Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
This competency involves the hand moulding of clay, ceramic, plaster and other products and may also be relevant to craft practitioners producing ceramic work.
This competency unit includes the operation of all ancillary equipment and the operation of plant using PLCs where appropriate.
Typical problems include -
maintaining correct distribution and compaction of materials
maintaining sectional profiles in accordance with specifications
maintaining cleanliness and specification of materials.
All operations are performed to procedures.

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 or case studies/scenarios may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this competency unit (eg, those parts of element 4 referring to dealing with routine problems). 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:

types of raw materials and finishing materials are able to be identified
OHS and safe work practices are followed
component movements are accompanied by appropriate safe working practices
basic mould or
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.
Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and corequisites relevant to their processes.

Essential knowledge
Knowledge and understanding of the equipment/process sufficient to recognise abnormal operating conditions and alert appropriate individuals.
Knowledge of the enterprise's

Competence includes the ability to describe:

appropriate safety procedures concerning the handling of moulds and
procedures relating to the reporting of hazardous conditions
the content of and handling characteristics of the materials being moulded
as is relevant to the practical construction of components.

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)