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: Production Supervisor 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
115723  Occupational Certificate: Production Supervisor 
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MERSETA 
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  216  Not Applicable  NQF Level 05  Regular-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered  EXCO 0522/24  2022-11-22  2025-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-31   2029-12-31  

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 prepare a learner to operate as a Production Supervisor. A Production Supervisor - plans, organises, controls, leads, coordinates, and reviews the production operations of an organisation.

The qualifying learner will be able to manage physical and human resources in production or manufacturing processes. The duties may include managing first-line supervisors, such as:
  • Foremen.
  • Team leaders.
  • Charge-hands.
  • Tradesmen.
  • Craftsmen.
  • Process control technician.
  • Machine operators.
  • Assemblers.
  • Labourers and other workers.

    The duties cover maintenance, monitoring and control of occupational health and safety, legal compliance, quality assurance, troubleshooting and problem-solving.

    A Production Supervisor is required to schedule and oversee production activities and resources for efficiency and continuous improvement. He/she also plays a key role in training and development, including on-the-job-training and development.

    A qualified learner will be able to:
  • Plan, organise, control, lead, coordinate, and review production operations of a unit, including physical and human resources.
  • Plan, organise, control, lead, coordinate and review production operations of an organisation, which will have more than one unit, including physical and human resources.

    Rationale:
    The Occupational Certificate: Production Supervisor reflects the needs of the manufacturing and production sectors, as represented by employers, employees and training providers, for learners to develop the management skills and competencies to become Production Supervisors.

    Production Supervisors work across a wide range of industries in the production and manufacturing sectors. The qualification is in a generic format and contextualised in the manufacturing, mining, chemical, energy, water, food and beverage sectors. The qualification is portable across a wide range of sectors as the skills and competencies are generic.

    The qualification takes into account that small and medium organisations may need one Production Supervisor as they have only one production/manufacturing unit. Large organisations have multiple units, with several Production Supervisors.

    Expert practitioners from a range of sectors within the manufacturing and production fields participated in the development of this qualification.

    Typically, learners work already in a technical or operational capacity in manufacturing or production. This qualification will provide the learner with the necessary supervisory and management skills and competencies to continue the learning pathway to progress vertically in any production or manufacturing environment. It will, therefore, be an essential qualification for upward mobility in any organisation in the sector.

    Typically, employees, who are technically and operationally competent, lack the necessary management knowledge, skills and experience to progress to supervision and management levels in an organisation. This qualification will be essential to any person aspiring to progress in his chosen field. The benefit, to the economy and the country in general, is that the qualification will provide the learner with the necessary learning pathway, essential training and development to progress in an organisation.

    This qualification provides the learner with the necessary knowledge, skills, competency and work experience to work as a Production Supervisor. 
    		•

    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 results or by 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 3 qualification in Operations/Technical Industry.
    Or
  • Assessed work experience of at least three years in an operational/technical capacity in a production operation. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:

    Knowledge Modules:
  • 312201-000-00-00-KM-01, Operations Management, Level 4, 8 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-KM-02, Operations Management, Level 5, 10 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-KM-03, Team Leadership, Level 4, 8 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-KM-04, Supervision and Management, Level 5, 13 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-KM-05, Business Administration, Level 4, 8 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-KM-06, Business Administration, Level 5, 13 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 60.

    Practical Skill Modules:
  • 312201-000-00-00-PM-01, Supervise Production, Level 4, 7 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-PM-02, Supervise Personnel, Level 4, 7 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-PM-03, Manage Production, Level 5, 17 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-00-PM-04, Manage Personnel, Level 5, 17 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 48.

    Work Experience Modules:
  • 312201-000-00-WM-01, Workplace Operations, Level 4, 48 Credits.
  • 312201-000-00-WM-02, Workplace Operations, Level 5, 60 Credits.

    Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 108. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Plan, organise, control, lead, coordinate and review production operations of a unit, including physical and human resources.
    2. Plan, organise, control, lead, coordinate and review personnel in the unit.
    3. Plan, organise, control, lead, coordinate and review production operations of an organisation, which will have more than one unit, including physical and human resources production.
    4. Plan, organise, control, lead, coordinate and review personnel in the organisation, which will include managing the activities of unit first-line supervisors. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Utilise the Management Information System (MIS), following production requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Manage budgets, following standards, policies and procedures.
  • Complete analytical trouble-shooting and problem solving as required.
  • Control production, following production requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Assure quality, control and analyse production processes for improvement, in accordance requirements.
  • Manage waste, following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Complete administrative functions and first-line supervisory duties, functions, processes and procedures, in accordance with legal and operating requirements, standards, policies and procedures.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Supervise the unit to achieve objectives, following standards, policies and procedures.
  • Manage individual and team performance, including training and development, following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Monitor and control occupational health and safety, schedule activities and resources, following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Manage budgets following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Control production following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Assure quality, control and analyse production processes for improvement following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Complete administrative functions and supervisory duties, functions, processes and procedures in accordance with requirements, standards, policies and procedures.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Manage individual and team performance following requirements, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Perform production supervisor functions and processes following production requirements, standards, policies and procedures.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated formative assessment
    To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules using statements of results and work experience records including the Foundational Learning Competence.

