SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

National Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
20888  National Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Plastics Manufacturing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was MERSETA until Last Date for Achievement  OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National Certificate  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  122  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Regular-Unit Stds Based 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered" 		 SAQA 0742/02  2002-06-12  2005-06-12 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2006-06-12   2009-06-12  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification is replaced by: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
49450  National Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing  Level 2  NQF Level 02  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purpose of the qualification is to provide learners, education and training providers and employers with the standards and the range of learning required to satisfy the challenges of participating effectively in the plastics manufacturing industry.

For those who have been in the workplace for a long time, this qualification can be used in the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process to assess and recognise workplace skills acquired without the benefit of formal education or training.

For the new entrant, this qualification describes the learning outcomes (the skills, knowledge and values) required to effectively participate in a structured workplace.

For education and training providers, this qualification provides guidance for the development of appropriate learning programmes. For employers, this qualification enables skills gaps to be identified and programmes to close skills gaps to be developed, and acts as an external benchmark for fulfilling the criteria of national and international quality standards such as ISO 9000:2000.

This qualification recognises the skills, knowledge and values acquired by learners involved in monitoring high-volume plastics manufacturing processes and working in enterprises which use such processes.

The chief skills that are recognised in this qualification are recognising and responding to changes that happen during the production process. This capability requires an understanding of quality requirements and of the conversion process. Hand skills play a small role in this qualification.

Qualified learners will also understand:
  • the basics of how a business functions
  • their role in the business, i.e. in production and related activities
  • how they are affected by legislation, regulations, agreements and policies related to their particular work environment.

    With this understanding, learners will be able to participate in workplace activities.
    Qualifying learners will also be able to relate what they see and experience to scientific and technological principles and concepts. They will also understand how they should operate within the legislative, safety and quality systems which govern their workplace.

    What learners achieve in this qualification will also serve as a basis for further learning where they will engage more directly in the production processes.

    Rationale:

    The plastics manufacturing industry is characterized by sophisticated high-volume manufacturing processes operating in a competitive and challenging environment. The manufactured products have to respond to a wide variety of exacting customer and consumer requirements. In addition, the industry has to respond to competition from exports, export markets, on-going development of new products as the result of changing customer needs, and environmental issues.

    This means that people working in the industry require a range of skills and knowledge to help them respond to the exacting quality requirements and ongoing change.

    This is the first qualification in a series in a career path involving high-volume plastics manufacturing processes. This series of qualifications reflects the skills, knowledge and understanding required to participate effectively in the plastics manufacturing industry, whether in micro, small, medium or large operations. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    This qualification assumes learners have a General Education and Training Certificate at NQF level 1, or alternatively, ABET qualifications.

    If the learner does not already have such a qualification, learning in preparation for this qualification would also have to include:
  • Literacy and numeracy
  • Basic concepts of science and technology.

    Recognition of prior learning:

    This qualification may be obtained through a process of RPL. The learner should be thoroughly briefed prior to the assessment and support provided to assist in the process of developing a portfolio. As with integrated assessment, while this is primarily a workplace-based qualification, evidence from other areas of endeavour may be introduced if pertinent to any of the exit-level outcomes. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Qualifying learners can:

    1. Understand the manufacturing process and the quality requirements and recognise changes in the production process which will result in reduced levels of safety, health, quality or efficiency and respond to them.

    2. Understand and use appropriate tools and equipment to:
  • make simple adjustments or changes to equipment and process
  • convey (move, lift) materials or products.

    3. Work effectively with others, understand own role in the organisation and understand the purpose of the organisation in the economy of the country. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.1 Manufacture of scrap or faulty products is minimised
    1.2 Responses are appropriate to the nature of the change
    1.3 Changes and responses are reported accurately and clearly (orally or in writing)
    1.4 Can respond to questions and discuss issues related to the manufacturing process relevant to the outcomes.

    2.1 Adjustments or changes are appropriate
    2.2 Downtime is minimised
    2.3 No material or product is damaged or its quality compromised
    2.4 Quality, safety and environmental procedures are followed.

    3.1 Receives and acts on information or decisions
    3.2 Reports or passes on relevant information
    3.3 Responds to questions and discusses issues at the level of the qualification related to own role and purpose of the organisation.

