identifying and implementing readily implementable changes to production or operation procedures to improve sustainability in an organisation or related value chain (e.g. supplier of goods or services or customer) organisations.

This unit applies inside organisations and their value chains. The unit has been developed with manufacturing operations as a focus. However because of the range of organisations in a typical manufacturing value chain it may also be applied to other types of organisations.

The unit covers the identification and implementation of changes to operational procedures to improve sustainability. These changes can often be attempted without substantial prior analysis or planning and are often characterised by the colloquial term as ‘low hanging fruit’.

This unit applies to individuals with work area responsibilities such as team leaders, maintenance staff, technicians and others who have some sustainability responsibility as part of their job.

Measurements covered by this unit are related to measuring the immediate impact of changes on the equipment or area of operation.

The measurement of emissions or other environmental impact is not covered by this unit, although the use of relevant data arising from such measurements may be appropriate.

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 include the ability, for three or more changes, to:

define a sustainability related need or problem within current operations

identify muda (waste)

identify readily implemented changes

plan and implement readily implemented changes to achieve a sustainability related improvement.

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge relevant to their job role sufficient to fulfil their job role independently, including:

value chain concept and value chain participants to work area and the organisation more generally

value chain items where changes can be made

concept of muda (waste) used in lean

brainstorming techniques

benefit/cost analyses techniques

methods of quantifying both required outcomes and muda into comparable units of measure

project improvement planning/scheduling

process monitoring and critical measures

relevant standards and regulations.

The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence shall be 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 multiple smaller projects which together provide sufficient evidence of the requirements of all the elements and performance criteria.

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 use real projects where opportunities for sustainability improvements are identified and their implementation occurs in an operational workplace.

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.

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

Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.

The assessor must demonstrate both technical competency and currency.

Technical competence can be demonstrated through:

relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment AND/OR

relevant workplace experience

Currency can be demonstrated through:

performing the competency being assessed as part of current employment OR

having consulted with an organisation providing relevant environmental monitoring, management or technology services about performing the competency being assessed within the last twelve months.

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

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

Not applicable

Sustainable operations