    Integrated summative assessment:
    An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner, is required to issue this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Occupational Certificate: Production Supervisor compares with qualifications from New-Zealand, the United States and the European Union.

    New Zealand:
    The following institutions in New Zealand offer the Certificate in Construction Related Trades (Main Contract Supervision) (Level 5) offered by:
  • Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation.
  • Manukau Institute of Technology.
  • Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.
  • Wellington Institute of Technology.

    The qualification includes the generic supervisory competencies that are the same as those developed in the Occupational Certificate: Production Supervisor, namely:
  • Time management.
  • Communication.
  • Interpersonal skills.
  • Conflict management resolution skills.

    It also addresses the regulatory environment, administration activities and principles of supervision.

    United States of America:
    In the United States of America, prior experience and degree qualifications are pathways to supervisory positions. Production Supervisor job description follows the modules identified in this qualification, namely:
  • Supervisors oversee and direct the activities of workers in an organisation; in a manufacturing business.
  • The supervisor manages production workers, inspectors and machine operators.
  • Supervisors perform human resource duties, such as employee training.
  • Performance evaluations, hiring, preparing job descriptions and handling worker grievances.
  • Supervisors identify weaknesses and strengths in employees and may help develop and improve the latter to benefit the business.
  • Supervisors manage department budgets, prepare reports and coordinate projects with other department leaders.

    Some supervisors may prepare department budgets or make recommendations for expenditures.


    European Union:
    The Occupational Certificate: Production Supervisor compares to the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) which is the multilingual classification, across all the 28 member countries of the European Union (EU).

    The ESCO classification for Production Supervisor includes Essential Skills and Competencies for First­ line Production Supervisor which are as follows:
  • Adhere to organisational guidelines.
  • Adjust production schedule.
  • Analyse production processes for improvement.
  • Analyse staff capacity.
  • Communicate production plan.
  • Communicate schedules to the people concerned.
  • Control production.
  • Coordinate communication within a team.
  • Enhance production workflow.
  • Ensure equipment availability.
  • Ensure finished product meets requirements.
  • Ensure safety in the production area.
  • Evaluate employee's work.
  • Follow company standards.
  • Follow production schedule.
  • Implement strategic planning.
  • Liaise with managers.
  • Manage budgets.
  • Manage staff.
  • Manage workflow processes.
  • Meet deadlines.
  • Meet productivity targets.
  • Monitor production developments.
  • Monitor stock level.
  • Optimise production.
  • Oversee quality control.
  • Perform resource planning.
  • Plan shifts of employees.
  • Provide department schedule for staff.
  • Report on production results.
  • Supervise staff.

    Essential Knowledge includes manufacturing and production processes.

    Optional skills and competencies include:
  • Application of control process statistical methods.
  • Communication with customers.
  • Consulting technical resources.
  • Controlling expenses.
  • Ensuring compliance with environmental legislation.
  • Ensuring that products meet regulatory requirements.
  • Identifying hazards in the workplace.
  • Identifying training needs.
  • Leading process optimisation.
  • Liaising with quality assurance division.
  • Managing emergency procedures.
  • Managing human resources.
  • Managing supplies.
  • Meeting contract specifications.
  • Monitoring automated machines.
  • Monitoring manufacturing quality standards.
  • Ordering supplies.
  • Providing documentation.
  • Recording production data for quality control.
  • Training employees.

    Member states are in the process of linking learning programmes/qualifications to the ESCO competencies.

    This qualification includes the knowledge, skills and competencies detailed above, ensuring that the qualification aligns to the ESCO classification. Qualifying learners will have achieved the standards required by any of the EU and other participating countries.

    Conclusion:
    This qualification complies with international best practice and will be comparable to many international qualifications. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This part-qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Higher Certificate in Supervisory Management, NQF Level 5.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Advanced Certificate in Business Management, NQF Level 6. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    Qualifying for external assessment:
    To qualify for the external summative assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules using a statement of results and a signed Statement of Work Experience. Foundational learning competence is a prerequisite for the awarding this qualification.

    Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
  • Applicable legislation and organisational requirements.

    Criteria for the accreditation of providers:
  • Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

    The curriculum title and code are: Production Supervisor: 312201-000-00-00.

    Encompassed Trade:
  • This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:
  • None.

    Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):
  • Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (merSETA).

    Part-qualification(s)
  • Occupational Certificate: First-line Production Supervisor, NQF Level 4. 
    		•

    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.