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 applies to all polyurethane gravity casting within the plastics and rubber industries. It includes the operation of all relevant additional equipment where that equipment is integral to the polyurethane gravity casting process. This competency unit includes the use of both manually operated equipment and moulds and mechanized processes for longer production runs.
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:
moulds and dies
surface coatings and stripping agents
hoists/lifting equipment not requiring any special permits or licences
hand tools such as spanners, wrenches and hammers
temperature sensing equipment
relevant personal protective equipment
hand tools used in the gravity casting process
material loading equipment used for loading of raw materials.
Hazards
Typical hazards include:
spills/splashes
noxious fumes/vapours
hazardous materials
manual handling hazards
temperature hazards
equipment operations.
Problems
'Anticipate and solve problems' means resolve a wide range of routine and non-routine problems, using product and process knowledge to develop solutions to problems which do not have a known solution/a solution recorded in the procedures.
Typical process and product problems may include:
variations in materials
contamination of materials
mould or die problems
temperature related difficulties
product release difficulties
machine malfunction
mould/tooling problems processing problems
excessive aeration of materials
inadequately mixed materials.
Fault causes
Fault causes include:
wrong raw materials/additives/curative
incorrect quantity of materials/additives/curative
contaminated materials/additives/curative
variations in section thickness
difficult product removal
material 'shuts' and other material problems
excessive aeration
voids.
Variables
Key variables to be monitored include:
operating temperatures
speed of cure
colour
location of pouring basin
cycle time
use of separating agents
product weight
product integrity and general conformance to specification/sample.

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 knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:
identify critical materials properties and gravity casting process characteristics in relation to the process requirements and the end product.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:
production quality and output standards are met consistently
the process runs consistently and smoothly.
Assessment method and context
Assessment will occur on an industrial gravity casting machine(s) equipment and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.
Competence in this unit may be assessed:
on an operating 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. No other special resources are required.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.