Elements and Performance Criteria

System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) is a general term applied to a number of systems which automatically collect critical process data, perform required mathematical manipulations on it and then make control decisions and/or give required information to personnel for action.

In the continuous manufacturing sector, the SCADA system is sometimes integrated into other sophisticated computer control systems such as Distributed Control System (DCS) and indeed these systems do merge in advanced systems. These organisations may simply refer to their SCADA as the DCS or other similar term (such as the proprietary name of the computer system).

SCADA systems may provide information from outside of the process, such as stock/material levels in a customer plant and/or available supply, supply rates and pricing from a supplier plant. This information may all be accessed by the SCADA system and the employee using it in order to make production rate and other control decisions (either automatically or human assisted) about their own process.


The supply chain is all suppliers in the chain from the initial raw material up to the current step in the manufacturing process.

The product chain is all steps after the current step up to the final customer.

Competitive manufacturing organisations encompass the entire production system, beginning with the customer, and includes the product sales outlet, the final assembler, product design, raw material mining and processing and all tiers of the value chain (sometimes called the supply chain). Any truly 'competitive' system is highly dependent on the demands of its customers and the reliability of its suppliers. No implementation of competitive manufacturing can reach its full potential without including the entire 'enterprise' in its planning.


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. They may be written, verbal, computer based or in some other form.

For the purposes of this Training Package, 'procedures' also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (eg Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Responsible Care) and government regulations.

Overview of assessment requirements
The employee will routinely use the relevant parts of the SCADA system for their job.

What are the specific resource requirements for this unit?
Access to an organisation using a SCADA system.

What critical aspects of evidence are required to demonstrate competency in this unit?
Evidence of routine use of SCADA as part of their job is required.

In what context should assessment occur?
Assessment needs to occur in a workplace using a SCADA system or using a SCADA simulation program.

Are there any other units which could or should be assessed with this unit or which relate directly to this unit?
This unit should be assessed concurrently with relevant technical units for the process.
This unit covers the lowest skill level aspects of SCADA.

What method of assessment should apply?
Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria, skills and knowledge. A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.
Assessors should gather sufficient, fair, valid, reliable, authentic and current evidence from a range of sources. Sources of evidence may include direct observation, reports from supervisors, peers and colleagues, project work, samples, organisation records and questioning. Assessment should not require language, literacy or numeracy skills beyond those required for the unit.
The assessee will have access to all techniques, procedures, information, resources and aids which would normally be available in the workplace.
The method of assessment should be discussed and agreed with the assessee prior to the commencement of the assessment.

What evidence is required for demonstration of consistent performance?
Evidence of routine use over an extended period should be available. SCADA systems will typically log all interactions with it. Interrogation of the SCADA system will therefore provide evidence of the operator's use of it. Actions taken may also be accessible from the SCADA system itself, or may need other evidence available from the process.