Unit of competency

Modification History

Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to MSL975012A Provide input to production trials

Application

This unit of competency covers the ability to work closely with production personnel to conduct a routine trial to adjust formulations or develop products and processes following preliminary laboratory work. The unit covers monitoring critical process parameters, collecting and testing of samples, and analysing results. The unit does not cover the planning and management of the trial, development of product briefs or the troubleshooting of equipment and production processes.

This unit of competency is applicable to laboratory technicians and technical officers working in the manufacturing, biotechnology, construction materials, pharmaceutical and food processing industry sectors. All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or workplace requirements.

While no specific licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, laboratory operations are governed by relevant legislation, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements. Local requirements should be checked.

Pre-requisite Unit

Competency Field

Testing

Unit Sector

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range of Conditions

Unit Mapping Information

Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to MSL975012A Provide input to production trials

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=5c63a03b-4a6b-4ae5-9560-1e3c5f462baa

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to MSL975012A Provide input to production trials

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

• safely conducting routine production trials to adjust formulations or develop products and processes on at least two (2) occasions
• analysing trial objectives and specifications and accurately determining resource requirements
• liaising and communicating with production and laboratory personnel to ensure trials are organised and conducted efficiently
• working efficiently within production constraints, priorities and pressures
• monitoring critical process parameters and collecting reliable data and samples
• testing product samples and analysing results
• recognising, interpreting and reporting problems, atypical situations or unacceptable products
• recommending product modifications and improvements
• reporting trial outcomes in accordance with workplace procedures
• safely operating, maintaining and storing equipment and materials in accordance with workplace procedures
• minimising environmental impacts and safely collecting and disposing of waste
• following workplace safety procedures and hazard control measures.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

• terminology, principles and concepts relevant to the trial, such as the relationships between:

• temperature and viscosity
• friction, pressure and fluid flow

• trial objectives, laboratory trial requirements, documentation and reporting requirements
• recipes and formulations, technical specifications and quality parameters for trial products
• effect on product properties of variations in recipes and formulations
• product properties, process stages and unit operations involved in the trial
• expected nature and condition of materials at each process stage
• causes and remedies for common processing problems associated with trial products
• sampling and test methods for trial products
• hazards, work health and safety (WHS), food safety and environmental management procedures relevant to the trial.

Assessment Conditions

• Judgment of competence must be based on holistic assessment of the evidence. Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time, rather than a single assessment event.
• This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment. A simulated workplace environment must reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including the environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
• Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
• Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
• Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept in each case).
• This unit of competency may be assessed with:

• MSL924001 Process and interpret data
• relevant MSL974000 series units of competency
• relevant MSL975000 series units of competency

• Holistic assessment methods include:

• review of trial documentation completed by candidate to ensure quality and timeliness
• feedback from supervisors and/or personnel involved in trials about the quality of the candidate’s inputs
• observation of candidate participating in production trials
• oral or written questioning to check required knowledge of production trial procedures, sampling and test methods, and common causes and remedies for product/processing problems.

• Access is required to instruments, equipment, materials, workplace documentation, procedures and specifications associated with this unit, including, but not limited to:

• access to operating plant or pilot plant for the duration of trials; raw materials/ingredients, packaging components and consumables
• workplace procedures for conducting production trials, sampling and testing
• trial documentation, such as technical specifications, plant or production line layout, material safety data sheets (MSDS), trial request and result forms
• sample containers and sampling equipment
• test equipment, laboratory instruments and reagents.

• Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
• The assessor must demonstrate both technical competence and currency.
• Technical competence can be demonstrated through:

• relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment AND/OR
• relevant workplace experience.

• Currency can be demonstrated through:

• performing the competency being assessed as part of current employment OR
• having consulted with a laboratory about performing the competency being assessed within the last twelve months.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=5c63a03b-4a6b-4ae5-9560-1e3c5f462baa