RPL for Certificate III in Engineering - Production Systems

Certificate III in Engineering - Production Systems is awarded on 96 points, not on a count of units — every unit you claim is worth a stated number of them. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, each unit is assessed on evidence of work you have already done rather than on training you sit through.

What the assessment looks at

Every unit sets out what you must be able to do and what you must know. An assessor works through them one at a time, asking the same question each time: does this person's evidence show they can do this reliably, in a real workplace, recently enough to count?

You can read the full requirements for MEM30119 on the national training register. They are public, and worth a look before you spend anything — if the units describe work you have never done, RPL is not your route.

Evidence worth gathering before you start

• Photos of completed jobs, ideally showing a few stages of the same job, with their original dates intact.
• Job sheets, dockets, work orders or site diaries covering a spread of jobs.
• Supervisors, employers or clients who will confirm specifically what you did.
• Any licences or tickets you already hold.

How the guided process works

You work through the units one at a time, talking about jobs you have actually done, until what you have claimed is worth 96 points. You can speak rather than type. Add photos as you find them, and stop whenever you like — progress saves itself, and most people spread this over weeks while they dig out records. At the end you have an evidence portfolio your RTO's assessor can work through.

What this does not do

It does not assess you, and it cannot promise you MEM30119. An assessor at a registered training organisation makes that decision and may require further evidence or training. What a complete portfolio buys you is a fair assessment rather than a rejection over paperwork.

See what MEM30119 involves →

The 96 points you need, and the 157 units you can earn them from

Certificate III in Engineering - Production Systems is awarded on points, not on a count of units. The 12 core units are compulsory and are worth 33 points between them; the remaining 63 come from the 145 electives below, and they are not worth the same as each other — how many units you end up doing depends entirely on which you pick. Read both lists before you spend anything — it is the fastest way to tell whether RPL is your route. If most of this describes work you have done, you have a case to make. If whole sections describe work you have never touched, an assessor will say so, and doing the course is the honest answer.

Worth knowing: 142 of them have a prerequisite unit, so the order you gather evidence in matters.

Core units — everyone does these

• MEM09002 — Interpret technical drawing
• MEM11011 — Undertake manual handling
• MEM12023 — Perform engineering measurements
• MEM12024 — Perform computations
• MEM13015 — Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering
• MEM14006 — Plan work activities
• MEM16006 — Organise and communicate information
• MEM16008 — Interact with computing technology
• MEM17003 — Assist in the provision of on-the-job training
• MEM18001 — Use hand tools
• MEM18002 — Use power tools/hand held operations
• MSMENV272 — Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices

