Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
21/07/2026 11:17 PM AWST
21/07/2026 11:17 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Apply proactive maintenance strategies to sustainability
Apply proactive maintenance strategies to sustainability
Unit of competency
National Code
MSS014005A
MSS014005A
State Code
D7728
D7728
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
26/03/2012
Field of Education
030101 - Manufacturing Engineering
Original Release Date
26/03/2012
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit of competency covers using a proactive maintenance strategy to improve the sustainability outcomes of equipment, plant or process. This unit includes the interaction between maintenance worker and operator as appropriate.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Define sustainability issues for work area
- 1.1 Identify sustainability goals of enterprise as they relate to work area
- 1.2 Identify actual or possible sustainability issues in work area
- 1.3 Determine current maintenance strategy for work area
- 1.4 Identify changes to maintenance strategy which may improve sustainability outcomes
- 1.5 Consult with stakeholders with regard to sustainability issues and possible maintenance changes
2 Assess current maintenance practice for sustainability implications
- 2.1 Evaluate current maintenance procedures for plant/equipment sustainability implications
- 2.2 Discuss current maintenance practices with relevant stakeholders to determine any plant/equipment sustainability issues
- 2.3 Recommend changes to improve plant/equipment sustainability impact in accordance with procedures
3 Implement the sustainable maintenance strategy and practices for the work area
- 3.1 Arrange for changes to be incorporated into procedures and work plans
- 3.2 Identify training needs in liaison with relevant personnel
- 3.3 Assist personnel to develop required competencies within scope of authority
- 3.4 Collect data as required by own work plan
- 3.5 Develop required information and compare with performance indicators
- 3.6 Recommend sustainability improvements in accordance with procedures
- 3.7 Monitor implementation of improvements and recommend any further required changes
Process
Process may include:
any manufacturing, logistics, administrative, information technology or other business process which uses equipment or plant that requires maintenance
Interactions with the environment
Interactions with the environment may include:
drawing physical resources from the environment
releasing materials to the environment (e.g. emissions)
drawing energy from/releasing energy to the environment
Environmental sensitivities
Environmental sensitivities may include:
fragile areas and rare or threatened species
heritage or culturally sensitive issues
hazardous emissions
real or perceived overuse of scarce resources
regulated emissions or other regulatory issues
noise
community perceptions or other issues
Sustainability issues
Sustainability issues (as relevant to the work/process area) may include:
need to reduce the carbon footprint of product and process through reduction in use of:
energy
water
raw materials
emissions
embedded carbon in transport, storage, rework and errors, and inefficient processes and design
Sustainability related issues may also exist irrespective of the carbon equivalence aspects of the issue. This may include:
current and future availability of raw materials
current and future availability of energy
extent and type of waste generation and disposal
efficiency of process in terms of consumption of materials and energy regarded as in short supply or which are regarded as environmentally sensitive
the extent to which the production process, product and waste affects the environment, including effects on:
climate
quality of local air and water
ecology
noise
relationship with the local and broader community, (e.g. effect of operations on aesthetic appearance, preservation of heritage, and proximity to schools and religious facilities)
extent of regulatory oversight and extent and cost of compliance
Procedures
Procedures include:
all work instructions, standard operating procedures, formulas/recipes, batch sheets, temporary instructions and similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. good manufacturing practice (GMP) and responsible care) and government regulations
Procedures may be:
written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form
TPM
TPM refers to:
the strategic application of total quality management to maintenance with the intention of increasing reliability, getting it right first time and increasing overall equipment efficiency (OEE)
RCM
RCM refers to:
a strategy which moves maintenance from reactive, or even planned/programmed, towards a focus on uptime and OEE
Similar strategies
Mean time between failure (MTBF):
is one key measure of the effectiveness of a maintenance procedure, and is an indicator as to whether root causes are being found and resolved. If MTBF is reducing, then it is an indicator that the maintenance regime is failing
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA):
is a systematic approach that identifies potential failure modes in a system, product, or manufacturing/assembly operation caused by either design or manufacturing/assembly process deficiencies. It also identifies critical or significant design or process characteristics that require special controls to prevent or detect failure modes. FMEA is a tool used to prevent problems from occurring
Some industry sectors have highly adapted forms of FMEA and may practice traditional FMEA in their routine maintenance while using another technique, such as hazard and operability studies (HAZOP), for design and modification
HAZOP is:
a form of FMEA which has been practiced by the process industries for over 30 years and examines the implications of changes in process conditions to process stability
Condition monitoring:
involves monitoring of equipment usually through technical analysis or visual inspection of:
performance in use, including vibration monitoring, noise and extent of exhausts
instrumental analysis of lubricating oil and exhausts
components, such as bearings, seals and hoses
to determine the current state of the equipment, monitor the change in this condition and predict when it needs servicing/maintenance to maintain reliability and performance against sustainability related criteria (e.g. emissions)
OEE
OEE is:
the combination of the main factors causing loss of productive capacity from equipment/plant and is where:
availability takes into account losses due to breakdown, set-up and adjustments
performance takes into account losses due to minor stoppages, reduced speed and idling
quality rate takes into account the losses due to rejects, reworks and start-up waste
Maintenance practices
Maintenance practices are the detailed application of the maintenance strategy to individual items of equipment and the maintenance responsibilities and tasks to employees and contractors. Examples that may impact on sustainability include:
increased inspection frequency of equipment above minimum requirements
lubrication and filter changeovers above minimum requirements in order to achieve higher environmental performance
replacement at set intervals to eliminate/reduce breakdowns
duplicate circuits
remote monitoring
