1

Acquire required data

1.1

Identify system to be analysed

1.2

Define appropriate boundaries for this system

1.3

Identify relevant data which is available for the system and its subsystems

1.4

Identify required data which is not currently available

1.5

Negotiate with relevant stakeholders to obtain data which is not currently available

1.6

Acquire necessary and appropriate data

2

Calculate resource efficiency/loss

2.1

Undertake mass/energy balance over system

2.2

Identify subsystems making greatest contributions to loss by mass/energy balances over selected subsystems

2.3

Calculate sustainability impact of identified losses

2.4

Calculate mass/energy efficiencies of system and analysed sub-systems

3

Prepare recommendations

3.1

Investigate sub-systems responsible for significant loss

3.2

Determine currently available responses

3.3

Determine required longer term responses

3.4

Draft recommended responses in appropriate form

4

Communicate with relevant stakeholders

4.1

Identify relevant stakeholders

4.2

Determine stakeholder information needs and wants

4.3

Analyse data which may be appropriate to communicate with stakeholders

4.4

Prepare and disseminate information to stakeholders, as appropriate

4.5

Negotiate solutions with stakeholders, as required

5

Communicate required responses as appropriate

5.1

Identify what communications are required and to whom

5.2

Prepare appropriate reports and recommendations

5.3

Pitch reports and recommendations as appropriate

5.4

Brief appropriate persons as required by determined responses

5.5

Finalise appropriate recording

Required skills

Required skills include:

interpreting specifications, operating procedures, manuals, regulations and other complex documents

consulting and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders

analysing and problem solving, including determination of root cause

data acquisition

interpreting and manipulating data, including the solving of simultaneous equations, the use of tie elements and the conversion of one form of energy into another

drafting formal reports

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

process and changes which occur at each step in selected value chain

principles of sustainability

root cause analysis

relevant legislation, regulation and protocols, government incentives and other initiatives

first law of thermodynamics

defining boundaries for systems subject to mass/energy balancing

required data, sources of data from process, and use of data proxies, where necessary

mass balancing techniques

energy balancing techniques, including the use of tables of thermodynamic properties (steam tables), and the use of specific heat capacity and specific latent heat

combined mass/energy balancing techniques, including the use of heats or reaction/dissolution

methods of reducing resource losses for process and equipment

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to analyse processes or part or all of a value chain using mass and/or energy balancing as appropriate.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

undertaking a mass and an energy balance (which may be on different systems) or a combined mass/energy balance

identifying appropriate responses

communicating the above as appropriate

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Method of assessment

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

Sustainability

Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:

survival of the ecology/physical environment (to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment)

economic viability (efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business)

social sustainability (to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community)

System

A system is that process, or part of a process, which has been selected for analysis. It includes all the steps in the process which fall within the defined boundary. These steps have been referred to as ‘sub-systems above. The system may be any part of the value chain or the entire value chain

Sub-system

A sub-system is part of the system which may be chosen for separate analysis or study

Portion of the value chain

Value chain is the sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value/product (good or service). Portion of the value chain includes:

sections internal or external to the organisation

Mass/energy balancing

Mass balancing is an analysis technique which allows for the calculation of mass flows and consumption through a process and losses of mass from the system/product

Energy balancing is an analysis technique which allows for the calculation of energy flows and consumption through a process and the losses of energy from the system/product

Mass and energy balancing may be undertaken as separate activities or in some circumstances as a combined mass/energy balance

Appropriate response

Appropriate response includes:

application of the hierarchy of hazard control to sustainability hazards

when the impact cannot be prevented application of mitigation and amelioration techniques, such as:

capture and storage (e.g. scrubbing) and similar ‘end of pipe’ solutions

dilution/dispersion and similar techniques which reduce concentration but not amount

other approaches which meet the sustainability requirements