Elements and Performance Criteria

Sustainability issues
Sustainability issues at this level will frequently be waste (muda - see below) but may also include community or other issues
Waste
Waste in this unit is used in the broader sense of ‘muda’ as used in lean manufacturing and the competitive manufacturing units of competency developed by MSA. Muda is usually summarised under the headings of the ‘seven wastes’ which include:
overproduction
delay/waiting
transportation
over processing
excess inventory
unnecessary motion
defects and rework
Documentation
Documentation includes:
standard operational procedures
engineering drawings
other sketches and diagrams
specifications and manuals
training and assessment manuals
Documentation may be in:
any form, paper or electronic
Drivers of change
Drivers of change for this unit are internal or external pressure or requirements for improved sustainability outcomes. These include:
a crisis related to current sustainability performance
regulatory requirements
demands from customers
community pressure
organisation commitment to improve sustainability
other demand for change on the organisation
Sustainability problems
Sustainability problems may include:
problems with procedures, process or equipment
problems with materials including material waste and disposal of waste materials
problems with energy consumption
problems with resource use including water
problems with culture or employee skills and knowledge
problems with design or specification
Problems should be amenable to change and not require detailed technical analysis before action
Process
Process includes:
all parts of the value chain, including office and logistics, but for the purposes of this unit, is restricted to those parts of the value chain where changes can be made
Change stakeholders
Change stakeholders include:
the personnel needed to identify, approve and implement sustainability improvements

Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to consistently apply sustainability concepts to a work area and identify opportunities for sustainability improvements and then implement the improvements.
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:
defining a sustainability related need or problem within current operations
identifying waste
identifying readily implemented changes
planning and implementing readily implemented changes to achieve a sustainability related improvement.
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