Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 5:48 AM AWST
23/07/2026 5:48 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Manage a major sustainability non-conformance
Manage a major sustainability non-conformance
Unit of competency
National Code
MSS017005A
MSS017005A
State Code
D7752
D7752
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
13/06/2014
Field of Education
080317 - Quality Management
Original Release Date
13/06/2014
Nominal Hours
100
Description
This unit of competency covers the response to, and management of, a major sustainability non-conformance which may have arisen through the action, or non-action, of the organisation or its value chain members, or due to a change in the external environment. A major non-conformance is one which could have severe business impacts. It may be applied to an entire organisation, part of a large organisation, or part or all of a value chain.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Determine extent and nature of non-conformance
- 1.1 Determine commencement, type and expected duration of non-conformance
- 1.2 Liaise with internal stakeholders to determine impact
- 1.3 Liaise with value chain members to determine impact
- 1.4 Determine impact on current operations and order fulfilment
- 1.5 Determine impact of non-conformance on local community and other stakeholders
- 1.6 Determine regulatory implications of non-conformance
- 1.7 Summarise impact on organisation and value chain member’s viability
2 Determine priorities and actions
- 2.1 Develop possible responses appropriate to the situation
- 2.2 Determine possible timing of possible responses
- 2.3 Identify required resources for the responses developed
- 2.4 Evaluate possible responses and select/short-list responses
- 2.5 Select response and organise resources, as appropriate
3 Identify information needs
- 3.1 Determine regulatory compliance needs
- 3.2 Determine the information needs of other stakeholders
- 3.3 Identify the sources of required information
- 3.4 Arrange to collect required information
- 3.5 Report information to stakeholders, as appropriate
- 3.6 Arrange for updating of information disseminated on a timely basis, as appropriate
4 Implement immediate response
- 4.1 Initiate responses and establish data and other information collection procedures
- 4.2 Analyse data and other information as it comes to hand
- 4.3 Determine progress of responses to achieving required outcomes
- 4.4 Modify responses as required to better achieve desired outcomes
5 Plan for conformance
- 5.1 Determine root cause of non-conformance
- 5.2 Determine impacts on sustainability strategy and tactics
- 5.3 Develop plan to ensure continued conformance
- 5.4 Initiate implementation of plan
- 5.5 Monitor implementation of plan and take appropriate action
6 Conclude and review response
- 6.1 Conduct a debrief and complete reports, as required
- 6.2 Evaluate and review response and procedures
- 6.3 Evaluate and document effectiveness of the response function and its interaction/communication with stakeholders
- 6.4 Recommend improvements to prevent a recurrence and improve response for other non-conformances
- 6.5 Communicate reports, as appropriate
Sustainability
Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:
survival of the ecology/physical environment (to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment)
economic viability (efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business)
social sustainability (to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community)
Portion of the value chain
Value chain is the sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value/product (good or service). Portion of the value chain includes sections internal or external to the organisation.
