Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
This competency unit includes the batch mixing of concrete using a range of pans/mixers and for a range of purposes. It is intended to apply to batching plants as used by the premix and/or manufactured concrete products industries. It is NOT intended to apply to the use of manually charged/discharged concrete mixers such as might be used by builders.
It may, or may not, include the addition of water as one of the materials.
Typical problems include -
equipment malfunction
raw material specifications
mixing tolerance
uniform dispersion of minor ingredients/additives
mixing to colour/other special requirements
matching mixes produced with production requirements
adjusting mix formula to compensate for variations in raw materials (eg, sand moisture content).
This competency includes the operation of all ancillary equipment and the operation of plant using PLCs where appropriate.
All operations are performed to procedures.

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.

Assessment context and methods
Assessment for this unit of competency will be on an operating plant. 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. 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 competency unit (eg, those parts of elements 4 and 5 referring to dealing with problems). Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include 'walk-throughs' of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

Critical aspects

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:

batches are produced on time and in specification
upstream and downstream communication is timely and effective
problems are anticipated and appropriate action is taken (ie, problem fixed or reported).
These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what ifs as the stimulus, with a walk-through forming part of the response. The assessment activities should include responding to a range of problems.

Resource implications
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. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
This unit has no prerequisite competencies.

This unit may be assessed in conjunction with:

PMCSUP180A Organise self
PMCSUP181A Work in a team.
Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and corequisites relevant to their processes. In remote operations, this person may also need scheduling and other material ordering and handling competencies.

Essential knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of the equipment sufficient to recognise potential problems and to take appropriate action.
Knowledge of the enterprise's

Competence includes the ability to:


apply and/or describe:

principles of mixing these products
impact of variations in raw materials on final product
impact of mixing on final product
enterprise production schedules

distinguish between causes of faults such as:

raw material
equipment
mixing time/technique
as is relevant to the practical operation of the equipment.

Communicating ideas and information
(1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(0)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(1)

Using technology
(1)