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 includes the processes required to weld plastic pipe, sheet and film materials to a required specification, including continuous production operations on specialised welding equipment, and often involves the use of ancillary equipment.
Materials may be from a range of thermoplastic materials in the form of pipeline systems and component parts, sheet where used in sequenced production operations including vinyl product fabrication, and film where associated with continuous production operations.
It includes the operation of hot plate (heated tool), extrusion, high frequency sound (ultrasonic), electrostatic (radio frequency) and thermal induction (heat) welding systems and production machinery designed for sequenced or continuous production operations, and all relevant ancillary equipment.
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:
welding equipment and machinery
hand tools as required
relevant personal protective equipment.
Hazards
Typical hazards include:
fumes from overheating or poor ventilation
cuts from sharp edges on components
burns from manual handling
eye injury
welding equipment, ancillary plant, parts and attachments.
Problems
'Anticipate and solve problems' means resolve a wide range of routine and non-routine problems, using product and process knowledge to develop solutions to problems which do not have a known solution/a solution recorded in the procedures.
Typical process and product problems may include:
component materials incompatible or not to specification
incorrect alignment or assembly in welding process
welding edge, joint, fillet, gusset or seam not suitable for welding
material feed systems not correctly sequenced (continuous production)
incorrect selection of welding process
surface moisture contacting welding or fusion points
misalignment of welding contacts or die components
sequencing problems, procedure too fast or too slow
incorrect materials selected
poor surface preparation
bonding problems, weld does not meet specification
surface and finish defects.
Variables
Key variables to be monitored include:
differences between actual and set temperatures
speeds (including feed speed for filler, speed of weld head)
colour and uniformity
surface finish/appearance
tolerance for weld/joint
consistency of weld
product output rate
product integrity and general conformance to specification and quality sample
mechanical strength of weld (eg tensile strength results).

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.
Where the assessee does not currently possess evidence of competency in PMBPROD287B Weld plastics materials, it may be co-assessed with this unit.
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:
identify critical materials properties and welding process variables in relation to the process requirements and the end product
make adjustments to the process as required
identify and take appropriate action on problems and potential problems.
Weld quality must meet specification. See Draft Australian Standard WD00307 Qualification and certification of Plastics welding personnel or its replacement.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:
the process runs consistently and smoothly, with the minimum need for human intervention
all safety procedures are always followed
upstream and down stream communication is timely and effective.
Assessment method and context
Assessment will occur on an industrial plastics welding equipment and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.
Competence in this unit may be assessed:
using appropriate, industrial welding equipment requiring demonstration of start-up, operation and shutdown procedures
in a situation allowing for the generation of evidence of the ability to recognise, anticipate and 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 that 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.