Electives — you choose from these

• CPCCLDG3001 — Licence to perform dogging
• CPCCLRG3001 — Licence to perform rigging basic level
• CPCCLSF2001 — Licence to erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding basic level
• CPCCLSF3001 — Licence to erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding intermediate level
• MEM03001 — Perform manual production assembly
• MEM03002 — Perform precision assembly
• MEM03003 — Perform sheet and plate assembly
• MEM03004 — Perform electronic/electrical assembly (production)
• MEM03005 — Rework and repair (electrical/electronic production)
• MEM03006 — Set assembly stations
• MEM04001 — Operate melting furnaces
• MEM04002 — Perform gravity die casting
• MEM04003 — Operate pressure die casting machine
• MEM04004 — Prepare and mix sand for metal moulding
• MEM04006 — Operate sand moulding and core making machines
• MEM04007 — Pour molten metal
• MEM04008 — Fettle and trim metal castings/forgings
• MEM04018 — Perform general woodworking machine operations
• MEM04019 — Perform refractory installation and repair
• MEM05001 — Perform manual soldering/desoldering - electrical/electronic components
• MEM05002 — Perform high reliability soldering and desoldering
• MEM05003 — Perform soft soldering
• MEM05004 — Perform routine oxy fuel gas welding
• MEM05005 — Carry out mechanical cutting
• MEM05006 — Perform brazing and/or silver soldering
• MEM05007 — Perform manual heating and thermal cutting
• MEM05009 — Perform automated thermal cutting
• MEM05012 — Perform routine manual metal arc welding
• MEM05013 — Perform manual production welding
• MEM05014 — Monitor quality of production welding/fabrications
• MEM05027 — Perform aluminothermic welding
• MEM05049 — Perform routine gas tungsten arc welding
• MEM05050 — Perform routine gas metal arc welding
• MEM05052 — Apply safe welding practices
• MEM05085 — Select welding processes
• MEM05086 — Set and edit computer controlled thermal cutting machines
• MEM05095 — Weld using flame powder spraying
• MEM05097 — Weld using oxy fuel gas welding process
• MEM06003 — Carry out heat treatment
• MEM06007 — Perform basic incidental heat/quenching, tempering and annealing
• MEM06010 — Perform hand forging
• MEM06013 — Repair springs
• MEM07001 — Perform operational maintenance of machines/equipment
• MEM07003 — Perform routine machine setting
• MEM07004 — Perform complex machine setting
• MEM07015 — Set computer controlled machines and processes
• MEM07016 — Set and edit computer controlled machines and processes
• MEM07024 — Operate and monitor machine and process
• MEM07025 — Perform advanced machine and process operation
• MEM07026 — Perform advanced plastic processing
• MEM07027 — Perform advanced press operations
• MEM07028 — Operate computer controlled machines and processes
• MEM07029 — Perform routine sharpening and maintenance of production tools and cutters
• MEM07030 — Perform basic metal spinning lathe operations
• MEM07031 — Perform complex metal spinning lathe operations
• MEM07032 — Use workshop machines for basic operations
• MEM07033 — Operate and monitor basic boiler
• MEM07040 — Set multistage integrated processes
• MEM07041 — Perform production machining
• MEM07042 — Undertake corrections and basic maintenance to aluminium extrusion dies and die support systems
• MEM07043 — Identify causes of faulty aluminium extrusions
• MEM07044 — Test a new aluminium extrusion die
• MEM08001 — Perform wire, jig and barrel load/unload work
• MEM08002 — Pre-treat work for subsequent surface coating
• MEM08003 — Perform electroplating operations
• MEM08004 — Finish work using wet, dry and vapour deposition methods
• MEM08005 — Prepare and produce specialised coatings
• MEM08006 — Produce clear and/or coloured and/or sealed anodised films on aluminium
• MEM08007 — Control surface finish production and finished product quality
• MEM08008 — Operate and control surface finishing waste treatment process
• MEM08009 — Make up solutions
• MEM08010 — Manually finish/polish materials
• MEM08011 — Prepare surfaces using solvents and/or mechanical means
• MEM08012 — Prepare surfaces by abrasive blasting (basic)
• MEM08013 — Prepare surfaces by abrasive blasting (advanced)
• MEM08014 — Apply protective coatings (basic)
• MEM08015 — Apply protective coatings (advanced)
• MEM08016 — Control blast coating by-products, materials and emissions
• MEM08018 — Electroplate engineering coatings
• MEM08019 — Electroplate protective finishes
• MEM08020 — Electroplate decorative finishes
• MEM10002 — Terminate and connect electrical wiring
• MEM10004 — Enter and change programmable controller operational parameters
• MEM10011 — Terminate and connect specialist cables
