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. 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.
Procedures
All operations are performed in accordance with standard procedures and work instructions
Melting equipment
This unit includes melting equipment applicable to each of the specific areas of glass products manufacture. These may include:
flat glass
insulation, glass wool insulation, laminated blankets, roll and boards
fibreglass and glass filaments
packaging, bottles and jars
Tools and equipment
Tools and equipment may include:
furnaces and associated equipment
gas stations
computers
measuring and recording equipment
communication equipment
hand tools
safety clothing and equipment
Process and products
Process and products include:
melting, refining and conditioning of raw material, including frit and other recycled glass materials, to produce glass for forming processes
It does NOT include processes involved with:
scientific glass
secondary processes
the softening of already made glass
Plant data
Plant data includes:
test results
instrument/control panel information
data from physical senses (sight, sound and hearing)
temperatures, pressures, material flow and discharge rates and effects
variations to chemical reactions/material modifications
Typical problems
Typical problems may include:
raw materials feed
alternative fuel sources
analysis of all plant data including test results, control instrument data and other observations
control of furnace temperature within specifications
surveillance of melt quality
taking corrective action
Occupational health and safety (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.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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
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.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential that the melting equipment be understood and that the importance of critical material properties, settings and readings is known.
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
importance of critical material properties, settings and readings is identified
process and equipment are operated in accordance with work instructions and process parameters
temperatures are maintained within limits
melt quality is monitored to minimise wastage
start up and shut down occur first time
change in utilities (gas/power/diesel) is responded to immediately
signals and alarms are responded to immediately
process measurements and tests are continually made, observed and interpreted
melt quality is maintained to customer specifications.
Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this unit of competency.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
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.
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 unit of competency. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include 'walk-throughs' of the relevant competency components. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs and questions will be required to probe the reasoning behind observable actions.

Method of assessment
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.
It may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:
MSAPMSUP292ASample and test materials and product.

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.