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.
Rapid manufacturing applications

Rapid manufacturing applications can be found in most industries with the selection of a rapid manufacturing process depending on the suitability of the product and materials for available rapid manufacturing equipment and cost-benefit analysis against traditional manufacturing alternatives. Examples of rapid manufactured items may include:
medical and biomedical prosthetics and implants
custom musical instruments
jewellery
consumer products
toys
any small to medium quantity item, particularly involving high set-up cost associated with using alternative or traditional methods
Context of manufacturing processes
The context of manufacturing operations includes consideration of:
global competitive markets
product and process sustainability
lean systems
product manufacturability
system maintainability
facilities, services, plant and tooling requirements
supply chains
material and product flow
transfer operations
process control
labour requirements and skills distribution
information flow
systems thinking, continuous improvement, and constraint and contingency management
WHS and regulatory requirements and risk management
Appropriate technical and professional assistance
Appropriate technical and professional assistance may include:
technical support and advice relating to elements which have intrinsic dangers, such as:
high pressure
energised fluid vessels
high temperatures and heat energy capacity
wiring with high current control voltages above extra low voltage
professional support for technologies, such as:
specialist electric motor drives and controllers
specialist materials, plastics, metal alloys and nano materials
special processes, foundry, alloy welding, heat treatment, sealing and fastening
WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures

WHS, regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures may include:
WHS Acts and regulations
relevant standards
codes of practice from Australian and overseas engineering and technical associations and societies
risk assessments
registration requirements
safe work practices
state and territory regulatory requirements applying to electrical work
Standards and codes
Standards and codes refer to all relevant Australian and international standards and codes applicable to a particular rapid manufacturing process
Sustainability

Sustainability is used to mean the entire sustainable performance of the organisation/plant, including:
meeting all regulatory requirements
conforming to all industry covenants, protocols and best practice guides
minimising ecological and environmental footprint of process, plant and product
maximising economic benefit of process plant and product to the organisation and the community
minimising the negative WHS impact on employees, community and customer
Systems thinking

Systems thinking refers to the conduct of engineering work in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of how the interaction of different technical systems on equipment, machinery or structures, as well as the skills and techniques of personnel, combine to perform or support engineering-related operations, processes or projects. It embraces determining or establishing how the function of each technical system or component, as well as the skills and techniques of personnel, effects or potentially may effect, outcomes. Systems should be interpreted broadly within the context of the organisation and depending on the project or operation can include equipment, related facilities, material, software, internal services and personnel, and other organisations in the value chain
Continuous improvement implementation
Continuous improvement implementation may relate to plant, products, processes, systems or services, including design, development, implementation or manufacture, commissioning, operation or delivery and maintenance.
Improvement processes may include techniques, such as:
balanced scorecard
current and future state mapping
measuring performance against benchmarks
process improvement, problem solving and decision making
data management, generation, recording, analysing, storing and use of software
training for improvement systems participation
technical training
Manage constraints and contingencies
Contingencies arising during operations or improvement projects are responded to in the context of constraints. Contingencies may threaten operations or improvement projects and planning for contingencies may be essential to maintain resources, skilled labour and schedules. Each contingency will have constraints on possible solutions. These may be:
financial, organisational, procedural or cultural
physical constraints, such as limits to resources, limits to site access or logistical limitations
Process competitiveness
Competitive or lean processes uses cost, capacity and responsiveness, quality, reliability and waste minimisation as drivers of the process and measures for process improvement. Lean manufacturing is the response of many organisations to local, regional, national and global market competitiveness
Automation
Automation options range from manual operations with manual information generation, handling, analysis and storage to islands of automation, supported by manual interfaces with some electronic information processing, to systems with major automation and networked data handling
Labour requirements and skills distribution
Globally competitive manufacturing processes require well trained employees for flexibility of deployment options and minimisation of labour waste. Continuous improvement requires continuous training to match skills to process improvements and developments. Modern manufacturing processes require proactive maintenance participation and skills development

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.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to evaluate rapid manufacturing applications for safety, economy and fitness for purpose.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently:
review technologies, including software, used in rapid manufacturing applications
evaluate rapid manufacturing processes for efficiency and cost-benefit against alternative manufacturing techniques
select appropriate analysis principles and techniques and software
identify and assess compliance against relevant WHS and regulatory requirements, risk management and organisational procedures
report and document results.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both on and off the job. Where assessment occurs off the job, then a simulated working environment must be used where the range of conditions reflects realistic workplace situations.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Method of assessment
Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package.
Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge.
Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure correct interpretation and application.
Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process.
Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is not only able to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances.
Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required.
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.