Elements and Performance Criteria

Process
Process may include:
any manufacturing, logistics, administrative, information technology or business process which could be in a manufacturing value chain
Audit process
Audit processes covered by this unit may include:
audits for regulatory, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) or other compliance
audits related to responding to a government initiative, incentive
audits against externally set targets (e.g. set by governments, industry codes and clients/customers)
audits of carbon and carbon equivalence usage
energy audits
water audits
emission audits
sustainability related transport audits
efficiency audits, including audits of rejects and reworks
Sustainability related activities
Sustainability related activities may include:
carbon emissions
specific consumption or emission:
energy
water
raw materials
specific wastes
life cycle analyses
Environmental sensitivities
Environmental sensitivities may include:
fragile areas and rare or threatened species
heritage or culturally sensitive issues
hazardous emissions
regulated emissions or other regulatory issues
community perceptions or other issues
Sustainability issues
Sustainability issues (as relevant to the work/process area) may include:
need to reduce the carbon footprint of product and process through reduction in use of:
energy
water
raw materials
emissions
embedded carbon in transport, storage, rework and errors, and inefficient processes and design
Sustainability related issues may also exist irrespective of the carbon equivalence aspects of the issue. This may include:
current and future availability of raw materials
current and future availability of energy
extent and type of waste generation and disposal
efficiency of process in terms of consumption of materials and energy regarded as in short supply or which are regarded as environmentally sensitive
the extent to which the production process, product and waste affects the environment, including effects on:
climate
quality of local air and water
ecology
noise
relationship with the local and broader community (e.g. effect of operations on aesthetic appearance, preservation of heritage, and proximity to schools and religious facilities)
extent of regulatory oversight and extent and cost of compliance
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Environmental Management Standards
Data and records
Historical data and records may include:
orders, project briefs or customer specifications
hazard logs
incident reports
maintenance records
errors and non-conformance reports
production records
Inputs to process
Inputs to process include:
water
energy
materials
carbon equivalence of inputs, where appropriate
Procedures
Procedures include:
all work instructions, standard operating procedures, formulas/recipes, batch sheets, temporary instructions and similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. good manufacturing practice (GMP) and responsible care) and government regulations
Procedures may be:
written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form

Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to identify the scope of a sustainability audit, measure inputs and outputs as directed and recommend sustainability improvements for a process or work area.
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:
identifying appropriate boundaries for the sustainability related audit
identifying own role and reporting arrangements in audit
accurately measuring inputs and outputs of a process or work area
undertaking benefit/cost ratio analyses.
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