Unit of competency details

Release 1

New unit

MEM26007A

Select and use reinforcing appropriate for product

MEM26008A

Select and use resin systems appropriate for product

MEM26009A

Select and use cores appropriate for product

MEM09002B

Interpret technical drawing

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1

Interpret product requirements

1.1

Determine requirements of final products

1.2

Determine requirements of resin systems

1.3

Determine requirements of reinforcing

1.4

Determine requirements of cores

1.5

Select appropriate process to be used to fabricate product

2

Identify suitable resin/ reinforcement/core systems

2.1

Examine previous laminate schedules for similar requirements

2.2

Short list suitable resin systems

2.3

Short list suitable reinforcing/reinforcing combinations

2.4

Short list suitable cores

3

Evaluate properties of different resin/ reinforcement/core combinations

3.1

Determine interactions between resin systems and reinforcing and cores

3.2

Select most appropriate combination of resin systems, reinforcing and cores

3.3

Develop a laminate schedule to meet all requirements

3.4

Fabricate a sample of the most appropriate combination

3.5

Conduct/organise for relevant tests

3.6

Evaluate process evaluation test (PET) results

3.7

Review match of PET results with product and sustainability requirements

3.8

Review selection and fabrication process

3.9

Make any required changes to appropriate combination or process

4

Use selected combination for product

4.1

Identify and control hazards

4.2

Prepare selected reinforcing, as required

4.3

Lay reinforcing in correct direction, as appropriate

4.4

Prepare selected core, as required

4.5

Lay core is correct direction, as appropriate

4.6

Make any appropriate adjustments to the resin system recipe

4.7

Mix selected resin system, as required

4.8

Fabricate product using selected process

4.9

Minimise waste

4.10

Review product compared to requirements

4.11

Review material selection and fabrication process

4.12

Identify areas for improvement and take appropriate actions

4.13

Complete any required documentation/reporting

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

Required skills 

Required skills include:

• making choices and justifying decisions
• interpreting design brief
• fabrication skills required to make product
• working unsupervised

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge includes:

• cost against known processes, including labour and machine output
• principles of adhesion and substrate/resin interactions
• bonding within and between composites:

• inter-laminar delamination
• secondary bonding delamination

• resin/reinforcement compatibility
• resin penetration
• permeability of reinforcement
• Darcy’s Law and its application to the flow of resins through porous media (e.g. reinforcing and cores)

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 in this unit 

It is essential that the process and equipment be understood and that the importance of critical material properties, settings and readings is known. Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

• all reasonably available combinations of resin systems, reinforcing and cores have been considered
• an appropriate combination has been chosen
• the reasons for choosing the combination are sound
• the product meets its required performance.

Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this unit of competency.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment will require the designing and fabricating appropriate composite products or components.

Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Method of assessment 

A single assessment event is not appropriate. On-the-job assessment should be included as part of the assessment process wherever possible. Where assessment occurs off the job, judgement must consider evidence of the candidate's performance in a productive work environment that includes a sufficient range of appropriate tasks and materials to cover the scope of application for this unit.

Assessors should gather a range of evidence that is valid, sufficient, current and authentic. Evidence can be gathered through a variety of ways, including direct observation, supervisor's reports, project work, samples and questioning. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

The candidate must have access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required. The candidate must be permitted to refer to any relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications, codes, standards, manuals and reference materials.

Guidance information for assessment 

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

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.

Procedures 

Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form, and may include:

• all work instructions
• standard operating procedures
• formulas/recipes
• batch sheets
• temporary instructions
• any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
• good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. Responsible Care) and government regulations

Most appropriate combination 

Most appropriate combination refers to that combination of resin systems, reinforcing/reinforcing combination and cores which has:

• compliance with product requirements
• greatest ease of manufacture
• best financial return
• greatest sustainability contribution

Sustainability 

Sustainability incorporates the three aspects of:

• survival of the ecology/physical environment – which means that an enterprise needs to manage the impact of the business to ensure the survival of the physical environment
• economic viability – efficiency, cost and waste reduction and competitiveness to support survival of the business
• social sustainability – an enterprise needs to manage the impact of the business to ensure its continued survival within the community and the survival of the community, including occupational health and safety (OHS)

Cores 

Core is used to cover:

• materials used to provide thickness and so rigidity (and perhaps thermal insulation) to a laminate, but not significant structural strength, which is provided by reinforcing

Requirements of final product 

Requirements of final product may be determined from various sources, including:

• drawings
• product specifications
• customer requests
• descriptions of required use of product

Requirements of core 

Requirements of core include:

• stiffness/flexibility
• directionality
• density
• operating temperature

Preparing core 

Preparing core includes:

• cutting to size/shape, as required
• any pre-treatment required

Preparing reinforcing 

Preparing reinforcing includes:

• cutting to size/shape, as required,
• any pre-treatment required

Core direction 

Core direction includes considerations such as:

• directional properties

Reinforcing direction 

Reinforcing direction includes considerations such as:

• fibre orientation
• fibre pre-forming

Requirements of resin system 

Requirements of resin system include:

• strength
• flexibility/rigidity
• surface finish and colour
• chemical/ultraviolet (UV)/environmental resistance
• operating temperature
• recyclability

Resin system adjustments 

Adjustments to the resin system chemistry may be as a result of:

• temperature
• humidity
• required cure time

Adjustments may only be made within the allowable limits of the system being used

Logs and reports 

Logs and reports may include:

• paper or electronic based
• verbal reports
• items found which require action

Appropriate action 

Appropriate action includes:

• determining problems needing action
• determining possible fault causes
• rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility
• following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
• reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person

Typical problems 

Typical problems may include:

• cost/benefit of different combinations
• selecting a combination suited to the fabrication process
• maximising sustainability

Health, safety and environment (HSE) 

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent HSE requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.