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: 

Advanced Diploma in Operations Management 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
111081  Advanced Diploma in Operations Management 
ORIGINATOR
Cape Peninsula 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
Advanced Diploma  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Generic Management 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2019-08-16  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Operations Management is to equip learners with the necessary tools, knowledge, and techniques on how to perform in the production environment. The qualification being that of preparing competent operations management professionals who will themselves be involved in both manufacturing and service industries.

This qualification is intended for middle managers within an operations management environment. Qualifying learners achieving this qualification will be competent in applying operations management strategies and tools, systems and techniques in the manufacturing and service environment. The learners will be able to optimise the resource usage to benefit the company. The incumbent will be able to be a member of a middle management team. He/she will be eligible to register as a Professional Technician, after graduation.

Operations Managers must take responsibility for all products or services that are delivered. In addition, this qualification increases employment opportunities and also meets the niche requirements of this specialised field in the market place and serves well for continual professional development.

Rationale:
This qualification is intended for middle managers within an operations management environment. He/she will be eligible to operate as a Professional Technician, after a prescribed number of years as a practitioner in this field, subject to meeting workplace requirements.

The qualification contributes to a progression pathway to postgraduate studies in the operations management field by preparing learners by deepening their knowledge and understanding of, theory, methodologies, and practices in production and operations management.

This qualification aims to give learners a sound knowledge and skills base to be successful owners and senior operational manager of production management, services managers and planning managers, supply chain, and logistics managers and being able to complete their postgraduate studies to Doctoral level.

For a number of years, operations managers have been listed as one of the critical scarce skills in manufacturing and service sector in South Africa. According to the National Scarce Skills List published in the Government Gazette No. 37678 of 23 May 2015 Production and Operations Managers are identified in the manufacturing sector as scarce skill resources.

To address the shortage of operations managers in South Africa, the qualification has been formulated to reflect the current workplace needs to ensure that qualifying learners will have accessibility to be employed within the relevant industry.

Manufacturing industries in South Africa play an important role in the South African economy as it employs a large percentage of the labour force. Job opportunities, therefore, are great in this sector. Within the manufacturing sector, the greater portion of the workers is engaged in the Production Function which includes specialist fields such as Quality Control, Work Study, Production Planning and Control, Inventory Control, Operations Research, etc. This qualification prepares learners to enter any of the specialist fields in production or to go directly into supervision of workers and later as Production/Operations Managers.

The qualification builds a bridge towards an advanced and specialised career path as well as an academic path for learners towards postgraduate qualifications. It aims to increase the employment prospects of learners by equipping them with knowledge and skills in specialised areas within the broader field of study as well as with opportunities for continuing professional development. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution accepts Recognition of Prior Learning as an integral part of education and academic practice. Recognition of Prior Learning is considered as an integral part of education and academic practice. It acknowledges that all learning has value and accepts the challenge posed by the assessment of prior learning and awards credits that are aligned with the Faculty programmes in order to promote lifelong learning.

RPL is recognised on a component-by-component basis or in terms of the overall qualification. Any prior learning has to be valid, authentic, relevant, and sufficiently recent and at an appropriate level before it will be recognised as fulfilling the requirements for admission to the qualification or as a basis for exemption from a specific component of the qualification.

The purpose of institution's RPL policy, which directs the Faculty's RPL procedure, is to recognise prior learning in order to provide access into qualifications, grant advanced placement in qualifications and grant credits for modules on the principles and processes that serve as a basis for departmental RPL practices.

The learners will follow the RPL processes to recognise and assess prior knowledge and skills gained through informal, non-formal or experiential learning. In RPL processes designed to grant access, a RPL applicant will be evaluated against the entry requirements of the qualification. Applicants seeking access to higher education who do not hold a National Senior Certificate with the appropriate exemption may be considered for the RPL route, but must meet the minimum age requirements as specified by and for the sector.