    Integrated Assessment

    The integrated assessment must be based on a summative assessment guide. The guide will spell out how the assessor will assess different aspects of the performance and will include:
  • Observing the learner at work (in the primary activity as well as in other interactions)
  • Asking questions and initiating short discussions to test understanding
  • Looking at records and reports in the portfolio and reviewing previous assessments

    The learner may choose in which language s/he wants to be assessed. This should be established as part of a process of preparing the learner for assessment and familiarising the learner with the approach being taken.

    While this is primarily a workplace-based qualification, evidence from other areas of endeavour may be introduced if pertinent to any of the exit-level outcomes.

    The assessment process should cover both the explicit tasks required for the qualification as well as the understanding of the concepts and principles which underpin the activities and the manufacturing process. The assessment process should also establish how the critical outcomes have been advanced by the learning process. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    International comparability:

    This qualification was compared to other, similar outcomes-based qualifications, certifications or skills standards in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the United States and this qualification broadly corresponds to these. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification has been designed and structured so that qualifying learners can move from one context to another. Employers or institutions should be able to evaluate the outcomes of this qualification against the needs of their context and structure top-up learning appropriately. Equally, holders of other qualifications may be evaluated against this qualification for purpose of RPL. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderators for the qualification should be qualified and accredited with an appropriate Education, Training Quality Assurance Body (ETQA) and have a qualification in manufacturing, preferably in plastics manufacturing.

    To assure the quality of the assessment process, the moderation should cover one of more of the following:
    1. assessor credentials
    2. the assessment instrument
    3. the assessment process (including preparation and post-assessment feedback).

    Where assessment and moderation are taking place in sectors other than the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services, assessment and moderation should be in terms of a Memorandum of Understanding negotiated with the MERS ETQA. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The following criteria should be applied by the relevant ETQA:

    1. Appropriate qualification in the field of plastics manufacturing - with a minimum of 6 months in plastics manufacturing environments.

    2. Assessed successfully against a nationally recognised unit standards/s reflecting experience and understanding of assessment theory, processes and practices.

    3. Good interpersonal skills and the ability to balance the conflicting requirements of:
  • Maintaining national standards
  • The interests of the learner
  • The need for transformation and redressing the legacies of the past
  • The cultural background and language of the learner

    4. Any other criteria required by the MERS ETQA or any other relevant ETQA. 
    		•

    NOTES 
    This qualification has been replaced by qualification 49450, which is 'National Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing', Level 2, 123 credits. 

    UNIT STANDARDS: 
      ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
    Core  12466  Explain the individual`s role within business  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Core  13220  Keep the work area safe and productive  Level 2  NQF Level 02  8 
    Core  12654  Monitor the quality of the output  Level 2  NQF Level 02  12 
    Core  13258  Participate in work group activities  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Core  12655  Prepare product for the next stage or for storage  Level 2  NQF Level 02  10 
    Core  12656  Respond to changes in volume production processes  Level 2  NQF Level 02  8 
    Core  12657  Use and care for services, tools and equipment  Level 2  NQF Level 02  10 
    Fundamental  8963  Access and use information from texts  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Fundamental  9009  Apply basic knowledge of statistics and probability to influence the use of data and procedures in order to investigate life related problems  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Fundamental  13217  Collect and use information  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Fundamental  12461  Communicate at work  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Fundamental  7480  Demonstrate understanding of rational and irrational numbers and number systems  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Fundamental  12465  Develop a learning plan and a portfolio for assessment  Level 2  NQF Level 02  6 
    Fundamental  8962  Maintain and adapt oral communication  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Fundamental  9268  Manage basic personal finance  Level 2  NQF Level 02  6 
    Fundamental  12444  Measure, estimate and calculate physical quantities and explore, describe and represent geometrical relationships in 2-dimensions in different life or workplace contexts  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Fundamental  12463  Understand and deal with HIV/AIDS  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Fundamental  7469  Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal and community life  Level 2  NQF Level 02  2 
    Fundamental  9007  Work with a range of patterns and functions and solve problems  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Fundamental  8964  Write for a defined context  Level 2  NQF Level 02  5 
    Elective  14445  Frame and implement an individual action plan to improve productivity within an organisational unit  Level 1  NQF Level 01  3 
    Elective  13202  Apply study and learning techniques  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Elective  12207  Operate moving equipment to stack, de-stack and position materials  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Elective  12484  Perform basic fire fighting  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Elective  12483  Perform basic first aid  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 


    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.