increased training of operators in equipment monitoring and minor maintenance
Process may include:
any manufacturing, logistics, administrative, information technology or other business process which uses equipment or plant that requires maintenance
Interactions with the environment
Interactions with the environment may include:
drawing physical resources from the environment
releasing materials to the environment (e.g. emissions)
drawing energy from/releasing energy to the environment
Environmental sensitivities
Environmental sensitivities may include:
fragile areas and rare or threatened species
heritage or culturally sensitive issues
hazardous emissions
real or perceived overuse of scarce resources
regulated emissions or other regulatory issues
noise
community perceptions or other issues
Sustainability issues
Sustainability issues (as relevant to the work/process area) may include:
need to reduce the carbon footprint of product and process through reduction in use of:
energy
water
raw materials
emissions
embedded carbon in transport, storage, rework and errors, and inefficient processes and design
Sustainability related issues may also exist irrespective of the carbon equivalence aspects of the issue. This may include:
current and future availability of raw materials
current and future availability of energy
extent and type of waste generation and disposal
efficiency of process in terms of consumption of materials and energy regarded as in short supply or which are regarded as environmentally sensitive
the extent to which the production process, product and waste affects the environment, including effects on:
climate
quality of local air and water
ecology
noise
relationship with the local and broader community, (e.g. effect of operations on aesthetic appearance, preservation of heritage, and proximity to schools and religious facilities)
extent of regulatory oversight and extent and cost of compliance
Procedures
Procedures include:
all work instructions, standard operating procedures, formulas/recipes, batch sheets, temporary instructions and similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. good manufacturing practice (GMP) and responsible care) and government regulations
Procedures may be:
written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form
TPM
TPM refers to:
the strategic application of total quality management to maintenance with the intention of increasing reliability, getting it right first time and increasing overall equipment efficiency (OEE)
RCM
RCM refers to:
a strategy which moves maintenance from reactive, or even planned/programmed, towards a focus on uptime and OEE
Similar strategies
Mean time between failure (MTBF):
is one key measure of the effectiveness of a maintenance procedure, and is an indicator as to whether root causes are being found and resolved. If MTBF is reducing, then it is an indicator that the maintenance regime is failing
Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA):
is a systematic approach that identifies potential failure modes in a system, product, or manufacturing/assembly operation caused by either design or manufacturing/assembly process deficiencies. It also identifies critical or significant design or process characteristics that require special controls to prevent or detect failure modes. FMEA is a tool used to prevent problems from occurring
Some industry sectors have highly adapted forms of FMEA and may practice traditional FMEA in their routine maintenance while using another technique, such as hazard and operability studies (HAZOP), for design and modification
HAZOP is:
a form of FMEA which has been practiced by the process industries for over 30 years and examines the implications of changes in process conditions to process stability
Condition monitoring:
involves monitoring of equipment usually through technical analysis or visual inspection of:
performance in use, including vibration monitoring, noise and extent of exhausts
instrumental analysis of lubricating oil and exhausts
components, such as bearings, seals and hoses
to determine the current state of the equipment, monitor the change in this condition and predict when it needs servicing/maintenance to maintain reliability and performance against sustainability related criteria (e.g. emissions)
OEE
OEE is:
the combination of the main factors causing loss of productive capacity from equipment/plant and is where:
availability takes into account losses due to breakdown, set-up and adjustments
performance takes into account losses due to minor stoppages, reduced speed and idling
quality rate takes into account the losses due to rejects, reworks and start-up waste
Maintenance practices
Maintenance practices are the detailed application of the maintenance strategy to individual items of equipment and the maintenance responsibilities and tasks to employees and contractors. Examples that may impact on sustainability include:
increased inspection frequency of equipment above minimum requirements
lubrication and filter changeovers above minimum requirements in order to achieve higher environmental performance
replacement at set intervals to eliminate/reduce breakdowns
duplicate circuits
remote monitoring
increased training of operators in equipment monitoring and minor maintenance
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to assess current proactive maintenance practices for plant and equipment and adapt and implement these practices to achieve improvements in sustainability.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
identifying key features of maintenanace strategies, including breakdown maintenance, TPM, RCM and OEE
identifying current maintenance strategies and practices in a work area
analysisng work area maintenance strategies and practices for sustainability related implications
developing and implementing sustainability improvements.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.
This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Method of assessment
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.
Guidance information for assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to assess current proactive maintenance practices for plant and equipment and adapt and implement these practices to achieve improvements in sustainability.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
identifying key features of maintenanace strategies, including breakdown maintenance, TPM, RCM and OEE
identifying current maintenance strategies and practices in a work area
analysisng work area maintenance strategies and practices for sustainability related implications
developing and implementing sustainability improvements.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.
This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units addressing sustainability at the enterprise level or other units requiring the exercise of the skills and knowledge covered by this unit.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Method of assessment
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work-like environment.
Guidance information for assessment
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAL24 | MSS014005 | Apply proactive maintenance strategies to sustainability | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D550 | MSS40111 | Certificate IV in Sustainable Operations | Qualification |