• MEM10013 — Install split air conditioning systems and associated pipework
• MEM11001 — Erect/dismantle scaffolding and equipment
• MEM11002 — Erect/dismantle intermediate scaffolding and equipment
• MEM11003 — Coordinate erection/dismantling of complex scaffolding/equipment
• MEM11004 — Undertake dogging
• MEM11005 — Pick and process order
• MEM11006 — Perform production packaging
• MEM11007 — Administer inventory procedures
• MEM11008 — Package materials (stores and warehouse)
• MEM11009 — Handle/move bulk fluids/gases
• MEM11010 — Operate mobile load shifting equipment
• MEM11012 — Purchase materials
• MEM11013 — Undertake warehouse receival process
• MEM11014 — Undertake warehouse dispatch process
• MEM11015 — Manage warehouse inventory system
• MEM11016 — Order materials
• MEM11017 — Organise and lead stocktakes
• MEM11018 — Organise and maintain warehouse stock receival and dispatch system
• MEM11019 — Undertake tool store procedures
• MEM11020 — Perform advanced warehouse computer operations
• MEM11021 — Perform advanced operation of load shifting equipment
• MEM11022 — Operate fixed/moveable load shifting equipment
• MEM11023 — Operate a bridge and gantry crane
• MEM11024 — Undertake basic rigging
• MEM11025 — Operate a non-slewing mobile crane of greater than three tonnes capacity
• MEM12001 — Use comparison and basic measuring devices
• MEM12002 — Perform electrical/electronic measurement
• MEM12019 — Measure components using coordinate measuring machines
• MEM12020 — Set and operate coordinate measuring machines
• MEM12025 — Use graphical techniques and perform simple statistical computations
• MEM13001 — Perform emergency first aid
• MEM13003 — Work safely with industrial chemicals and materials
• MEM13004 — Work safely with molten metals/glass
• MEM13018 — Work safely with ionizing radiation
• MEM13019 — Undertake work health and safety activities in the workplace
• MEM15001 — Perform basic statistical quality control
• MEM15003 — Use improvement processes in team activities
• MEM15004 — Perform inspection
• MEM15005 — Select and control inspection processes and procedures
• MEM16004 — Perform internal/external customer service
• MEM16005 — Operate as a team member to conduct manufacturing, engineering or related activities
• MEM18003 — Use tools for precision work
• MEM18055 — Dismantle, replace and assemble engineering components
• MEM18063 — Terminate signal and data cables
• MEM18071 — Connect and disconnect fluid conveying system components
• MEM18072 — Manufacture fluid conveying conductor assemblies
• MEM18083 — Handle fluorocarbon refrigerants according to regulations
• MEM18084 — Commission and decommission split air conditioning systems
• MEM18086 — Test, recover, evacuate and charge refrigeration systems
• MEM18098 — Prepare to perform work associated with fuel system installation and servicing
• MEM18110 — Perform basic penetrant testing
• MEM18111 — Perform basic magnetic particle testing
• MSMENV472 — Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
• PMBPROD391E — Produce composites using resin infusion
• PMBPROD394E — Produce composites using resin transfer moulding
• PMBPROD398E — Produce composites using prepregs
• TLILIC0003 — Licence to operate a forklift truck
• TLILIC0004 — Licence to operate an order picking forklift truck
• TLILIC0016 — Licence to operate a bridge and gantry crane
• TLILIC0024 — Licence to operate a vehicle loading crane (capacity 10 metre tonnes and above)
• TLILIC0040 — Licence to operate a non-slewing mobile crane (greater than 3 tonnes capacity)

Each unit breaks down further into elements and performance criteria — the specific things you have to be able to show. The guide works through them one unit at a time and asks about jobs you have actually done, rather than making you read the register yourself.

Related qualifications

Same training package, and a common second choice for people who find this one is not quite their trade:

• Certificate III in Engineering - Electronic Trade (MEM30422, 96 points)
• Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade (MEM30219, 96 points)
• Certificate III in Engineering - Technical (MEM30522, 10 units)
• Certificate IV in Advanced Jewellery Manufacture (MEM40322, 132 points)
• Diploma of Engineering - Prototyping (MEM50622, 20 units)

More RPL in engineering and manufacturing

Every qualification in this industry, which of them have a guide ready, and what assessors here accept as evidence: RPL in engineering and manufacturing.

When you are ready, see what MEM30119 costs and what the guide asks you for, or read what counts as evidence and how RPL compares with doing the course.