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MEM08010 Current

Application

This unit of competency defines the skills and knowledge required to finish and polish materials using appropriate media and equipment.

Where the interpretation of technical drawings is required unit MEM09002 Interpret technical drawing should also be selected.

Where the selection and use of engineering measurement is required unit MEM12023 Perform engineering measurements should also be selected.

Where the selection and use of power tools/hand held operations is required unit MEM18002 Use power tools/hand held operations should also be selected.

This unit is not intended to apply to touch-up finishing related to maintenance or assembly activities.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

1. Determine job requirements

  • 1.1 Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  • 1.2 Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times
  • 1.3 Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs
  • 1.4 Identify job requirements from specifications, job sheets or work instructions

2. Identify job materials and surface condition

  • 2.1 Identify common metals, alloys and non-metals for finishing
  • 2.2 Identify common surface imperfections

3. Select appropriate finishing/polishing procedure

  • 3.1 Determine surface finish specifications and select appropriate finishing or polishing method/technique for the work requirements
  • 3.2 Select appropriate finishing or polishing equipment for the work material and work requirements
  • 3.3 Select appropriate media for work requirements

4. Install and set up grinding and polishing devices according to standard operating procedures

  • 4.1 Fit endless belt linishers
  • 4.2 Fit and dress grinding wheels and mops
  • 4.3 Install and set up polishing mops

5. Grind, finish, brush and/or polish job

  • 5.1 Identify hazards and implement risk control measures and procedures
  • 5.2 Finish job surface to specification according to SOPs

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two (2) occasions and include:

following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safe work practices

selecting appropriate finishing process, media and equipment to manually finish metal and plastic materials

installing and setting up grinding and polishing devices and equipment

assessing the surface condition of materials to determine the necessary finishing treatment

safely applying techniques, including grinding, brushing and/or polishing to meet specifications.

Knowledge Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate the required knowledge for this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

surface finishing specifications

procedures, tools and techniques for fitting and adjusting endless belts on linishing machines

procedures, tools and techniques required to fit and dress grinding wheels and mops

procedures tools and techniques for installing and setting up polishing mops

characteristics of common metals, alloys and plastics relevant to finishing work

finishing and polishing methods/techniques and the appropriate polishing media to be used in finishing/polishing for different types of materials

effect of different types and grades of polishing media on the surface finish

reasons for selecting a specific method/technique

common surface imperfections/defects and how they can be removed/repaired by manual finishing/polishing procedures

procedures for handling components with surface imperfections/defects that cannot be removed/repaired

methods and techniques to check for conformance to finishing specifications.

Assessment Conditions

Assessors must:

have vocational competency in manually finishing and polishing materials at least to the level being assessed with relevant industry knowledge and experience

satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 or its replacement and comply with the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011, its replacement or equivalent legislation covering VET regulation in a non-referring state/territory as the case requires

Where possible assessment must occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment that reflects realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications

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.

Foundation Skills

  • text: This section describes those required skills (reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy) that are essential to workplace performance in this unit of competency. Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Prerequisite Units

Parent Qualifications

Related Units

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Last updated from training.gov.au: 25 February 2026