Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers design and fabrication of milking equipment installations and defines the standard required to: assess the need for livestock throughput and milk handling facilities; determine the site and design the installation for the site; incorporate animal welfare requirements and movement principles into design; incorporate appropriate safe workplace procedures for personnel into design; estimate cost of the proposed installations; and project manage the fabrication and assembly of the milking equipment installation.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to milking machinery technicians.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare design and installation estimates

1.1. Shed design and installation estimates to suit the application are determined and meet current industry guidelines.

1.2. Financial and physical resources that impact on the proposed works are identified and documented.

1.3. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues affecting the design and construction of the shed and equipment are identified and addressed in design and construction planning.

1.4. Labour and other inputs are calculated and the tender submitted.

2. Plan installation

2.1. Contract for work is completed with the customer including verification of material estimates and costings.

2.2. Relevant building and planning permits are obtained in co-operation with the appropriate authorities.

2.3. Site planning includes consideration of environmental issues, service connections and alternative power supplies.

2.4. Required components are planned to match the proposed installation and sourced from the appropriate original equipment manufacturer.

2.5. The installation is planned to create a safe working environment designed to eliminate hazards to people and animals during milking, cleaning or service operations.

3. Facilitate the completion of the installation

3.1. Job scheduling is carried out in consultation with all relevant parties.

3.2. Physical and material resources are ordered and delivery facilitated.

3.3. Co-ordination of the implementation of the milking machine installation is carried out according to the project plan.

3.4. Project management is carried out in line with the scope of the project and contract needs.

3.5. Site OHS procedures and policies are established including areas of responsibility for all the project participants and full notification provided.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• blend design standards and requirements with practical application and customer needs
• understand construction plans and specifications on machinery and equipment components of dairy installations
• safely utilise hand and power tools in a workshop and field situation
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• applicable building regulations and codes of practice
• OHS acts in the relevant state, and specifically regulations relating to plant and machinery and noise
• relevant industry minimum standards for the design and installation of milking equipment
• original equipment manufacturers requirements for milking equipment installation
• the working requirements of milking sheds including the siting of components to ensure efficient shed operation.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• assess the need for livestock throughput and milk handling facilities
• determine the site and design the installation for the site
• incorporate animal welfare requirements and movement principles into design
• incorporate appropriate safe workplace procedures for personnel into design
• estimate cost of the proposed installations
• project manage the fabrication and assembly of the milking equipment installation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Shed configurations may include:

• conventional walk through
• herringbone
• rotary.

Unit sector 

Milk harvesting

Co-requisite units 

Competency field