Working with ICT Hardware and Equipment at Level 3

ZH8 - Working with ICT hardware and equipment at level 3

This is the ability to work on hardware or equipment following plans and instructions in accordance with an agreed process. It includes:

· preparation and planning

· work activities including installing, repairing, maintaining and decommissioning and any related assembly, disassembly or inspection.

· commissioning or return to service and handover to the customer.

Hardware and equipment in the context of IT and Telecoms can include: cables, PC boards, racks, rack mounted equipment, poles, masts, aerials, large computer systems. Work can be carried out on, for example: a single monitor or keyboard by a technical courier, single or networked systems or a telephone exchange by a team of technicians/engineers.

Work activities could, for example, arise as part of: new installations, upgrades to existing sytems, fault repairs or preventative maintenance.

At Level 3 the competent person can:

Plan and carry out or direct a wide range of work activities.

This will involve applying the following knowledge and understanding:

· the working process;

· appropriate uses of tools and techniques;

· what regulatory requirements affect work activities and how they do so.

Working processes (hardware &equipment)

Information required and procedures to be followed when carrying out work on hardware and equipment.

These will typically include:

· tools and techniques to be used;

· procedures to be followed;

· procedures for information recording

· customer requirements;

· product specifications;

· planning own work.

· work planning;

· resource allocation.

This will involve effective use of the following skills and techniques:

Working procedures (hardware &equipment)

The procedures, set down by the organisation or legislation, to be followed when working on hardware or equipment.

Examples of these are:

· Health & Safety;

· quality;

· use of tools;

· configuration;

· testing;

· logistics;

· waste disposal;

· problem escalation;

· information recording;

· obtaining work permissions;

· security and confidentiality.

· customer acceptance;

· commissioning;

· product registration.

· Integration

Risks arising from work activities

These are risks other than to Health & Safety which can arise as a direct consequence of carrying out work activities on hardware & equipment.

· loss or corruption of data;

· loss of service;

· damage to equipment.

· effects on customer operations