Applicants seeking access to a postgraduate qualification in a particular field or Classification of Education Subject Matter (CESM) category but who do not hold an undergraduate degree in that field or CESM category may be admitted by RPL if they are able to satisfy the requisite RPL assessment criteria. Such applicants may be given advanced standing but without the award of the primary qualifications(s). The institution will spell out in detail their assessment criteria for advanced standing, bearing in mind the needs of adult learners.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Diploma in Operations Management, NQF Level 6. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 7 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits, Level 7:
  • Research Methodology, 40 Credits.
  • Project Management, 20 Credits.
  • Strategic Communication Management, 40 Credits.
  • Media Studies 3, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Analyse and evaluate the current and predicted international practices and trends in operations.
    2. Apply knowledge to analyse the latest trends and practices in operations management as well as the factors that impact on the operations.
    3. Manage the operations logistics relevant to the operations supply chain.
    4. Conduct applied research on a complex problem in operations and to present the research finding to relevant stakeholders.
    5. Manage the financial function of an own operations business or a chain of operations businesses. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Use knowledge and understanding of current international operations trends and practices.
  • Apply an understanding and interpretation with respect to the behaviour and needs of customers in various businesses that can be used to develop relevant operations strategies.
  • Apply strategic operations buying principles on selected operations.
  • Application of strategic operations marketing principles on selected operations.
  • Plan an acceptable design and of the layout for operations by applying layout principles for organisations.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Demonstrate an understanding by analysing the current international trends, practices and environments factors impacting the operations.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of micro and macroeconomics applicable on the operations management.
  • Apply management practices to implement, control and manage a set of operations.
  • Apply management practices into actual operations in different sectors.
  • Apply sound decision-making processes in operations management process.
  • Apply management practices to implement business ethics in operations management.
  • Apply management practices to implement e-business practices in an operation.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Compile a strategic operations supply chain management programme for operations.
  • Determine the viability in opening a Distribution Centre (DC) for operations.
  • Determine the right location for an operation.
  • Design the layout of operations DC and stock rooms and warehouses.
  • Know, understand and determine stock management systems for an operation DC, stock room and warehouses that will ensure efficient administrative control of stock levels.
  • Determine an efficient system to manage the physical movement, handling, stacking and flow of stock from supplier to the customer.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Identify and describe researchable problems or topics relevant to the study field of operations management.
  • Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of research skills relevant to the study field of operations management.
  • Plan, conduct and write a literature review for a research problem or topic in the study field of operations management.
  • Plan and conduct relevant empirical research techniques on research problem or topic in the study field of operations management.
  • Analyse and interpret research data of a research problem or topic in the study field of operations management.
  • Write a research report in such a way that it correctly reflexes the outcome of the research findings with recommendations according to correct academic writing criteria.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Plan and control that the operations business has sufficient working capital.
  • Determine the financial viability as an owner or regional manager when evaluating new operations business opportunities, new product or service offerings or the opening of a new operations branch.
  • Know, understand and apply all costing principles in an operation.
  • Ensure the operations business is properly insured.
  • Know, understand and determine the financial performance of an operation and to implement a management.
  • Know, understand how to ensure that the business is properly audit per year and the correct taxed are paid.
  • Know, understand and correctly calculate operations business mathematics and statistics used to analyse information.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment forms part of continuous assessment at the institution and takes the form of an appropriate mix of both formative and summative assessment methods. Assessment policy and practices at the institution promote constructive alignment of the curriculum, learner-centred learning and assessment, and the importance of feedback to enhance learner engagement. Assessment practices should be fair, reliable and valid. It should also be in keeping with academic disciplinary and professional field norms and standards.

    Formative assessment usually consists of a variety of assessment tasks relevant to the field of study. In this qualification it will consist of a variety of tasks such as problem-solving individual and/or group assignments and projects, case studies, portfolio development, class discussions, quizzes, field trip reports and poster design. In this qualification it will consist of a variety of tasks such as problem-solving individual and/or group assignments and projects, case studies, portfolio development, class discussions, quizzes, field trip reports and poster design.

    Summative assessments usually consist of a variety of formal assessment tasks relevant to the field of study, including written tests, reports and examinations. In this qualification it will consist of written assessments in the form of written class tests and examination conducted during and at the end of the academic semester/year.

    Integrated assessment in this qualification will assessed by means of research project reports and/or a portfolio of evidence related to the needs and requirements of the field of study. Integrated assessment in this qualification will assessed by means of research project reports and/or a portfolio of evidence related to the needs and requirements of the field of study. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification is in alignment with the qualification criteria offered by institutions of technology internationally.

    This qualification has been compared against the following international qualifications. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University, University of Pennsylvania, and Southern New Hampshire University, who offer a Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management. Certain universities offer two categories which include business management and management sciences.

    India as part of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries, a number of Indian and Chinese universities offer the Advanced Diploma in Operations Management qualification. For example, the Indian School of Business Management and Administration offers an Advanced Diploma in Operations Management as a one-year qualification designed for learners for professional development. It includes Operations Management, Production Control, Inventory Management, and Human Resource Management. The qualification would be of interest to learners from a wide-range of backgrounds and professions who are looking to further increase their knowledge and develop their careers.

    There are qualifications internationally in Operations Management, although some of them specifically focus on business management or management sciences aspects such as project management, supply chain management in operations management. The qualifications have a strong emphasis on developing a learner with the ability to manage an operation under dynamic conditions. The qualification being offered by this institution compares favourably with the international qualifications in term of outcomes of the subjects, duration and articulation. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Advanced Diploma in Project Management, NQF Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management, NQF Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    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.