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: Thermoplastic Fabrication

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
24218	National Certificate: Thermoplastic Fabrication
ORIGINATOR
SGB Plastics Manufacturing
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
MERSETA - Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Education and Training Authority			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	137	Level 4	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L4	Regular-Unit Stds Based
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners, education and training providers and employers with the standards and the range of learning required to work effectively in the thermoplastic fabrication industry and to meet the challenges of such an environment.

This qualification recognises the skills, knowledge and values acquired by learners involved in thermoplastics fabrication. The chief skill that is recognised in this qualification is the ability to manage a workshop producing fabricated thermoplastic components and assemblies. This capability requires an understanding of the co-ordination of activities, the maintenance of quality and the commissioning of completed components and assemblies. Interpersonal skills play a role in this qualification.

Qualifying learners will be able to relate what they are doing to scientific principles and concepts. They will also be able to contribute to the implementation and maintenance of the various policies and procedures related to the safety, health, environment and quality systems that govern their workplace. Qualifying learners will also be able to contribute to the implementation and maintenance of business processes.

What learners achieve in this qualification will also serve as a basis for further learning where they will further develop their skills and knowledge to include optimising fabrication processes, maintaining fabrication efficiencies, scheduling and arranging maintenance and managing inventory to meet production requirements.

Rationale for the qualification:
This is the third qualification in a series for learners who want to follow a career in thermoplastic fabrication processes. This qualification focuses on developing skills and knowledge necessary to progress in such a career.

The thermoplastic fabrication industry operates in a competitive and challenging environment. The finished fabrications have to respond to a wide variety of exacting customer and consumer requirements. In addition, the industry has to respond to international competition, on-going development of new products as the result of changing customer needs, and environmental issues.

The fabrication of plastics products generally requires the joining of plastics components into assemblies. The assemblies are often subjected to considerable stress when in operation and the manufacturing process needs to be consistent and accurate.

There were previously no qualifications for this branch of industry, which consists of many micro and small enterprises. Few employees have any sort of formal qualification. The industry has low barriers to entry and invests little in developing people's skills. This, together with the ignorance of clients, has led to widely differing standards. Many products and services are safety critical in nature and there is a need to create skills standards to alleviate this problem.

This qualification forms part of a series of qualifications at different levels to create opportunities for development, a career path and greater security of employment within the thermoplastics fabrication industry.

This qualification enables learners who have gained relevant experience in the workplace to obtain credits through the RPL process. This qualification also forms the basis for further development in thermoplastic fabrication in particular and the plastics manufacturing industry in general.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

This qualification assumes learners have a National Certificate in Thermoplastic Fabrication (NQF Level 3). If the learner does not already have such a qualification, learning in preparation for this qualification would also have to include:

Language and maths related to organising and controlling their environment

An ability to fabricate plastic components and assemblies of some complexity using a variety of welding methods

An ability to set up and assemble equipment and perform routine maintenance on equipment and tools

Concepts of organising factors in labour, business and the economy

Role and purpose of procedures related to workplace relationships, roles and responsibilities.

Recognition of prior learning:
This qualification may be obtained through RPL. The learner should be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and support and guidance should be provided. Care should be taken that the mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not so onerous as to prevent learners from taking up the RPL option towards gaining a qualification.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

N/A

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate an ability to produce complex components and assemblies using a variety of fabrication methods and operations, meeting output requirements and working safely with due care for fellow workers and the environment.
2. Demonstrate an ability to read, interpret and produce complex engineering drawings.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of quality specifications and an ability to interpret these and evaluate fabricated components to determine compliance with specifications.
4. Maintain and support procedures to solve a variety of problems, both familiar and unfamiliar, within a thermoplastic welding context and operate within both familiar and new situations, taking responsibility and making decisions.
5. Co-ordinate work team activities, ensure a safe and efficient workplace, and develop the skills and performance of workgroup members.
6. Communicate with peers, the work group, members of supervisory / management levels and end-users and produce documentation using information gathered and summarised from a range of sources.
7. Demonstrate the ability to communicate and present information clearly and reliably, and to analyse information in order to identify problems and determine trends.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Output and quality requirements are met

Fabrication time limits are adhered to

Safe working practices are adhered to

Issues related to the theoretical principles of fabrication and the various fabrication methods and their respective operations at this level are discussed and an understanding is demonstrated by responding to questions.
2.

Components and assemblies to be fabricated are identified and requirements are interpreted from drawing

Drawing is produced to meet project requirements and appropriate drawing standards

Material list is compiled
3.

Quality specifications are interpreted and applied to fabricated components and compliance is determined and reported

Issues related to quality specifications and the principles underpinning such methods are discussed and an understanding is demonstrated by responding to questions.
4.

