Unit of competency details

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

Use interface

1.1

Identify terminals relevant to own work station and functions

1.2

Use keyboards, track ball/mouse and monitor and/or other peripherals to access system

1.3

Navigate through system and screens to find program menu and data relevant to own work

1.4

Identify and input information on own work processes at required frequency and to required detail

1.5

Access message section and acknowledge messages

1.6

Identify problems and make suggestions for improvements to relevance of planning software to own work

2

Access information

2.1

Identify work processes that require information from planning software system

2.2

Obtain relevant data and information on current operations from the planning software system

2.3

Identify the status of items in the value stream

2.4

Access historical data and information

2.5

Interpret information and identify and prioritise any actions required in response to information

3

Take appropriate actions in accordance with procedures

3.1

Take actions in response to information obtained from planning software

3.2

Follow up as appropriate to ensure anticipated results have occurred

3.3

Record adjustments and variations according to procedures

3.4

Identify any learning needs to use planning software and seek appropriate support

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

Required skills 

Required skills include:

• reading and interpreting electronic and hard copy operating instructions and documents, including where used:

• work instructions
• standard operating procedures
• formulas/recipes
• production and batch sheets
• temporary instructions
• other provided operating instructions

• working within access control requirements of the planning software system
• identifying modules, screens, files, and so on, of software relevant to own work
• logging in and using terminals and planning software at a level of access appropriate to own work
• accurately inputting data
• searching and retrieving data
• accessing nominated assistance with planning software

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge includes:

• technical knowledge needed to operate own work processes
• planning software system and operation, including:

• terminal locations and types
• security and access arrangements
• range of information held in planning software relevant to own work
• data collection methods for operations in work area
• assistance arrangements for users of planning software
• business activities exercised by/through the planning software system

• value created by operations for customers

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

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:

• identify the scope and relevance of planning software system to their own work
• enter and retrieve data, including normal performance and variations
• use planning software system to assist in own work
• contribute suggestions for improvement to performance and relevance of planning software to own work area.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of performance must be undertaken in a workplace using or implementing one or more competitive systems and practices.

Access may be required to:

• workplace procedures and plans relevant to work area
• specifications and documentation relating to planned, currently being implemented, or implemented changes to work processes and procedures relevant to the assessee
• documentation and information in relation to production, waste, overheads and hazard control/management
• reports from supervisors/managers
• case studies and scenarios to assess responses to contingencies.

Method of assessment

A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.

Competence in this unit may be assessed by using a combination of the following to generate evidence:

• demonstration in the workplace
• workplace projects
• suitable simulation
• case studies/scenarios (particularly for assessment of contingencies, improvement scenarios, and so on)
• targeted questioning
• reports from supervisors, peers and colleagues (third-party reports)
• portfolio of evidence

In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess underpinning knowledge.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, 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.

Competitive systems and practices 

Competitive systems and practices may include, but are not limited to:

• lean operations
• agile operations
• preventative and predictive maintenance approaches
• monitoring and data gathering systems, such as Systems Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Materials Resource Planning (MRP) and proprietary systems
• statistical process control systems, including six sigma and three sigma
• Just in Time (JIT), kanban and other pull-related operations control systems
• supply, value, and demand chain monitoring and analysis
• 5S
• continuous improvement (kaizen)
• breakthrough improvement (kaizen blitz)
• cause/effect diagrams
• overall equipment effectiveness (OEE)
• takt time
• process mapping
• problem solving
• run charts
• standard procedures
• current reality tree

Competitive systems and practices should be interpreted so as to take into account:

• the stage of implementation of competitive systems and practices
• the size of the enterprise
• the work organisation, culture, regulatory environment and the industry sector

Planning software 

Planning software includes:

• software systems which integrate a range of business information, such as finance, logistics maintenance and production (frequently referred to as ERP, MRP, MRPII or a range of proprietary names)

Relevant data and information 

Relevant data and information may include:

• technical and other drawings
• standard operating procedures and other work instructions
• production schedules including historical data
• orders and order tracking information
• stock control
• contact lists
• occupational health and safety (OHS) information

Value stream 

The value stream begins with the customer and includes all actions (both value-adding and non-value added) by both internal sections/departments and external organisations to meet a customer requirement.

Depending on the operations and the customer requirement, stages where value stream actions may occur include:

• sales outlet/representative
• information gathering, data analysis and research
• product design
• raw material sourcing
• intermediate processing
• final assembler/collation/preparation
• support services (e.g. accounting, finance and legal)
• storage and delivery to customer
• after market support

Items in the value stream 

Items in the value stream refer to information held within the planning software system that contributes to creating value as determined by the customer. Depending on the organisation it may include:

• physical elements of the production system, such as sites, work stations, equipment, material, including stock, work in progress and finished products
• information needed to meet customer requirements, such as designs, drawings, work instructions, standard operating procedures, standards, material lists and pricing
• information not directly related to current customer requirements but required by the organisation

Procedures 

Procedures may include:

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

Procedures may be:

• written, verbal, computer-based or in some other format

Unit sector

Competitive systems and practices