This unit of competency applies to operators who are responsible for operating glazing, printing and finishing equipment to complete fired products.

This unit was developed for larger production contexts but it may also be relevant to craft practitioners producing ceramic work.

It does NOT include:

product forming and drying

product firing

setting up automated glazing equipment.

This competency is typically performed by operators working either independently or as part of a team.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare glazing and decorating equipment

1.1. Determine glazing and decorating requirements from production schedule

1.2. Adjust equipment as required

1.3. Connect glaze or surface materials to glazing and decorating equipment

1.4. Check equipment operation and safety specifications

2. Apply glaze or surface materials to formed products

2.1. Set up glaze application for operation

2.2. Apply glaze to produce the specified thickness

2.3. Recover excess or spilt glaze for treatment or recycling

2.4. Shut down and unload equipment at conclusion of glazing to procedures, ensuring that products are stored in the appropriate area

3. Print fired products

3.1. Operate printing equipment to produce a correctly registered decoration

3.2. Report printing equipment faults to the designated person

3.3. Shut down and unload equipment at conclusion of printing to specifications, ensuring that products are stored in the appropriate area

4. Repair glaze faults

4.1. Apply glaze repair techniques to produce a properly finished product

4.2. Remove all glaze faults

4.3. Reglaze repaired area with the specified glaze

4.4. Clear work area at the conclusion of the glaze repairing to procedures

4.5. Store products in the appropriate area

5. Rectify routine problems

5.1. Identify the range of faults that can occur during the operation

5.2. Determine and rectify fault causes according to procedures

5.3. Identify and rectify equipment failure causes according to procedures

5.4. Complete appropriate records and log books of equipment operations to meet procedures

5.5. Identify non-routine problems and report to designated person

6. Control hazards

6.1. Identify hazards from the job to be done

6.2. Identify other hazards in the work area

6.3. Assess the risks arising from those hazards

6.4. Implement measures to control those risks in line with procedures

Required skills

Required skills include:

recognising conditions which will lead to out of specification product and taking appropriate action

implementing enterprise's procedures and relevant regulatory requirements within time constraints and in a manner relevant to the operation of the glazing and decorating equipment

reading and numeracy to interpreting workplace documents and technical information

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

glaze composition and function

decal construction and application techniques

glaze application techniques (including hand dipping and spraying)

distinguish between causes of problems such as:

product surface condition

equipment problems

glaze properties

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency.

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

Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action. Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

glaze application is within requirements

equipment is used as required

glazing faults are recognised and categorised correctly.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations.

Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation or case studies/scenarios may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this unit of competency. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include 'walk-throughs' of the relevant competency components. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs and questions will be required to probe the reasoning behind observable actions.

Method of assessment

Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and co-requisites relevant to their processes.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with standard procedures and work instructions

Products

Products may include:

cups, saucers

tiles

bricks

sanitary ware

bathroom fittings

insulators

Equipment

Equipment may include:

belt feed hopper

dipping equipment

hand spray equipment

screen printers

silk screens

vibrating hoppers

Processes

Processes may include:

decorating

dry glaze/material

glaze fault repair

manual dip

manual spray

oversand spraying

reglaze (repaired products)

silk screen printing

waterfall/flinger/bell

wet glaze/material

Materials

Materials may include:

artwork

colours

cover coat

dry glaze dusts

frits

glazed products

liquid glaze

paints

sand

slurry

Typical problems

Typical problems may include:

glaze application faults (e.g. non-adherence or runs)

applicator equipment problems

product surface unsuitable for glaze application

glaze consistency

contamination

Occupational health and safety (OHS)

All operations are subject to stringent OHS requirements and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and OHS requirements, the OHS requirements take precedence

Unit sector

Operational/technical

This unit contains employability skills.