Elements and Performance Criteria

This competency applies to all printing and decorating of rigid products within the plastics and rubber industries. It includes the operation of all relevant additional equipment where that equipment is integral to the printing and decoration process.

Procedures means all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.

This competency includes tools and equipment such as:
hand carts and trolleys
knives and other bag opening equipment
hoists/lifting equipment not requiring any special permits or licences
basic hand tools required for opening of material packaging
relevant personal protective equipment.

Typical hazards include:
spills
dusts/vapours
hazardous materials
manual handling hazards
knife hazards.

Respond to/rectify 'non-routine problems' means 'apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems'.

Typical process and product problems include:
variations in materials
contamination of materials in product to be decorated
out of specification equipment operation
variations in materials and/or contamination of materials
processing problems.

Key variables to be monitored include:
equipment operating conditions
condition of graphics and lettering film
colour
output rate
product integrity and general conformance to specification/sample
product quality
ink adherence
production outputs
equipment operating pressures
colour
thickness
product integrity.

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

Essential knowledge and enterprise requirements
Application of knowledge of the materials, equipment and process sufficient to recognise material and equipment conditions which may lead to out of specification production.
Knowledge of the enterprise's procedures and relevant regulatory requirements along with the ability to implement them within appropriate time constraints and work standards.

Competence includes the ability for the practical completion of the job to:
apply and/or explain:
impact of incorrect or faulty materials
production workflow sequences and materials demand
focus of operation of work systems and equipment
correct selection and use of equipment, materials, processes and procedures
hazards of the materials and process and appropriate hazard control procedures
distinguish between causes of faults such as:
wrong raw materials/additives/catalyst
incorrect quantity of materials/additives/catalyst
contaminated materials/additives/catalyst
impact of variations in raw materials and equipment operation in relation to final product
plan own work including predicting consequences and identifying improvements
interpret from production requests the correct selection and use of equipment, materials, processes and procedures
make adjustments to equipment operation to rectify variations in equipment operation or product quality
check equipment for correct set-up to job specifications and implement adjustments or report deviations immediately
safely shut down equipment in normal or abnormal circumstances
identify factors which may affect product quality or production output and appropriate remedies:
incorrect quantity of materials
contaminated materials.

Critical aspects
It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the ability to:
identify critical materials properties and printing and decoration process characteristics in relation to the process requirements and the end product
plan own work process within workplace procedures and explain the reasons for the steps in the process
take appropriate action to observe equipment, materials and products for out of specification results, make adjustments and identify problems to be reported.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
production quality and output standards are met consistently
problems are anticipated from process observations
problems are efficiently resolved
the process runs consistently and smoothly.

Language, literacy and numeracy requirements
This unit requires the ability to read and interpret typical product specifications, job sheets and material labels as provided to operators.
Writing is required to the level of completing workplace forms.
Basic numeracy is also required, e.g. to determine that 16 units and 46 units are equal to a total of 62 units.

Assessment method and context
Competence in this unit may be assessed:
on an operating plant allowing for operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions
by use of a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios
by 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.

Resource implications
This section should be read in conjunction with the range of variables 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.