Application

This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to perform a long-term shutdown of equipment where the machine needs to be or become ‘cold’, typically for maintenance, a holiday shutdown period or ‘mothballing’ (deactivation and preservation of equipment so it is in working order and may be restored to production quickly) of the machine and its ancillary units.
This unit applies to an experienced technician working alone or as part of a team.
The unit principally refers to large or complex machinery; however, the procedures covered in this unit are universal.
No licensing or certification requirements exist at the time of publication. Relevant legislation, industry standards and codes of practice within Australia must be applied.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

There must be evidence the candidate has completed the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, and demonstrated the ability to:
• take a machine out of production at least once to support a long-term shutdown period where the equipment will need to be restored to production at a later date.

Knowledge Evidence

There must be evidence the candidate has knowledge of:
• the structure, functions and principles of operation of equipment, machine components and ancillary equipment, including:
• production plant and equipment
• machine control systems
• safety interlocks and systems
• measuring instruments
• the functions and applications of analogue controls, digital controls, and microprocessor-based process controls
• types of and reasons for machine shutdown, and the procedures associated with each
• types of machine purging and the appropriate application of each
• the criteria for overall process/equipment readiness for the process or equipment being used
• function of and readings from measuring instruments, including:
• levelling
• thermocouples
• pyrometers
• transducers
• thermometers
• pressure gauges
• vacuum gauges
• flow meters
• purpose and operation of safety interlocks and systems, including:
• limit switches
• machine guards
• methods and materials for purging equipment, and their combinations and applications
• key variables that may affect product quality and production output
• typical and atypical process and product problems, including early warning signs, possible causes and corrective actions:
• cycle interruptions
• degradation of materials
• cooling and solidification of compounds
• rusting and corrosion of moulds put in storage
• organisational procedures relevant to the work environment or job role, including procedures for the emergency shutdown of equipment
• hazards that may arise in the job or work environment, and:
• their possible causes
• potential consequences
• appropriate risk controls.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions and contingencies.
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Foundation Skills', 'description': 'This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.\n• Numeracy skills to interpret technical information and equipment readings.\n• Reading skills to interpret specifications and workplace procedures.\n• Writing and oral communication skills to record and report on equipment shutdown procedures.\nOther foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.'}

Parent Qualifications

• PMB30121 — Certificate III in Polymer Processing
  PMB
• PMB40121 — Certificate IV in Polymer Technology
  PMB

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