Elements and Performance Criteria

This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the kiln system.

For your plant this may include (select relevant items):
instrument panels (local)
measuring and recording equipment
communication equipment
hand tools
emergency stop buttons and lanyards
safety clothing and equipment.

Typical problems for your plant may include :
equipment malfunctions
temperature fluctuations
quality of product
material/feed variations
spillages and leakages.

OHS
All operations are subject to stringent OHS requirements and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and OHS requirements, the OHS requirements take precedence.

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 may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this unit of competency (eg, elements 1 to 5). 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.
This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of 'what if' scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk-throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

Critical aspects
It is essential that the equipment and the process be understood and that the importance of critical 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:

start up and shut down occurs first time
signals and alarms are responded to immediately
all OHS requirements are followed.
Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this competency unit. 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
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.
Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and corequisites relevant to their processes.

Essential knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of the plant and the equipment sufficient to recognise variances in the process conditions and the equipment which will lead to out of specification production.
Knowledge of the enterprise's standard procedures and work instructions and relevant regulatory requirements, along with the ability to implement them within appropriate time constraints and in a manner relevant to the operation of the equipment.

Competence includes the ability to:


apply and/or explain:

isolation procedures
chemistry and physics of cement/lime making processes
operational processes and functions, including start up and shut down processes
composition and nature of raw materials and finished product
construction and limitations of the equipment
out of specification situations

distinguish between:

raw materials
equipment
types of defects/faults
electrical/instrumental causes of malfunctions
as is relevant to the practical operation of the plant.

Communicating ideas and information
(1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(1)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)