Application of this unit

This competency applies to technicians who are required to develop modified products and demonstrate that an appropriate product and manufacturing method have been developed.

It includes:

determining the appropriate product specification

confirming the appropriate compound

identifying equipment/tooling requirements

monitoring trials

checking the modified product meets its requirements

ensuring the factory is able to make this product as a routine product.

This competency may be used to complement PMBTECH508A Develop a new compound. While TECH508 concentrates on developing a compound, this unit concentrates on the modification of a product, which may include a change of compound. Where choice of compound is obvious/restricted/trivial then this unit stands alone from TECH508.

Prerequisites

This unit has no prerequisites.

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

Competence in this unit requires:

an understanding of product design to a level necessary to select appropriate design components from a range of similar, competing components

an understanding of making processes to a level necessary to select an appropriate set of process, equipment, tools and conditions and develop procedures

appropriate tests so as to select the tests needed to check for compliance with the specification, and interpret test results

HSE issues related to various products, processes, equipment, tools and process conditions.

Language, literacy and numeracy requirements

This unit requires the ability to communicate at all levels about technical issues and bring agreement as to requirements from the different parties.

Reading is required to the level of interpreting technical information, and writing technical specifications, procedures and reports.

Numeracy is required to the level of interpreting technical information and test results, calculations related to design and scaling up to a factory sized trial.

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.

This competency should be assessed by examining a number of product modification projects where that development has resulted in a modified product being introduced into the factory.

Critical aspects

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

interpret the requirements of the modified product and express this in suitable form

make appropriate choices of process, equipment, tools and conditions and justify those choices

develop appropriate manufacturing procedures and design specifications and justify those choices

introduce the modified product into the factory successfully.

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

a range of products meeting different types of specifications are developed

a range of products requiring different process/equipment/tools/conditions are developed.

Context of assessment

Competence in this unit may be assessed:

on the plant

using questions to assess knowledge

in a laboratory/pilot plant

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

through a combination of these techniques.

Method of assessment

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.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

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 technicians who make significant modifications to existing products. They will typically be based in a laboratory/office or similar and will also have responsibility for ensuring the new product works in the factory.

A technician working at this level would typically take the lead responsibility for the product modification, but may work with other technicians of similar or greater responsibility for large or complex projects or as part of the development of a new product

Compound

Compound is used to mean any mixture of materials which is undertaken to a set formula and in specified proportions.

Tests

Tests includes the normal range of physical, chemical and environmental (weathering) tests which might be applied to the product.

Identify compound

Identification of compound is a necessary starting point for any product, but this competency does not necessarily require the choosing of a compound from an understanding of its characteristics. Identification may be done in liaison with others, or by choosing the compound used in other products with similar requirements.

Select process

Selecting process, equipment and tooling to be used should be done from a knowledge of a wide range of possible processes equipment and tooling, the properties each would bring to the product, the relative advantages and disadvantages of each and the change in product properties with process, equipment and tooling changes.

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

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

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)

All operations are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the technician needs to ensure the HSE requirements take precedence.

Not applicable.

This unit contains employability skills.

Not applicable.