Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.
Features, functions and measurable parameters of products, processes, systems or services, assets and operations subject to continuous improvement
Features, functions and measurable parameters of products, processes, systems, services and assets subject to continuous improvement may include:
sustainability
software
product manufacturability
process design
process control
equipment and tooling
material and product flow
plant layout and transfer operations
standard operating procedures
maintenance
lean systems
labour and skills distribution
information flow
value chain
sales, marketing and planning
management
Sustainability
Sustainability is used to mean the entire sustainable performance of the organisation/plant, including:
meeting all regulatory requirements
conforming to all industry covenants, protocols and best practice guides
minimising ecological and environmental footprint of process, plant and product
maximising economic benefit of process plant and product to the organisation and the community
minimising the negative WHS impact on employees, community and customer
WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures

WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures may include:
WHS Acts and regulations
relevant standards
codes of practice from Australian and overseas engineering and technical associations and societies
risk assessments
registration requirements
safe work practices
state and territory regulatory requirements
Standards and codes
Standards and codes refer to all relevant Australian and international standards and codes applicable to a particular thermodynamic system task
Systems thinking

Systems thinking refers to the conduct of engineering work in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of how the interaction of different technical systems on equipment, machinery or structures, as well as the skills and techniques of personnel, combine to perform or support engineering-related operations, processes or projects. It embraces determining or establishing how the function of each technical system or component, as well as the skills and techniques of personnel, effects or potentially may effect, outcomes. Systems should be interpreted broadly within the context of the organisation and depending on the project or operation can include equipment, related facilities, material, software, internal services and personnel, and other organisations in the value chain
Continuous improvement processes
Continuous improvement processes may relate to plant, products, production processes, systems and services, including design, development, implementation or manufacture, commissioning, operation or delivery and maintenance.
Improvement processes may include techniques, such as:
balanced scorecard
current and future state mapping
measuring performance against benchmarks
process improvement, problem solving and decision making
data management, generation, recording, analysing, storing and use of software
training for improvement systems participation
technical training
qualitative improvement processes, such as:
toolbox meetings
suggestion schemes
mentoring
changes in work organisation, responsibilities and recruitment
Constraints and contingencies
Constraints and contingencies may be:
financial
organisational, procedural or cultural
physical constraints, such as limits to resources, limits to site access or logistical limitations
Lean principles
Lean manufacturing uses cost, capacity and responsiveness, quality, reliability and waste minimisation as drivers of the process and measures for process improvement. Lean manufacturing is the response of many organisations to local, regional, national and global market competitiveness

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to evaluate continuous improvement processes for production, engineering and related services. This includes working individually and as part of a team in accordance with organisation procedures.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently:
determine measurable and controllable parameters of product or service and their suitability in continuous improvement processes
identify WHS, regulatory requirements, risk management and related organisational procedures
evaluate manual and automatic methods for measurement and data gathering, including analysis and performance indices, software analysis and visual display
evaluate qualitative continuous improvement processes
evaluate sustainability implications of improvements
measure and gather data, record and analyse for trends and improvements
evaluate continuous improvement, systems thinking, constraint and contingency management and lean systems requirements
report and document results.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both on and off the job. Where assessment occurs off the job, then a simulated working environment must be used where the range of conditions reflects realistic workplace situations.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
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.
Method of assessment
Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package.
Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge.
Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure correct interpretation and application.
Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process.
Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is not only able to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances.
Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.