Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Procedures
Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form, and may include:
all work instructions
standard operating procedures
formulas/recipes
batch sheets
temporary instructions
any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. Responsible Care) and government regulations
Cores
Core is used to include:
materials used to provide thickness and so rigidity (and perhaps thermal and acoustic insulation) to a laminate, but not significant structural strength, which is provided by reinforcing
Fillers
Fillers include:
particulate materials which may be added to the composite matrix to vary the bulk, stiffness, density or other properties of the final composite
Requirements of final product
Requirements of final product may be determined from various sources, including:
drawings
product specifications
customer requests
descriptions of required use of product
Requirements of core
Requirements of core include:
stiffness/flexibility
directionality
density
shear strength
insulating properties
operating temperature
Most appropriate core/filler
Most appropriate core/filler refers to that core/filler which has:
compliance with product requirements
greatest ease of use in manufacture
best financial return
greatest sustainability contribution
Sustainability
Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:
survival of the ecology/physical environment - which means that an enterprise needs to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment
economic viability - efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business
social sustainability - an enterprise needs to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community, including occupational health and safety ( OHS)
Preparing core
Preparing core includes:
cutting to size/shape, as required
tapering edges, as required
any pre-treatment required (e.g. dehumidifying and priming)
Preparing reinforcing
Preparing reinforcing includes:
cutting to size/shape, as required,
packaging into kits, as required
any pre-treatment required
Preparing filler
Preparing filler may include:
weighing
mixing with resin to required viscosity
any other required preparation
Fillers may include:
fillers, such as syntactic foam
Core direction
Core direction includes considerations such as:
directional properties
Reinforcing direction
Reinforcing direction includes considerations such as:
fibre orientation
fibre pre-forming
Logs and reports
Logs and reports may include:
paper or electronic based
verbal reports
items found which require action
Appropriate action
Appropriate action includes:
determining problems needing action
determining possible fault causes
rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility
following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person
Typical problems
Typical problems may include:
cost/benefit of different core/filler systems
air/vapour entrapment
bonding/delaminating
contamination
selecting a core/filler suited to the fabrication process
Health, safety and environment (HSE)
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent HSE requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential that the process and equipment be understood and that the importance of critical material properties, settings and readings is known. Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
all reasonably available cores and/or fillers have been considered
an appropriate core/filler has been chosen
the reasons for choosing the core and/or filler are sound
the product meets its required performance.
Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this unit of competency.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment will require the selection and use of appropriate cores and fillers for specified composite jobs.
Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.
Method of assessment
A single assessment event is not appropriate. On-the-job assessment should be included as part of the assessment process wherever possible. Where assessment occurs off the job, judgement must consider evidence of the candidate's performance in a productive work environment that includes a sufficient range of appropriate tasks and materials to cover the scope of application for this unit.
Assessors should gather a range of evidence that is valid, sufficient, current and authentic. Evidence can be gathered through a variety of ways, including direct observation, supervisor's reports, project work, samples and questioning. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.
The candidate must have access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required. The candidate must be permitted to refer to any relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications, codes, standards, manuals and reference materials.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.