Assisting in the monitoring of engineering activities
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to support colleagues with the monitoring of engineering activities, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to assist in monitoring the engineering activity and the supply and use of resources. In addition, you may be required to assist with the monitoring of suppliers and contractors associated with the activity. During the monitoring process, you will be required to check that the outputs and materials used are within the required specification, and to report on adherence or deviation from schedules and timescales.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the engineering activities being monitored, and to report any problems that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work to instructions, either alone or in conjunction with others, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work, and will enable you to adopt an informed approach to the techniques and procedures used to monitor the specific engineering activity. You will have an understanding of the engineering activities being monitored, in sufficient depth to enable you to carry out the monitoring activities to the required standards.
You will be aware of any health, safety and environmental requirements applicable to your area of work. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- monitor the engineering process at suitable opportunities
- monitor the supply and use of resources to ensure that they are effectively used
- confirm that the materials used during the engineering process comply with specifications
- confirm that suitable engineering methods and procedures have been used
- identify any variations from agreed plans and schedules
- ensure that any problems with the engineering process are identified
- ensure that the outputs of the engineering process comply with specifications
- ensure that the engineering process complies with all relevant regulations and guidelines
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- how to access information on health and safety regulations and guidelines relating to the engineering activities to be monitored
- the specific regulations and guidelines that are relevant to the activities being monitored
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when carrying out the monitoring and associated activities
- the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn in the specific work, area and where this can be obtained
- the organisational procedures for determining when monitoring should occur and how it should be undertaken
- the monitoring methods and procedures that should be used for the engineering activity, within your area of responsibility
- the potential variations from plans and schedules that might occur during monitoring
- the basic principles of operation of the engineering process/activity being monitored
- the quality assurance systems that are being used
- the types of problem that could occur with the monitoring process, and the organisational methods and procedures for resolving them
- the importance of solving problems quickly
- the measures that need to be monitored for the particular process (such as output quality, scrap or rework, adherence to schedules, safety)
- how to assess whether the resources are being used effectively
- the importance of maintaining records of the monitoring activities
- the types of information to be recorded, and the amount of detail that is required
- where records are kept, and the procedure for obtaining them
- the importance of ensuring that any records you use are correctly updated and returned to the appropriate location
- the importance of customer care and satisfaction
- the different ways of presenting information to different people
- the organisational reporting processes and lines of communication
the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the monitoring activities:
- obtain the specifications and documents required for the monitoring process
- obtain approval to carry out the monitoring activities
- ensure that all appropriate personnel are fully informed of your intended activities
- use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the area in which you are carrying out the monitoring activities
- apply safe working practices and procedures at all times
- follow the defined monitoring procedures at all times
Carry out the monitoring activities on one of the following engineering activities:
- drawing/design activities (such as mechanical, electrical/electronic, motor vehicle, aerospace, marine)
- manufacturing activities (such as machining, detail fitting, fabrication of components, pressing)
- material processing activities (such as heat treatment, casting, injection moulding, purification)
- composite manufacture (such as wet lay-up, pre-preg laminating, resin infusion, blow moulding)
- finishing activities (such as stripping finishes, painting, plating, anodising, veneering, lacquering)
- assembly activities (such as mechanical, structural, fluid power, electrical/electronic, woodworking)
- installation activities (such as mechanical, electrical/electronic, avionic, structural, environmental equipment)
- plant and equipment (such as site preparation, plant layout, equipment changeover, equipment replacement)
- equipment capability studies/performance measurement
- movement of materials, components or finished goods
- engineering safety audits or risk assessments
- business improvement activities
- quality control/quality assurance
- maintenance activities
- modification and repair activities
- commissioning/decommissioning
- testing and trialling
- research and development
- engineering support services
Obtain relevant information from the appropriate sources, to include two of the following:
- work orders
- planning documentation
- contracts
- quality standards
- plans/designs
- equipment or materials supplier information
- purchase orders
- schedules
- standard operating procedures
- production control documentation
During the monitoring activity, carry out all of the following:
- check that resources (such as people, materials, equipment) are being used effectively
- check that materials or equipment used are within specification
- check the outputs of the engineering process and compare these with specifications
- record any deviations from agreed plans and schedules
- ensure that relevant people are kept informed
Monitor the engineering activity, using one of the following techniques:
- scheduled monitoring
- random monitoring
- reactive monitoring
Use two of the following during the monitoring activity:
- observation
- data collection
- sampling
- consultations with relevant people
Ensure that the process being monitored complies with relevant regulations, standards and guidelines from all of the following, as appropriate:
- organisational guidelines and codes of practice
- customer standards and requirements
- equipment manufacturer's operating specification/range
- BS and/or ISO standards
- recognised compliance agency/body's standards
- health, safety and environmental requirements
Communicate the outcomes of the monitoring activity to the relevant people, using one of the following methods:
- specific company documentation
- written or typed report
- verbal report
electronic mail