Elements and Performance Criteria

This competency unit includes the operation of equipment used for the casting of clay and ceramic products.

It includes the processes :
casting (including medium pressure casting)
punching
palleting
sponging and fettling
use of hand tools.
This competency includes the operation of all ancillary equipment and the operation of plant using PLCs where appropriate.
This unit was developed for larger production contexts but it may also be relevant to craft practitioners producing ceramic work.

It does NOT include :
drying
firing
finishing operations.

Typical problems include :
checking for mould deterioration
slip consistency
product wall thickness
identifying piece faults.
All operations are performed to

Assessment context and methods
Assessment for this unit of competency will be on an operating plant. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.
Simulation or case study/scenarios may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this competency unit (eg, those parts of element 2 referring to out of range readings). Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include 'walk-throughs' of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

Critical aspects

Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action. Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

moulds are clean and ready
slip is applied correctly
excess slip is removed as required
cast is removed cleanly
mould life is preserved
formed product meets requirements.
material handling methods and waste levels are consistent to standards.
These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what ifs as the stimulus, with a walk-through forming part of the response. The assessment activities should include responding to a range of problems.

Resource implications
Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
This unit has no prerequisite competencies.

This unit may be assessed in conjunction with:

PMCSUP180A Organise self
PMCSUP181A Work in a team.
Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and corequisites relevant to their processes.

Essential knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of the casting equipment sufficient to recognise conditions which will lead to out of specification product.
Knowledge of the enterprise's

Competence includes the ability to:


apply and/or describe:

slip casting process
mould purpose and fundamentals
determining correct wall thickness
slip consistency and properties

distinguish between causes of faults such as:

mould condition
equipment malfunction
mould removal
slip consistency
as is relevant to the practical operation of the equipment.

Communicating ideas and information
(1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(0)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(1)

Using technology
(1)