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
20889  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  120  Level 3  NQF Level 03  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  2005-04-13 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2006-04-13   2009-04-13  

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
49449  National Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing  Level 3  NQF Level 03  126  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 or for someone changing from another field, 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 controlling operations in high-volume plastics manufacturing processes and influencing decisions in enterprises which use such processes. The chief skills required for this qualification are:
  • Understanding basic approaches to using and looking after machinery and equipment
  • Understanding and implementing procedures related to various aspects of the production process
  • Relating principles and concepts to workplace activities, materials and equipment.

    Hand skills play a minor role in this qualification.

    Qualified learners will also understand:
  • the basics of how a business functions
  • their role in the business, ie 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 controlling and troubleshooting 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 second 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 
    National Certificate in Plastics Manufacturing NQF Level 2.
    If the learner does not already have such a qualification, this does not preclude him/her from starting. It will, however, require an increase in learning time.

    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 assess, 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 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification is composed of Fundamental, Core and Elective learning components:
  • Fundamental: 41 credits
  • Core: 66 credits
  • Elective: a minimum of 13 credits must be selected from Elective unit standards.
    Total: a minimum of 120 credits 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Perform routine operations on volume manufacturing equipment using related information.

    2. Understand, use and apply policies and procedures to maintain materials, equipment, work-place relations, safety and quality.

    3. Contribute to workgroup efforts. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.1 Materials, moulds, dies and forming devices and finished product are transported safely and effectively
    1.2 Routine operations, including cleaning, starting and stopping processes and assistance with the installation of tools, dies and forming devices are carried out safely, effectively and together with other team members.

    2.1 Procedures can be explained and applied routinely and effectively
    2.2 Reports, recording of conditions, outputs and incidents is done accurately and timeously.

    3.1 Production schedules and assignments are met
    3.2 Production workflow is managed efficiently
    3.3 Workgroup goals are met
    3.4 Assistance and support is provided where required
    3.5 Active participation in workgroup discussions, in workgroup problem solving activities and in the implementation of solutions
    3.6 Relevant information is received and passed on.

    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 be 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 
    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 the 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 49449, which is 'National Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing', Level 3, 126 credits. 

    UNIT STANDARDS: 
      ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
    Core  13234  Apply quality procedures  Level 3  NQF Level 03  8 
    Core  13223  Apply safety, health and environmental protection procedures  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  12457  Develop learning strategies and techniques  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  12456  Explain and use organisational procedures  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  9526  Manage basic business finance  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  9530  Manage work time effectively  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  12661  Move, lift, lower and look after tooling  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Core  12660  Perform routine operations on volume manufacturing equipment  Level 3  NQF Level 03  10 
    Core  9531  Show understanding of diversity in the workplace  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  9533  Use communication skills to handle and resolve conflict in the workplace  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Core  12659  Work with and look after materials in the production process  Level 3  NQF Level 03  12 
    Fundamental  9357  Develop and use keyboard skills to enter text  Level 1  NQF Level 01  4 
    Fundamental  8968  Accommodate audience and context needs in oral communication  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  9528  Communicate with clients  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Fundamental  9529  Compile feasibility and commissioning reports  Level 3  NQF Level 03  3 
    Fundamental  9010  Demonstrate an understanding of the use of different number bases and measurement units and an awareness of error in the context of relevant calculations  Level 3  NQF Level 03  2 
    Fundamental  9013  Describe, apply, analyse and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4 
    Fundamental  8969  Interpret and use information from texts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  9012  Investigate life and work related problems using data and probabilities  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  7456  Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business and national issues  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Fundamental  8970  Write texts for a range of communicative contexts  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Elective  14445  Frame and implement an individual action plan to improve productivity within an organisational unit  Level 1  NQF Level 01  3 
    Elective  12465  Develop a learning plan and a portfolio for assessment  Level 2  NQF Level 02  6 
    Elective  12483  Perform basic first aid  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
    Elective  12463  Understand and deal with HIV/AIDS  Level 2  NQF Level 02  3 
    Elective  8039  Operating cranes  Level 3  NQF Level 03  10 
    Elective  8038  Operating lift trucks  Level 3  NQF Level 03  6 
    Elective  12455  Perform the role of a safety, health and environmental protection representative  Level 3  NQF Level 03  4 
    Elective  7567  Produce and use spreadsheets for business  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
    Elective  7570  Produce word processing documents for business  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 


    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.