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: 

Occupational Certificate: Textile Sliver Lap, Combing and Drawframe Machine Operator 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
103153  Occupational Certificate: Textile Sliver Lap, Combing and Drawframe Machine Operator 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - FPMSETA (MAN) 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate  Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology  Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  195  Not Applicable  NQF Level 02  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0425/24  2018-09-12  2025-12-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-30   2029-12-30  

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 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to equip a learner with the knowledge, skills and competencies to perform duties as a Textile Sliver Lap, Combing and Drawframe Machine Operator.

The Textile Sliver Lap, Combing and Draw Frame Machine Operator prepares and operates textile sliver lap machines, combing machines and draw frame machines to process slivers into required sliver lap, combed sliver or drafted sliver according to specifications for yarn production processes.

Qualifying learners will have acquired the competencies to operate textile sliver lap, combing and drawframe machines to full capacity as required by the company, detect deviations in set standards and react appropriately to address such deviations related to the machine operation, conversion process and product quality. They will have a thorough understanding of the importance of achieving and maintaining quantity standards related to aspects such as machine efficiency and minimising machine down-time as well as quality standards for drafted sliver, sliver lap and combed sliver products.

A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Prepare textile sliver lap, combing and drawframe machines and raw material for continuous production and machine optimisation as per product specifications.
  • Operate, patrol and monitor textile sliver lap, combing and drawframe machines to produce laps, combed sliver and drawn sliver.
  • Identify and adhere to safety requirements including the use and care of PPE.

    Rationale:
    In 2013, the Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather (CTFL) industry accounted for about 14% of manufacturing employment and represented South Africa's second largest source of tax revenue. The industry facilitates an estimated 80 000 jobs and contributes around 8% to the Gross domestic product (GDP) of the country.

    The textile industry can be found mostly in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with some activity taking place in Gauteng. Owing to technological developments that are closing the major product gaps, local textile production has evolved into a capital-intensive industry, producing synthetic fibres in ever-increasing proportions.

    In July 2007, Cabinet endorsed the first Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) that detailed key action and timeframes for the implementation of the policy. The textile sector was selected for support due to its strategic importance for its contribution to employment and the desire to retain the core capabilities that had been developed in the industry.

    The Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme (CTCP) was introduced in 2009 and is subdivided into the Competitiveness Improvement Programme (CIP) and Production Incentive Programme (PIP). Both CIP and PIP make provision for skills development, aimed at addressing the persistent skills deficits and mismatches that continue to hamper individual and technological development. This qualification will support the above national strategies.

    Two distinct groups have been identified. Firstly, new entrants into the industry who have a school qualification or adults with limited basic schooling, and secondly, existing employees/operators who have been operating in the industry for a number of years without receiving appropriate recognition for the competencies acquired in the workplace and who are operating without the necessary underpinning knowledge.

    The textile industry is in a growth phase due to the ongoing support by government with new employment opportunities being created in specialised textiles. The replacement of an ageing workforce approaching retirement will create employment opportunities. The qualification is well suited to promote employment in capital intensive sub-sectors in the textile industry in general. The qualification will contribute to improved productivity, efficiency and quality, increase labour stability, reduce accidents, and extend the life of production machinery and equipment.

    Qualifying against the new qualification will increase job security and improve employability in this occupation as well as in related operational activities. In addition, the qualification will assist towards qualifying a learner for career advancement, particularly into a supervisory or artisanal role.

    Various employer organisations and a trade union participated in the process of developing this qualification by identifying representatives to participate in the working groups and supplying input and comment during the consultation processes. These are:
  • South African Cotton Textile Processing Employers' Association (SACTPEA).
  • South African Carpet Manufacturing Employers' Association (SACMEA).
  • National Manufactured Fibres Employers' Association (NMFEA).
  • National Association of Worsted Textile Manufacturers (NAWTM).
  • Narrow Fabric Manufacturers Association (NFMA).
  • South African Wool and Mohair Processors Employers' Organisation (SAWAMPEO).
  • National Textile Manufacturers' Association (NTMA).
  • South African Home Textiles Manufacturers Employers' Organisation (HOMETEX).
  • South African Blankets Manufacturers Employers' Organisation (SABMEO).
  • South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) (Trade Union). 

  • LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.

    RPL for Access to the Qualification:
    Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

    Entry Requirements:
  • NQF Level 1 qualification with Communication.
    Or
  • 3 Years of work experience in Sliver Lap, Combing and Drawframe Department. 

  • RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill Modules:
    Knowledge Modules:
  • 715101-004-00-00-KM-02, Sliver Lap Process Technology, Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-KM-03, Combing Process Technology, Level 2, 9 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-KM-04, Textile Production and Manufacturing Concepts, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-KM-05, Applied Numerical Literacy in the Textile Industry, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-KM-01, Drawframe Process Technology, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-KM-06, Applied Numerical Literacy in the Textile Industry, Level 2, 4 Credits.
    Total number of Credits for Knowledge Modules: 39.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-01, Operate Drawframe Machines to Achieve Continuous Regulated Drafted Sliver Production, Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-02, Patrol and Monitor Drawframe Machines and Processes for Formation of Drafted Sliver as Required, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-03, Monitor Quality of Drawframe Drafted Sliver Products according to Quality Specifications, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-04, Apply all Safety, Housekeeping and Waste Control Standards to Drawframe Processes, Level 2, 2 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-05, Operate Sliver Lap Machines to achieve Continuous Sliver Lap Production, Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-06, Patrol and Monitor Sliver Lap Machines and Processes for Formation of Sliver Laps as Required, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-07, Monitor Quality of Sliver Lap Products according to Quality Specifications, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-08, Apply all Safety, Housekeeping and Waste Control Standards to Sliver Lap Processes, Level 2, 2 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-09, Operate Sliver Combing Machines to Achieve Continuous Combed Sliver Production, Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-10, Patrol and Monitor Sliver Combing Machines and Processes for Formation of Combed Sliver as Required, Level 2, 9 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-11, Monitor Quality of Combed Sliver Produced according to Quality Specifications, Level 2, 9 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-PM-12, Apply all Safety, Housekeeping and Waste Control Standards to Sliver Combing Processes, Level 2, 2 Credits.
    Total number of Credits for Practical Skill Modules: 78.

    This qualification also requires the following Work Experience Modules:
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-01, Continuous Drawframe Production, Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-02, Drawframe Process Patrolling and Monitoring, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-03, Maintain Quality Standards for Drawframe Products, Level 2, 8 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-04, Drawframe Safety Standards and Housekeeping Practices, Level 2, 2 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-05, Continuous Sliver Lap Production, Level 2, 6 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-06, Sliver Lap Process Patrolling and Monitoring, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-07, Maintain Quality Standards for Sliver Lap Production, Level 2, 4 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-08, Sliver Lap Production Safety Standards and Housekeeping Practices, Level 2, 2 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-09, Continuous Sliver Combing Machine Operation, Level 2, 12 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-10, Sliver Combing Process Patrolling and Monitoring, Level 2, 9 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-WM-11, Maintain Quality Standards for Sliver Combing Products, Level 2, 9 Credits.
  • 715101-004-00-00-VW-12, Sliver Combing Department Safety Standards and Housekeeping Practices, Level 2, 2 Credits.
    Total number of Credits for Work Experience Modules: 78. 

  • EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Prepare the textile drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines for production of sliver, sliver lap and combed sliver (load, select raw material, conduct pre-start inspection).
    2. Operate (start, stop and doff) the textile drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines to achieve continuous production.
    3. Patrol and monitor the textile drawing, sliver lap and combing processes for the blending and production of sliver to optimise production of drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines.
    4. Monitor quality of blended fibre sliver, sliver lap and combed sliver to ensure products conform to specification requirements.
    5. Apply all safety, housekeeping and waste control standards to textile drawframe, sliver lap and combing machine processes. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Correctly interpret product and raw material specification to ensure the correct blend of slivers is presented in the commencement of drawframe, sliver lap and combing processes.
  • Check all drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines to ensure they are functional and safe to use for production of sliver, sliver lap and combed sliver.
  • Conduct pre-start up sequence ensuring safety mechanisms are functional and moving parts of drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines are in good working order for production processes.
  • Ensure that sufficient raw material is available to ensure continuity of supply after start-up of machines for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Apply the start-up sequence of drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines.
  • Operate the drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines to achieve continuous production for three machines.
  • Perform stopping and doffing procedures as required for drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Apply the correct patrolling system and monitoring process for achieving the correct product quality and production for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.
  • Apply appropriate production procedures and identify any non-conformances in machine and machine parts which may result in inferior products being produced for drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines.
  • Observe the process ensuring there is no interference with drawframe, sliver lap or combing machines affecting the production flow of sliver for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Monitor the blending of slivers with the objective to identify and rectify non-conformances for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.
  • Ensure machine efficiency is optimised and take corrective action to address any non-conformances identified for drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines.
  • Identify appropriate quality requirements and any non-conformances in the blending of slivers and production of slivers and laps and take corrective action for drawframe, sliver lap and combing processes.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Perform safety checks when starting machines and during operation for drawframe, sliver lap and combing machines.
  • Apply good housekeeping practices including the segregation of various types of waste for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.
  • Accurately record and report incidents (safety) and occurrences for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.
  • Observe and report changes in the environment for drawing, sliver lap and combing processes.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated Formative Assessment:
    The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment leads to entrance into the integrated external summative assessment.

