Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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 all injection moulding operations within the plastics and rubber sectors. It includes the operation of all relevant additional equipment where that equipment is integral to the injection moulding process.
Procedures
All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.
Procedures include all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.
Tools and equipment
This unit of competency includes use of equipment and tools such as:
injection moulding machines (such as electrical, mechanical, electromechanical and hydraulic)
components of injection moulding machines (such as base, material supply systems, barrel and screw plastification unit, injection units)
dies/tools (such as pneumatic, or hydraulic actuation of cores, slides ejector systems)
ancillary equipment (such as chillers, die heating equipment, hopper driers, mixing hoppers, dehumidifying driers, air compressors, dosing machines, blending and mixing equipment and conveyors where they are integral to the operation of the injection moulder)
hand tools used in the injection moulding process
material loading equipment used for loading of raw materials
relevant personal protective equipment.
Hazards
Typical hazards include:
spills
dusts/vapours
slip and fall (such as due to spilt granules)
temperature (such as due to heated barrel, nozzle and hot runner moulds)
hazardous substances (including decomposing polymer during start up and shut down)
moving equipment (such as moving moulds, robots and ancillary equipment)
manual handling hazards.
Problems
'Respond to routine problems' means 'apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems'. Typical process problems may include:
equipment malfunction
variations in cycle time, temperature, pressure, speed
variations in materials or contamination of materials
die/tooling problems such as damage to die.
Typical product problems may include routine injection moulding faults such as:
short mouldings
flash
sink marks
voids
burn marks
splay/splash marks/silver streaking
blistering
flow marks
poor surface finish
weld lines
poor colour dispersion
colour contamination
black spots
ejection damage.
Appropriate action for non-routine problems may be reporting to designated person or other action specified in the procedures.

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:
apply the required skills and knowledge to operate an injection moulding machine
apply approved procedures.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that injection moulding production standards are met consistently.
Assessment method and context
Assessment will occur on an industrial injection moulding machine(s) equipment and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.
Competence in this unit may be assessed:
on a processing plant, allowing for operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions
in a situation allowing for the generation of evidence of the ability to respond to problems
by using a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios
through a combination of these techniques.
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 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.