SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
111259	Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management
ORIGINATOR
Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Postgraduate 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 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered		EXCO 0821/24	2019-08-23	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 purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management is to equip learners with the ability to integrate the central areas of operations management with high-level computer systems in order to maximise decision making in the manufacturing and service industry. Qualifying learners will be able to conduct research pertaining to all operational tasks such as capacity planning, inventory/materials management, scheduling, and application of quantitative techniques, forecasting, and quality control.

The qualification is also intended to prepare learners for further Postgraduate studies and it articulates with the Master of Management Sciences in Operations Management qualification. The Exit Level Outcomes have been structured to align them to the purpose of the qualification in that the relevant use of technology and the outcomes related to entrepreneurial skills have been integrated in the qualification. The Research module included in this the qualification provide learners with an opportunity to pursue further learning in the field of operations management, and this is in line with the institution's mission of conducting relevant research and promoting innovation, engagement and social enterprise.

Rationale:
The manufacturing industry globally and in South Africa has shown continued growth. In South Africa Manufacturing, industries have grown. The contribution of manufacturing to the economy of South African can be depicted in the steady growth of manufacturing sector to the country. The sector contributed 15.2% to South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013, making it the third-largest contributor to the nation's economy (Statistics South Africa, 2014). It is also reported that the South African manufacturing sector is "at a crossroads" and it is time for the country to reassess its strategy. The competition within the manufacturing sector has become increasingly complex. Coupled to this are ever changing customer demands and preference.

The need to be a cut above the rest is now forceful reality. Levels of production certainties and organisational stability are fundamental requirements in increasing the reliability levels and improvement in resilience and robust performance. This qualification prepares the learners in exploring the theory, practical and principles of operations management and learn to analyse them in a range of business contexts.

The qualification will equip the learner with research based knowledge and in-depth conceptual understanding to provide an informed input in planning and decision-making. It follows a vocational stream of qualifications that builds from Diploma in Operations Management and Advanced Diploma in Operations Management. The qualifying learner would occupy positions such as operations managers, operations supervisors, operations specialists etc. in the industry.

The qualification partially fills the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate studies in this discipline. Relevant stakeholders, including academic peers from outside the institution and employers represented on Advisory Committee, were involved in the development of the qualification.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of relevant prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning through prior experience as a practitioner in the field of operations management. Providers are required to develop structured means for the assessment of individual learners against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification on a case-by-case basis and assessment is done by means of Integrated.

The learner will be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and support and guidance that will be provided. The necessary evidence as required by the Exit Level Outcomes, and presented by the learner, should meet the following principles: currency of evidence, sufficiency of evidence, validity of evidence and authenticity of evidence. If the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification, the appropriate credits will be assigned to the learner.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:

Advanced Diploma in Operations Management, NQF Level 7, 120 Credits.
Or

Relevant Bachelor's Degree, NQF Level 7, 360 Credits.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits:

Enterprise Resource Planning V, 30 Credits.

Manufacturing Systems Engineering V, 30 Credits.

Advanced Research Methodology, 30 Credits.

Simulation, 30 Credits.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate the ability to integrate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to solve problems and coordinate information in every area of the business.
2. Evaluate the manufacturing systems engineering in relation to factory models.
3. Develop a research proposal with a topic related to issues within the field of operations management.
4. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate simulation models and operations management techniques.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Historical perspectives of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are evaluated.

The various roles and relationships between elements within a system or systems in the manufacturing and service industry are evaluated.

The ability to develop ERP systems for operations business is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

The probability and the properties of various distributions are analysed.

Multiple-stage single-product factory models and workstation factory models are evaluated and possible solutions are proposed.

The relevance of network models in relation to various forms of batching are examined.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

A quality research proposal with a topic that meets the requirements for access into a Master's Degree is developed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

The simulation models and operations management techniques (from planning to implementation and monitoring) are examined.

The key ingredients of a simulation model are analysed.

Integrated Assessment:
The overall assessment strategy of the institution is that of integrated assessment which is evident in the approach to the assessment of applied competence. Applied competence is understood as the learners' ability to integrate concepts, ideas and actions in authentic, real-life contexts; the assessment of which is broken down to the assessment of foundational, practical and reflexive competence.
Integrated Assessment further implies a planned combination of formative and summative assessment strategies with varying ratios, depending on the NQF level of study where: formative assessment implies being supportive to learning, non-judgmental and focused on providing constructive feedback or criticism to the learner, takes place during the learning process and informs planning of future learning activities, and: summative assessment implies assessment to be mainly concerned with "judging" if the outcomes have been achieved through the learning process and therefore usually takes place at the end of the relevant learning process. The qualification incorporates the different aspects of integrated, formative and summative assessments in its assessment strategy.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

It is a challenge to find 'real' comparability as the majority of diplomas in operations management are offered as a professional qualification post any Degree. The majority of these qualifications are offered and presented by associations or institutes. The Postgraduate Diploma qualification in the South African context is a unique type which is comparable to many Bachelor Honours Degree in other countries.

The following are some of the qualifications that have been compared:

Brock University (Canada) Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management:

Entry requirements: Bachelor Degree.

Duration: 20 Months/5 term.

Subjects or modules: 10.

Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK) (Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management):

Entry requirements: Bachelor Degree.

Duration: 18 to 21 Months.

Subjects or modules: 9.

York University (Canada) (Postgraduate Diploma in International Operations Management):

Entry requirements: 4 years full time with a year in industry and Undergraduate.

Diploma in Operations Management.

Duration: 15 to 18 months fulltime (with placement).

Subjects or modules: 9 modules.

Harvard Business School (USA) Postgraduate Diploma in International Operations Management:

Entry Requirements: UK Honours Degree or international equivalent in relevant subject.

Duration: Fulltime 15 months.

Subjects or modules: 10 modules.

London South Bank University (UK) (Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management):

Entry Requirements: UK Honours Degree or international equivalent in relevant subject.

Duration: 1 year/15 months (with placement).

Subjects or modules: 9 modules.

This qualification is comparable to the above international qualifications in terms of entry requirements, duration and modules.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Operations and Quality Management, Level 8.

Vertical Articulation:

Master of Business Administration, Level 9.

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.

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