Solutions to thermoplastic welding-related problems are based on a clear analysis of information gathered through diagnostic procedures

Procedures are modified to respond to unfamiliar problems where appropriate

All actions related to problem solving are accurately recorded for future reference

Issues related to familiar problems in the fabrication of components and assemblies are discussed and an understanding is demonstrated by responding to questions
5.

Production schedules and assignments are met

Production workflow is managed efficiently

Workgroup goals are met

Provide leadership in workgroup discussions, in workgroup problem solving activities and in the implementation of solutions

Relevant information is received, processed and passed on

Workgroup members are supported, coached and influenced to work effectively, efficiently and safely
6.

Information is gathered from a range of sources and accurately summarised

Information is clearly presented in a timely manner in the required format to appropriate parties

Relationships with peers and supervisory / management levels are established and functioning
7.

Conditions, evidence and incidences are reported accurately in a timely manner and discussed with peers and management

Data gathered through diagnostic procedures is examined systematically and analysis is repeated until problem is solved (see Exit Level Outcome 4)

Records are available for scrutiny and future reference

Integrated Assessment:
The purpose of assessment for this qualification is not to re-assess the outcomes of unit standards but to assess the evidence in terms of exit level outcomes. The exit level outcomes represent an integration of the various unit standards.

Integrated assessment at the level of the qualification provides an opportunity for learners to show they are able to integrate concepts, actions and ideas achieved across a range of unit standards and contexts. Integrated assessment must evaluate the quality of observable performance as well as the thinking behind the performance.

Some assessment aspects will demand practical demonstration while others may not. In some cases inference will be necessary to determine competence, depending on the nature and context within which performance takes place.

The assessor will collect evidence of the learner's competence by:

Observing the learner at work (in primary activities as well as in other work-related interactions) or by relevant simulations

Asking questions and initiating short discussions to test understanding

Looking at records, reports, the portfolio and assessment reports for individual unit standards

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 on the approach being taken.

Since this is a foundational qualification, it is necessary to ensure that the fundamental part of the qualification is also targeted to ensure that while the competence may have been achieved in a particular context, learners are able to apply it in a range of other contexts and for further learning. The assessment should also ensure that the critical cross-field outcomes have been achieved.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

An extensive search has not revealed any comparable outcomes-based qualifications. The contents of this qualification do, however, conform to the trade-level fabrication qualifications in Germany. It is likely that this qualification will become a benchmark for future qualifications of this kind for other countries.

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

Anyone assessing a learner against this qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA

Any institution or learning provider offering learning towards the achievement of this qualification should be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA

Moderation of assessment should be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines provided for in this qualification as well as the agreed ETQA guidelines.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The following criteria should be applied by the relevant ETQA:
1. Appropriate qualification in the field of plastics fabrication at NQF Level 5 and a minimum of 2 years' experience in a thermoplastic fabrication environment. The subject matter experience of the assessor can be established by recognition of prior learning
2. Appropriate experience and understanding of assessment theory, processes and practices
3. Good inter-personal 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. Registration as an assessor with the MERS ETQA or any other relevant ETQA

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

NOTES

The following Elective Unit Standard has not been developed yet:

Use computer technology - Level 4

UNIT STANDARDS:

	ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Core	14708	Commission and hand over thermoplastic fabrications	Level 4	NQF Level 04	10
Core	13254	Contribute to the implementation and maintenance of business processes	Level 4	NQF Level 04	10
Core	14702	Fabricate complex welded thermoplastic assemblies and shapes	Level 4	NQF Level 04	28
Core	14704	Maintain the quality of welded thermoplastic products	Level 4	NQF Level 04	24
Core	14710	Manage and develop the performance of work group members in fabrication activities	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	8971	Analyse and respond to a variety of literary texts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	12429	Develop a personal financial plan	Level 3	NQF Level 03	2
Fundamental	8972	Interpret a variety of literary texts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	8973	Use language and communication in occupational learning programmes	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	8970	Write texts for a range of communicative contexts	Level 3	NQF Level 03	5
Fundamental	9015	Apply knowledge of statistics and probability to critically interrogate and effectively communicate findings on life related problems	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	9506	Communicate in an assertive manner with clients and fellow workers	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Fundamental	8974	Engage in sustained oral communication and evaluate spoken texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	9505	Manage basic business and personal finance	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	8975	Read analyse and respond to a variety of texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	9016	Represent analyse and calculate shape and motion in 2-and 3-dimensional space in different contexts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Fundamental	7468	Use mathematics to investigate and monitor the financial aspects of personal, business, national and international issues	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	116389	Write a technical report	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Fundamental	8976	Write for a wide range of contexts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Elective	10953	Operate a rigid vehicle	Level 4	NQF Level 04	32

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

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.

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