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.

Systems
Used to mean any / all of the equipment, process, procedures and work practices that are used to produce the product
A term often used in this context is Kaizen - the philosophy of continual improvement, that every process can and should be continually evaluated and improved in terms of time required, resources used, resultant quality and other aspects relevant to the process

Procedures
All work instructions, standard operating procedures, formulas / recipes, batch sheets, temporary instructions and similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant. They may be written, oral, computer-based or in some other form
For the purposes of this Training Package, procedures also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (eg Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Responsible Care) and government regulations

Improvement
Improvement procedures in some enterprises are also known by the term baka-yoke which is a manufacturing technique of preventing mistakes by designing the manufacturing process, equipment and tools so that an operation literally cannot be performed incorrectly; an attempt to perform incorrectly, as well as being prevented, is usually met with a warning signal of some sort; the term poka-yoke is sometimes referred to as a system where only a warning is provided
Improvements may be sustained by use of technology so that it is impossible to do the job any other way. However, improvements may also be sustained by changes to process or procedures or other changes to the manufacturing system which, if followed, will sustain the change and this unit may be applied to all these situations

Measuring performance
Measuring performance is not used literally and may mean the personal taking of measurements, or it may mean arranging for measurements to be taken / made by appropriate personnel. The interpretation of the measurements however is to be undertaken personally

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency

Evidence of the following is essential:

The competent team leader will be able to point to improvements which have been made where they have been active in designing and implementing systems for sustaining the improvement. Evidence should be available of having sustained improvements in the workplace and of reviewing these improvements for their real impact
Evidence should be available from multiple small changes or from a large change which has had multiple facets implemented over a period of some months

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

assessment will need to occur in a workplace where improvements are occurring, or where specific improvement projects are undertaken for the purpose of providing evidence of competency (among other aims)
the unit may also be assessed on a project basis in a simulated environment
access to a workplace implementing competitive manufacturing strategies, or where improvement project(s) can be conducted and relevant records are required

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

this unit may be assessed concurrently with appropriate units on continuous improvement.