Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 6:58 AM AWST

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Manage benchmarking studies

Manage benchmarking studies

Unit of competency
National Code
MSS407011A
State Code
WD589
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
02/05/2012
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
29/08/2014
Field of Education
080317 - Quality Management
Original Release Date
29/08/2014
Nominal Hours
70
Description
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to undertake benchmarking studies, either directly or as a leader in a team undertaking benchmarking. It covers both performance and process benchmarking. It does not cover product or strategic benchmarking.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Identify nature of benchmarking activity
  • 1.1 Identify operations or area to be benchmarked
  • 1.2 Determine the core set of benchmark measures required
2 Develop the benchmarking methodology
  • 2.1 Determine baseline in area of study for core measures
  • 2.2 Confirm nature and source of data/information to be collected
  • 2.3 Agree on likely suitable sources of benchmarking data/ information
  • 2.4 Confirm required survey methodology
3 Conduct benchmarking survey
  • 3.1 Establish required communication channels for survey
  • 3.2 Obtain required data/information
  • 3.3 Validate data/information as required by methodology
4 Apply results of benchmarking
  • 4.1 Interpret the analysed results of the survey
  • 4.2 Agree required improvement actions resulting from the survey
  • 4.3 Analyse health, safety and environment (HSE) implications from proposed actions
  • 4.4 Modify proposed actions as required to ensure they are at least HSE neutral
  • 4.5 Initiate the implementation of the improvement actions
  • 4.6 Follow through on improvement actions to ensure they are fully implemented
5 Improve the benchmarking process
  • 5.1 Analyse the benchmarking process just undertaken
  • 5.2 Analyse the changes which have resulted from the benchmarking
  • 5.3 Identify areas for improvement
  • 5.4 Agree ways of improving future benchmarking activities
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.
Competitive systems and practices

Competitive systems and practices may include, but are not limited to:
lean operations
agile operations
preventative and predictive maintenance approaches
monitoring and data gathering systems, such as Systems Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Materials Resource Planning (MRP) and proprietary systems
statistical process control systems, including six sigma and three sigma
Just in Time (JIT), kanban and other pull-related operations control systems
supply, value, and demand chain monitoring and analysis
5S
continuous improvement (kaizen)
breakthrough improvement (kaizen blitz)
cause/effect diagrams
overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
takt time
process mapping
problem solving
run charts
standard procedures
current reality tree
Competitive systems and practices should be interpreted so as to take into account:
the stage of implementation of competitive systems and practices
the size of the enterprise
the work organisation, culture, regulatory environment and the industry sector
Sources of benchmarking data
Sources of benchmarking data may include:
other relevant areas within the same organisation
external organisations in a similar market/with similar processes
external organisations recognised as a leader in the process/activity under study
benchmarking consultancies offering access to relevant data/information/organisations
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
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:
determine priority operations or areas for benchmarking
undertake benchmarking
implement (or initiate and follow through on the implementation of) the actions which flow from the benchmarking
examine the outcomes and identify improvements.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of performance must be undertaken in a workplace using or implementing one or more competitive systems and practices.
Access may be required to:
workplace procedures and plans relevant to work area
specifications and documentation relating to planned, currently being implemented, or implemented changes to work processes and procedures relevant to the assessee
documentation and information in relation to production, waste, overheads, and hazard control/management
reports from supervisors/managers
case studies and scenarios to assess responses to contingencies.
Method of assessment
A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.
Competence in this unit may be assessed by using a combination of the following to generate evidence:
demonstration in the workplace
workplace projects
suitable simulation
case studies/scenarios (particularly for assessment of contingencies, improvement scenarios, and so on)
targeted questioning
reports from supervisors, peers and colleagues (third-party reports)
portfolio of evidence.
In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess underpinning knowledge.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
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.
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
BAJ62 MSS407011 Manage benchmarking studies Unit of competency