    Integrated Summative Assessment:
    An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. 

  • INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Occupational Certificate: Textile Sliver Lap, Combing and Drawframe Machine Operator was compared with National Occupational Standards for the Textile Sector from India and applicable units from the New Zealand National Certificate in Textile Manufacture (Operations) (Level 2).

    India:
    The Indian National Occupational Standards focus on a range of jobs within the textile fibre preparatory sub-sector production covering key processes such as sliver lap, combing and drawframe operations. These NOS refer to the fibre preparatory department and operators are expected to operate the machines in sequence. The context of operation also includes the continuous feed of fibre from the sliver lap, to the combing to the drawframe machines.

    The following Indian textile occupational standards have been identified for comparison:
  • Drawframe Operator.
  • Combing Preparatory Tenter.
  • Combing Operator.

    The contents of the two National Occupational Standards for the Textile Sector from India cover compulsory occupational aspects such as shift hand-over, operating machinery, machine cleaning and maintenance, working in a team, health and safety in the workplace, compliance with standard operating procedures, conformity to production and quality standards, completion of admin/reporting records, communication with supervisors and so forth.

    Content which is specific to sliver lap, combing and drawframe operations includes operating the sliver lap, combing and drawframe machines, piecing-up of sliver, roving and drafted fibre, doffing procedures, monitoring quality of the sliver being produced, attending to machine stoppage, segregating waste, and so forth.

    Content which is specific to combing and drawframe operations includes operating the machines, which includes: cleaning; maintenance and material handling activities; ensuring proper feeding of drafted sliver, roving or fibre; piecing-up of sliver on breakage; doffing the sliver and transport the delivery cans to the storage area. It is also expected from the operator to carry out tenting and monitoring quality of the sliver.

    Credits and duration have not been determined and no comparison could be performed. Performance criteria, which will serve the purpose of assessment for different yarn preparation machines have been developed, consisting of performance criteria with assigned marks proportional to its importance.

    New Zealand:
    The New Zealand National Certificate in Textile Manufacture (Operations) (Level 2) is structured to cover a number of strands in the textile industry from which the learner could select from categories of elective units as appropriate to the work context. Not all units within the qualification are therefore applicable to the sliver lap, combing and drawframe machine departments and operations.

    Units cover various generic aspects related to occupational safety and general working practices such as productivity, product quality, sustaining process improvements and competitiveness. They also include aspects related to generic machine operation such as machine safety, handling of materials, product quality, minor machine maintenance, raw material identification and description, fault finding and access and use of textile production information.

    The units specifically relating to combing and drawframe machine operations were selected from the Core Yarn Processing, Top-Making, Semi-Worsted and Worsted Processing, Woollen Yarn.
    Processing and Wool Scouring categories and include:
  • Gill sliver or top on a gilling machine.
  • Process sliver or top in a backwash.
  • Process slivers on a roving machine.

    These units cover concepts of skills development, performance criteria acquisition of skills and a sound basis of technical knowledge. The essential skills and knowledge are listed, however the level purported to be specified, is absent. The New Zealand qualification is set at Level 2 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) but entry requirements are not specified. It is therefore unclear whether the prerequisites would in fact refer to entry level requirements or other prerequisites.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification displays similarities with other international qualifications in terms of the practical skills, knowledge needed by an operator and operational context and processes. It can be concluded that the South African qualification compares well with the National Occupational Standards for the Textile Sector as well as the National Certificate in Textile Manufacture (Operations) (Level 2). 

  • ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with the:
  • Occupational Certificate: Carding and Drawframe Machine Operator; Level 2.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with the:
  • National Certificate: N3 Spinning Mechanician: Long Staple - Worsted; Level 3. 

  • MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.
     
    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.