Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to create or modify calibration procedures in response to the introduction of alternative/new equipment, changing test circumstances, activities involved in research and development trials or to meet client needs. The unit covers research of current calibration procedures and technology, development or modification of a procedure, its subsequent trialling and confirmation that it is fit for purpose. This unit of competency does not cover the ability to create or edit software controlled calibration procedures as this is covered in another unit of competency.

This unit applies to calibration technicians/specialists who carry out test and/or calibrations in first, second and third party laboratories, and laboratories where testing and/or calibration forms part of inspection or product certification. It covers the work of only those personnel who are authorised by their laboratory to create or modify calibration procedures. They work with limited guidance and results of their work are checked by the laboratory manager, quality inspector or designated signatory.

No licensing or certification requirements exist at the time of publication. However, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements for laboratory operations exist, so local requirements should be checked. Relevant legislation, industry standards and codes of practice within Australia must also be applied.

Pre-requisite Unit

Competency Field

Calibration

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

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

• Writing skills to produce calibration procedures using an unambiguous, logical sequence of instructions that meet statutory and regulatory requirements, and workplace procedures.
• Oral communication skills to liaise with peers and technical staff from other laboratories to clarify and validate test methods
• Numeracy skills to estimate measurement uncertainty and applying statistical techniques for analysing test and/or calibration data

Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.

Unit Mapping Information

Equivalent to MSL905002 Create or modify calibration procedures, Release 1.

Links

MSL Laboratory Operations Companion Volume Implementation Guide is available from VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=5c63a03b-4a6b-4ae5-9560-1e3c5f462baa

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

There must be evidence the candidate has completed the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, and:

• created or modified at least 2 calibration procedures, including trialling and confirming that each is fit for purpose to meet technical and/or client requirements.

Knowledge Evidence

There must be evidence the candidate has knowledge of:

• procedures, and implications, for creating or modifying calibration procedures
• Australian and international standards covering accuracy of measurement methods and results, expression of uncertainty (GUM), quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurement, and quality assurance of measurement equipment
• registration/licensing and/or National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation requirements
• electrical reference standard
• common test equipment
• laboratory environmental control requirements
• structure and terminology used in standard calibration methods, procedures, requests and instructions
• current calibration methods, procedures and technology applications used in laboratory
• handling, transport, storage and operation requirements of reference and working standards
• calculation procedures to give results in appropriate accuracy, precision and units
• methods for statistical analysis (means, ranges and standard deviations) and estimation of uncertainty of measurement (may include the use of software)
• equipment and testing method troubleshooting procedures
• workplace procedures for documenting calibration procedures
• workplace and/or legal traceability requirements
• legal, ethical and work health and safety (WHS) requirements specific to the work task.

Assessment Conditions

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions and contingencies. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

• specialised calibration/test equipment, reference standards and materials and laboratory facilities
• access to a library of calibration methods, procedures and equipment specifications
• workplace quality manual and procedures.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

Links

MSL Laboratory Operations Companion Volume Implementation Guide is available from VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=5c63a03b-4a6b-4ae5-9560-1e3c5f462baa