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

Recognise problems

1.1

Identify features or occurrences indicative of a problem

1.2

Use appropriate tools, techniques and charts to define the problem

2

Implement quick fix

2.1

Recommend a quick fix within the scope of competency and authority

2.2

Use technology or processes relevant to the problem to implement quick fix

3

Determine root cause

3.1

Identify a range of possible causes

3.2

Gather data and other information to eliminate or confirm possible causes

3.3

Use available data and information to link causes and effects

3.4

Seek assistance, as required

3.5

Identify root cause

4

Develop permanent solution

4.1

Identify a range of methods to eliminate the root cause or break the cause tree

4.2

Select the most appropriate solution

4.3

Liaise with relevant people

4.4

Recommend or implement solution within the limits of competency and authority

4.5

Monitor impact of solution and make further recommendations, as required

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

Required skills 

Required skills include:

• cooperating and working with others on problem solving
• assessing and recording information from a variety of sources
• defining potential problems factually, including:

• location and extent of problem or incident
• sequence of events where relevant
• extent of deviation from normal operation or performance

• analysing potential problems across a range of varied activities and knowledge applications
• reading and constructing simple charts, such as cause and effect diagrams

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge includes:

• RCA methodology, including difference between quick fixes and root cause elimination or breaking of causal tree
• principles and normal operation of equipment, plant and processes in own work area sufficient to undertake a RCA and propose solutions
• common variances to normal performance that are indicators of a problem
• use of relevant analysis tools (e.g. cause/effect diagrams, Pareto charts and 5 Whys)
• operations in own work area

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:

• undertake problem identification
• use appropriate processes to achieve root cause identification
• prioritise solutions
• recommend solutions and implementation procedures to problems within own area and range of technical skills and knowledge
• evaluate implementation of solutions.

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 response 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

Features or occurrences indicative of a problem 

Examples of features or occurrences indicating problems include:

• variation to normal plant or equipment operation
• unplanned or non-conforming process or operations outcomes
• out of specification products
• excess scrap
• accidents and emergencies
• regulatory breaches
• customer returns and complaints
• reduction or loss of sales

Root cause  

There are many possible causes of any problem. The root cause contrasts with other possible causes of a problem which when eliminated have no impact or only ameliorate the problem. Elimination of the root cause permanently eliminates the problem. There should only be one root cause for any problem and so the analysis should continue until this one cause is found.

Cause tree 

The series of causes is referred to as the cause tree. Not all root causes are accessible and able to be eliminated. Breaking the cause tree is such a way that the problem cannot recur is an acceptable alternative.

Not all situations can wait for the RCA and eventual elimination of the root cause as there may be serious current impacts. The quick fix will control these immediate impacts, but does not eliminate the root cause.

Quick fix 

A quick fix is not a short cut or side step for a permanent solution to the root cause. It is a necessary step designed to control the immediate impacts of a problem, for example, to prevent ongoing errors or to ameliorate damage.

Appropriate techniques/charts 

Appropriate techniques/charts may include:

• control charts
• Pareto charts
• run charts
• flow charts
• cause and effect diagrams
• tree diagrams
• 5 Whys analysis

Unit sector

Competitive systems and practices