Impact of non-conformance
Impact of non-conformance may have a wide range which might include:
negligible impact
fines or other organisation legal penalties
personal fines, jail terms or other personal penalties
court litigation or similar
remediation costs
loss of market share
loss of brand viability
loss of licence to operate
Other stakeholders
Other stakeholders may include, but are not limited to:
regulatory bodies, such as local councils and environmental protection agencies
customers/clients
suppliers
service suppliers
Responses
Responses include:
the resources used in reaction to the non-conformance as well as the actual process/method of the response
Immediate response
Immediate response may not address long-term issues but simply aims to control the current situation and prevent escalation
Plan for conformance
Plan for conformance is to resume normal operations in such a way that there is sustainability conformance either because:
the temporary situation has been corrected
the process has been adapted to the permanent change in the environment
Sustainability issues of particular relevance
Sustainability issues of particular relevance include:
particular sensitivities of the local ecology, such as:
endangered species
sensitive local flora/fauna
material scarcity
water availability
general ecology issues and regulations, such as:
climate change and carbon footprint
pollution control measures
particular local social issues, such as:
distortions to the housing market
disruption to local lifestyles
general social issues, such as:
corporate citizenship
use or/deterioration to infrastructure
particular local economic issues, such as:
cost of capital
profit margins
competition
general economic issues, such as:
state of the economy
stage of the business cycle
other issues, such as those identified by AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards
Significance of impact
Significance of impact includes:
permanent loss or degradation
loss or degradation which inhibits use by the following generation
temporary degradation requiring remediation
temporary degradation which is self-remediating
speed of change/degradation/loss
Appropriate response
Appropriate response includes:
application of the hierarchy of hazard control to sustainability hazards
when the impact cannot be prevented application of mitigation and amelioration techniques, such as:
capture and storage (e.g. scrubbing) and similar ‘end of pipe’ solutions
dilution/dispersion and similar techniques which reduce concentration but not amount
other approaches which meet the sustainability requirements
Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:
survival of the ecology/physical environment (to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment)
economic viability (efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business)
social sustainability (to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community)
Portion of the value chain
Value chain is the sequence of activities that a firm undertakes to create value/product (good or service). Portion of the value chain includes sections internal or external to the organisation.
Impact of non-conformance
Impact of non-conformance may have a wide range which might include:
negligible impact
fines or other organisation legal penalties
personal fines, jail terms or other personal penalties
court litigation or similar
remediation costs
loss of market share
loss of brand viability
loss of licence to operate
Other stakeholders
Other stakeholders may include, but are not limited to:
regulatory bodies, such as local councils and environmental protection agencies
customers/clients
suppliers
service suppliers
Responses
Responses include:
the resources used in reaction to the non-conformance as well as the actual process/method of the response
Immediate response
Immediate response may not address long-term issues but simply aims to control the current situation and prevent escalation
Plan for conformance
Plan for conformance is to resume normal operations in such a way that there is sustainability conformance either because:
the temporary situation has been corrected
the process has been adapted to the permanent change in the environment
Sustainability issues of particular relevance
Sustainability issues of particular relevance include:
particular sensitivities of the local ecology, such as:
endangered species
sensitive local flora/fauna
material scarcity
water availability
general ecology issues and regulations, such as:
climate change and carbon footprint
pollution control measures
particular local social issues, such as:
distortions to the housing market
disruption to local lifestyles
general social issues, such as:
corporate citizenship
use or/deterioration to infrastructure
particular local economic issues, such as:
cost of capital
profit margins
competition
general economic issues, such as:
state of the economy
stage of the business cycle
other issues, such as those identified by AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards
Significance of impact
Significance of impact includes:
permanent loss or degradation
loss or degradation which inhibits use by the following generation
temporary degradation requiring remediation
temporary degradation which is self-remediating
speed of change/degradation/loss
Appropriate response
Appropriate response includes:
application of the hierarchy of hazard control to sustainability hazards
when the impact cannot be prevented application of mitigation and amelioration techniques, such as:
capture and storage (e.g. scrubbing) and similar ‘end of pipe’ solutions
dilution/dispersion and similar techniques which reduce concentration but not amount
other approaches which meet the sustainability requirements
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to plan for sustainability related non-conformances and implement appropriate responses to non-conformances, including establishing priorities for immediate response and processes to establish root cause of the non-conformance.
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:
analysing the situation
applying an appropriate quick fix
implementing an appropriate long term response
communicating the above as appropriate
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
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to plan for sustainability related non-conformances and implement appropriate responses to non-conformances, including establishing priorities for immediate response and processes to establish root cause of the non-conformance.
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:
analysing the situation
applying an appropriate quick fix
implementing an appropriate long term response
communicating the above as appropriate
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
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK99 | MSS017005 | Manage a major sustainability non-conformance | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D548 | MSS70111 | Graduate Certificate In Sustainable Operations | Qualification |