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.
Codes of practice
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used
Complex projects
Complex projects may include:
development or modification of products and services
acquisition and commissioning of new equipment
commissioning of laboratory facilities
appraisal of supplies
development of applications for customers
validation of analytical methods and/or equipment
quality improvement or corrective action teams
restructuring of laboratory services
reclassification of staff and staffing levels
Records
Records may include:
lists of potential costs, invoices and payment records
project and/or enterprise files and records
reports to clients, personnel and higher management
risk management plans and log books
diaries, scheduling charts and other charts
Communication
Communication may include:
computer generated communication
customers, stakeholders, external authorities and project team
reports, briefs, minutes, letters, oral briefings, advice and conversations and telephone calls
Resources
Resources may include:
personnel
budget
equipment, materials and facilities
computer project planning programs
Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements
OHS and environmental management requirements:
all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time
all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied
where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health

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

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
analyse a complex technical brief and prepare a feasible project implementation plan
establish a project team and implement a project in response
reach milestones within budget
consult and communicate effectively to ensure project outcomes are achieved
maintain accurate records and documentation in accordance with enterprise procedures
select and establish operational systems for the project
plan work activities, resources and finances to ensure project outcomes are achieved within the timeframe and budget constraints
monitor and evaluate the progress of the project.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL916002A Manage and develop teams
MSL936001AMaintain quality system and continuous improvement processes within work/functional area.
Resources may include:
procedures and documentation typically used by the enterprise
scheduling charts/strategic plans
GANTT charts
operational reports
financial plans
sample budgets.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of reports, operational budgets and project plans generated by the candidate
review of project outcomes and customer satisfaction
questioning/interview to assess underpinning knowledge
feedback from project team and management
review of documented examples of quality performance improvements achieved and examples of significant problems solved
observation of the candidate's interaction with project team.
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.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
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.

This competency in practice
Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.
Manufacturing
A cosmetics manufacturing company decided to upgrade the image of a product range which included lipsticks, nail lacquers, hair shampoos and conditioners. A technical specialist coordinated the project and organised input from marketing, development, quality assurance and production personnel. The production boundaries were defined through consultation with marketing and it was decided to update shades of shaded products and introduce natural ingredients wherever possible. The project had to be completed within a reasonably short timeframe and within a tight budget which placed overall constraints on the way the project could be handled. After developing and gaining approval for an implementation plan, team members were briefed and development samples produced for approval. Product characteristics were checked and recommendations made for adjustments until each product met requirements. When pilot batch manufacture had been successfully completed, project development processes were fully documented and then passed to production to allow for efficient development of production batches.
Environmental
The quality team in a laboratory has set a goal of getting reports out more quickly and assigned the coordination of the project to one of the senior technical officers. The officer prepared an outline of the project, a timeframe, a resource list and budget. Specific tasks were allocated to members of the quality team according to their abilities and existing work commitments. The officer monitored the project's progress by tracking and adjusting elements as necessary. After the development of a final draft for the revised procedures, a draft project report was prepared for consideration by the quality team.
Food processing
A dairy company currently uses an imported cocoa-based product for the chocolate flavouring of their milk. Following a feasibility study of a range of ingredients, it was decided to investigate further an alternative source on the basis of cost. A technical specialist prepared a project plan that included required personnel, materials, equipment and a detailed GANTT chart. Key personnel from quality assurance, production, engineering, product development and marketing were chosen for the project team. The project was monitored to confirm progress, control expenditure and review the suitability of the alternative product source. At the end of the project, the technical specialist assessed the outcomes and prepared a detailed report that recommended the use of a local ingredient.