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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Optimise laboratory activities 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
114301  Optimise laboratory activities 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Secondary Agriculture: Processing 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Secondary Agriculture 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  16 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
A learner who has achieved this unit standard will be competent in:
Optimising laboratory activities for factory control purposes. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
To enter a learning programme for this unit standard or to be assessed against this unit standard, the learner is assumed to have:
Literacy and communications NQF 4.
Numeracy NQF 4Computer Literacy at NQF 4.
Competence in the following unit standards: S/LAB/227, S/LAB/228, S/LAB/229 and S/LAB/230.
Operational knowledge of laboratory equipment and analytical techniques.
Understanding of sugar processing.
Knowledge of quality assurance systems.
An understanding of general safety in the workplace at NQF 4 or equivalent. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
The learner is expected to perform the specific outcomes as reflected in this unit standard without direct supervision, but with access to standard operating procedures. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Understand laboratory operastions. 
OUTCOME NOTES 
Understand laboratory operastions by:
  • Explaining and interpreting the analytical methods and procedures
  • Relating laboratory results to processing activities
  • Explaining factory control parameters 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Assessors will observe, confirm and evaluate evidence that will indicate that learners have demonstrated competence in each of the specific outcomes. In this unit standard the following specific criteria should be used:
    Understanding of:
  • The various analytical methods
  • Possible reasons for deviations in process control parameters.
    Reasons for:
  • Monitoring the performance of the various unit operations
  • Assessing the performance of the various unit operations.
    Consequences of not:
  • Liasing with the relevant parties
  • Recommending modifications to laboratory operations and procedures when required
  • Identifying deviations from standard analytical methods
  • Identifying deviations in process control parameters 
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Evaluate laboratory functions. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Evaluate laboratory functions by:
  • Monitoring the performance of laboratory activities
  • Assessing the performance of laboratory activities 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Assessors will observe, confirm and evaluate evidence that will indicate that learners have demonstrated competence in each of the specific outcomes. In this unit standard the following specific criteria should be used:
    Understanding of:
  • The various analytical methods
  • Possible reasons for deviations in process control parameters.
    Reasons for:
  • Monitoring the performance of the various unit operations
  • Assessing the performance of the various unit operations.
    Consequences of not:
  • Liasing with the relevant parties
  • Recommending modifications to laboratory operations and procedures when required
  • Identifying deviations from standard analytical methods
  • Identifying deviations in process control parameters 
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Co-ordinate laboratory functions. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Co-ordinate laboratory functions by:
  • Managing sample handling systems
  • Managing data handling systems
  • Liasing with the laboratory supervisor to effectively process the analytical work load 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Assessors will observe, confirm and evaluate evidence that will indicate that learners have demonstrated competence in each of the specific outcomes. In this unit standard the following specific criteria should be used:
    Understanding of:
  • The various analytical methods
  • Possible reasons for deviations in process control parameters.
    Reasons for:
  • Monitoring the performance of the various unit operations
  • Assessing the performance of the various unit operations.
    Consequences of not:
  • Liasing with the relevant parties
  • Recommending modifications to laboratory operations and procedures when required
  • Identifying deviations from standard analytical methods
  • Identifying deviations in process control parameters 
    		•

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Optimise laboratory functions. 
    OUTCOME NOTES 
    Optimise laboratory functions by:
  • Liasing with external laboratories, customers and suppliers to ensure accurate and repeatable analytical data
  • Reporting abnormal deviations to the relevant parties
  • Keeping abreast of new analytical developments and applying if appropriate 
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Assessors will observe, confirm and evaluate evidence that will indicate that learners have demonstrated competence in each of the specific outcomes. In this unit standard the following specific criteria should be used:
    Understanding of:
  • The various analytical methods
  • Possible reasons for deviations in process control parameters.
    Reasons for:
  • Monitoring the performance of the various unit operations
  • Assessing the performance of the various unit operations.
    Consequences of not:
  • Liasing with the relevant parties
  • Recommending modifications to laboratory operations and procedures when required
  • Identifying deviations from standard analytical methods
  • Identifying deviations in process control parameters 
    		•


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    An individual wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to an assessor accredited by SETASA. Any training provider offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be registered and accredited by SETASA.
    Moderation of assessment will be done by SETASA in its ETQA capacity at its discretion. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Knowledge of elementary quality control statistics
  • Understanding of sugar laboratory equipment and analytical methods
  • Interrelationships between laboratory processes and factory control
  • Knowledge of typical values of analytical results for various products and an understanding of the analytical factors which affect the results.
  • Safety requirements relating to laboratory activities 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems relating to laboratory activities and the correct action to be taken to report those depending on the urgency. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work as a member of a team to ensure control of laboratory activities. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and ones own activities to meet deadlines set for procedures to be followed. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Organise sets of information to ensure control of laboratory activities. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using oral and written means to control laboratory activities and to report on operational matters. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the relationships between the laboratory and factory control. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Values
    All learners should demonstrate :
  • An application of company ethics, values as well as general safety and customer care principles
  • An awareness of expectations and obligations of basic worker / management relationships 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57977   National Certificate: Forensic Biology  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 
    Elective  48395   National Certificate: Sugar Technology  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  AgriSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.
     
    1. RCL Foods-Sugar & Milling (MP) 


    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.