Elements and Performance Criteria

Competitive manufacturing includes one or more of the following strategies:
Six sigma
Lean Manufacturing
Agile Manufacturing
Just in Time (JIT)
Supply chain management
Value Chain Management
Total Quality
Pro Active maintenance
Elimination of waste
Balanced Scorecard

Stakeholders may include:
managers
supervisors
employees
shareholders
Occupational Health and Safety Occupational Health and Safety OHS mechanisms/representatives
workplace consultative representatives
suppliers
customers
service providers

Internal limiting factors may include:
free cash
management time and expertise
machinery
work organisation and workforce skills and knowledge

External limiting factors may include lack of bargaining power or effective communication with:
suppliers
customers
financial institutions
other factors

Expected returns may include factors such as:
cost savings due to more consistent or higher quality
benefits from greater on-time delivery
savings from lower inventories, reduction in waste etc.

Components of competitive strategy may include any of the Competitive Manufacturing tools such as:
5S
continuous improvement/kaizen blitz
JIT/quick changeover/kanban

Actions which will free up required resources may include:
reduction of inventory
reduction of scrap
decreased throughput times.

Prioritise plans according to criteria such as:
greatest benefit
ease of implementation
best fit with strategy
available resources

Overview of assessment requirements
The person being assessed will need to be able to implement a competitive manufacturing approach in a SME environment.

What are the specific resource requirements for this unit?
Access to a SME using, or intending to use competitive manufacturing.

What critical aspects of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in this unit?
Evidence of the ability to analyse existing SME operations and to organise implementation of competitive manufacturing tools in a SME should be available.

In what context should assessment occur?
Assessment will need to occur in a SME which is implementing competitive manufacturing.

Are there any other units which could or should be assessed with this unit or which relate directly to this unit?
This unit could be assessed concurrently with other relevant units.

What method of assessment should apply?
Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria, skills and knowledge. A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.
Assessors should gather sufficient, fair, valid, reliable, authentic and current evidence from a range of sources. Sources of evidence may include direct observation, reports from supervisors, peers and colleagues, project work, samples, organisation records and questioning. Assessment should not require language, literacy or numeracy skills beyond those required for the unit.
The assessee will have access to all techniques, procedures, information, resources and aids which would normally be available in the workplace.
The method of assessment should be discussed and agreed with the assessee prior to the commencement of the assessment.

What evidence is required for demonstration of consistent performance?
Evidence of the development of plans and the beginning of their implementation should generate sufficient evidence