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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Diploma in Operations Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
101154  Diploma in Operations Management 
ORIGINATOR
Vaal University of Technology 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Diploma (Min 360)  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 06  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2027-06-30   2029-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose.
The intended purpose of this qualification is to give the successful learner a professional, vocational and sound understanding of the general theoretical principles and their applications in the field of Operations Management. The qualifying learner will be able to optimise the resource usage in a team to benefit the department concerned. The incumbent will be able to be a member of a management team.

Rationale.
This qualification provides students with an overall understanding of Operations Management. It is intended for supervisors within an operations management environment. Learners achieving this qualification will be competent in supporting and applying operations management strategies and tools, systems and techniques in the manufacturing and service management environment. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The Institutional Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy and procedures are followed. Learners who do not meet entry requirements can apply for access to the qualification through RPL against a module, or part/full qualification for learning obtained through formal, informal and non-formal learning. Learners need to submit a Portfolio of Evidence which will be internally assessed. Credits may be awarded based on the assessment results and learners have the opportunity to appeal against the assessment result where credits were not awarded.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum requirement is:
  • National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 5 and 6 totalling at 362 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 126 Credits:
  • Workplace Dynamics 1.2, 10 Credits.
  • Information and Communication Technology(ICT) Skills 1, 10 Credits.
  • Mathematics 1, 10 Credits.
  • Applied Communication Skills 1.2, 8 Credits.
  • Applied Communication Skills 1.1, 8 Credits.
  • Quality Management 1, 10 Credits.
  • Manufacturing Technology 1.2, 10 Credits.
  • Organisational Effectiveness 1.1, 10 Credits.
  • Manufacturing Technology 1.1, 10 Credits.
  • Organisational Effectiveness 1.2, 10 Credits.
  • Workplace Dynamics 1.1, 10 Credits.
  • Costing and Estimating 1.1, 10 Credits.
  • Costing and Estimating 1.2, 10 Credits.

    Electives Modules, Level 5, 10 Credits:
  • Programming 1, 10 Credits.
  • Labour Law 1.1, 15 Credits.
  • Physics 1, 10 Credits.
  • Engineering Chemistry 1, 10 Credits.
  • Physics 2, 10 Credits.
  • Engineering Chemistry 2, 10 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 216 Credits:
  • Operations Management 1.2, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management 1.1, 10 Credits.
  • Applied Communication Skills 2.2, 8 Credits.
  • Applied Communication Skills 2.1, 8 Credits.
  • Statistics 1.1, 10 Credits.
  • Organisational Effectiveness 2.2, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management 2.1, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management 2.2, 10 Credits.
  • Quality Assurance 2, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management Techniques 2, 10 Credits.
  • Organisational Effectiveness 2.1, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management Techniques 3, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management 3.1, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management Practice 1, 60 Credits.
  • Organisational Effectiveness 3, 10 Credits.
  • Industrial Leadership 3, 10 Credits.
  • Operations Management Technology 3, 10 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 6, 10 Credits:
  • Maintenance Engineering 2, 10 Credits.
  • Programming 2, 10 Credits.
  • Manufacturing Engineering 2, 10 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1.Manage some of the resources in the manufacturing or service environment.
    2. Apply management science principles, techniques, tools and systems in working environment.
    3. Apply optimising techniques in the operations and services of an organisation.
    4. Solve well defined operations management problems.
    5. Apply scientific, production and operations knowledge.
    6. Perform project management designs.
    7. Conduct investigations, experiments and collate data analysis.
    8. Use appropriate operations management methods, skills, tools and information technology.
    9. Communicate technical information in a professional manner.
    10. Demonstrate critical awareness of the impact of the operations management activity. Effectively working as an individual and in teams.
    11. Engage in independent learning.
    12. Act professionally and ethically at all times.
    13. Engage in operations practice via work-integrated learning. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome:
  • Manage resources in the manufacturing or service environments.
  • Apply management science principles, techniques, tools and systems in working environment with regard to: manpower management, financial management, materials resource management, maintenance management, quality management, human resource management and product management.
  • Demonstrate the ability to manage a section or small department in the manufacturing or service environment.
  • Apply quality management techniques in the manufacturing or service environment.
  • Apply production and operations management advanced tools and techniques to make management proposals using such as multidimensional linear programming, duality theory, matrix algebra, integer programming, dynamic programming, and maintenance analysis and quality tools.
  • Make management proposals using systems analysis and design, performance improvement programs and organisational development.
  • Apply advanced technology design parameters for management proposals using appropriate operations management tools and techniques.

    Integrated Assessment.
    Both formative and summative assessments are integral components of all modules within the qualification and have application to both traditional summative and continuous assessment, ensuring overall applied competence. All teaching and learning activities in the qualification are aligned to the assessment approach of the individual modules indicating a constructive alignment approach in the design of the qualification. The assessment activities form an integral part of the teaching and learning process and are systematically and purposefully used to generate data for grading. Timely feedback provided to the learners form part of the assessment strategy of the institution and is used to inform teaching and learning and to improve the curriculum. Learning outcomes in all modules give an indication as to what will be assessed in the module and thus ensures constructive alignment of the modules within the qualification. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification compares favourably with international qualifications in Operations Management and Production Management. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This allows qualification horizontal and vertical articulation:
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Advanced Certificate in Operations Management, Level 6.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Operations Management, Level 7.
  • Advanced Diploma in Quality Management, Level 7. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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.
     
    1. Vaal University of Technology 


    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.