Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.
Context
This competency unit includes the selection and fitting of dies and cores.
This competency applies to all work environments and sectors within the plastics, rubber and cablemaking industry which use extrusion type dies and cores. It includes the operation of all relevant ancillary equipment.
Procedures
All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.
Procedures include all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.
Tools and equipment
This competency includes use of equipment and tools such as:
hand carts and trolleys
hoists/lifting equipment not requiring any special permits or licences basic hand tools
hand tools
relevant personal protective equipment.
Hazards
Typical hazards include:
hazardous materials
manual handling hazards
hot surfaces.
Problems
Typical process and product problems may include:
lack of cleaning leading to corrosion
inadequate fitting
fine adjustments to optimise production.
Variables
Key variables to be monitored include:
fitting and adjustments to die
adjustments to extruder settings
quality of the product against product specifications.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, required skills and knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.
Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria and skills and knowledge.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the ability to perform a die-change smoothly and methodically, which will put the extruder back into full production of in-specification product in standard time. In particular it is essential that the operator can:
select, install and check the performance of die and cores
locate, interpret and apply relevant information
maintain workplace records
identify and safely handle products and materials
apply safety precautions appropriate to the task
recognise potential situations requiring action and then implement appropriate action.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that production standards are met consistently.
Assessment method and context
It is preferred that assessment takes place on an industrial extruder in a work environment.
Competence in this unit may be assessed:
on a processing plant, allowing for operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions
in a situation allowing for the generation of evidence of the ability to respond to problems
by using a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios
through a combination of these techniques.
In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge and theoretical assessment will be combined with appropriate practical/simulation or similar assessment. Assessors need to be aware of any cultural issues that may affect responses to questions.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
Specific resources for assessment
This section should be read in conjunction with the Range Statement for this unit of competency. Resources required include suitable access to an operating plant or equipment that allows for appropriate and realistic simulation. A bank of case studies/scenarios and questions will also be required to the extent that they form part of the assessment method. Questioning may take place either in the workplace, or in an adjacent, quiet facility such as an office or lunchroom.