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: Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistant

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
118101	Occupational Certificate: Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistant
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - FPMSETA (MAN)
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Part-Qualification	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Manufacturing and Assembly
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	60	Not Applicable	NQF Level 03	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0522/24	2021-03-25	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 part-qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistant. A Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistant repairs, maintains and adjusts a range of portable cutting machines and related equipment to ensure for good working order and condition.

Rationale:
This part-qualification will equip learners with the necessary skills and competence to operate as Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistants. After successful completion of this qualification, the learner will be skilled and capable of repairing and maintaining portable cutting machines and equipment.

Learners will find employment as cutting machine maintenance assistants. These skills will also open opportunities for self-employment.

Target groups identified include school leavers with an NQF Level 1 qualification or persons who have been working for three years as a Sewing Machine Mechanic in the clothing industry without formal qualifications and have the desire to formalise their skills and knowledge.

Employers will benefit from appointing qualified workers in terms of increased productivity and ability to be competitive in the international market and seek markets abroad supplying quality apparel wear.

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 certifying a work experience record.

RPL for access to the Part-qualification:
Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements.

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

NQF Level 1 qualification with Mathematics and Communication.
Or

Three years of assessed experience as a Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistant.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This part-qualification consists of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules:

684901-001-00-KM-01, Safe Workshop Practices and Administration, Level 2, 8 Credits.

684901-001-00-KM-12, Basic Knowledge of Fabrics, Level 2, 8 Credits.

684901-001-00-KM-15, Repair and Maintenance Portable Cutting Machines and Equipment, Level 3, 12 Credits.
Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 28

Practical Skill Modules:

684901-001-00-PM-07, Repair, Maintain and Adjust Cutting Machines, Level 3, 16 Credits.
Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 16

Work Experience Modules:

684901-001-00-WM-07, Repair of Cutting Machines, Level 3, 16 Credits.
Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 16

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Repair, maintain and adjust a range of cutting machines and related equipment to ensure for good working order and condition.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria:

Read and interpret the job card or fault report and other production information such as the style breakdown sheet and sample garment.

Dismantle and reassemble the relevant cutting machine using appropriate tools and equipment.

Apply an appropriate fault finding sequence to establish the cause of the fault or defect.

Inspect cutting machines and conduct repair tasks to ensure optimum functionality of cutting sewing machines.

Adjust cutting machines and apply appropriate settings to ensure optimum functionality of cutting sewing machines.

Maintain the optimum functionality of a range of cutting machines by conducting maintenance and preventative maintenance tasks to minimise downtime, so as to maximise the performance of a range of cutting machines and related equipment.

Set up a range of cutting machines and related equipment are set up according to style specification and are ready for production.

Care for, maintain and store tools, equipment and chemicals according to safe work procedures.

Apply safety, housekeeping and environment procedures in the workshop and production line to ensure compliance with requirements.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated Formative Assessment:
The skills development providers 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 QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this part-qualification. The external integrated summative assessment will focus on The Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

This part-qualification was compared with components of two qualifications offered in India and New Zealand:

India:
The Diploma in Sewing Machine Mechanic, which includes two years of experiential training, offered by ALT Training College, specifically references the following knowledge or theory component:

Generic contextual knowledge such as safe work practices, company specific procedures, guidelines and standards.

Technical knowledge relative to different types of machines.

New Zealand:
The National Certificate in Clothing Manufacture (Mechanic) Level 3, offered by Competenz, is geared towards people working in the sewing machine maintenance and servicing areas of the Clothing Manufacturing industry. The compulsory sections of the qualification ensure that all holders have knowledge of workplace practice. Across levels 2 and 3 of this qualification, the following standards would be achieved: Knowledge of safe working practices in the apparel industry; Maintain fabric cutting equipment; and Maintain ancillary cutting room equipment.

Conclusion:
This part-qualification compares favourably with the above qualifications in terms of content and complexity.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

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

Horizontal Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Sewing Machine Mechanic Assistant, NQF Level 3.

Vertical Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Ancillary Machine Maintenance Assistant, NQF Level 4.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
In order to qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of statements of results and work experience records.

Additional legal or physical entry requirements:
None.

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: Cutting Machine Maintenance Assistant and 684901-001-00-03.

Encompassed Trades:
This part-qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD:

None.

Assessment Quality Partner (AQP):

National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB).

Related Parent Qualification:

Occupational Certificate: Apparel and Related Manufacturing Machine Mechanic.

Related Part-qualifications:

Occupational Certificate: Sewing Machine Mechanic Repairer, Level 2.

Occupational Certificate: Sewing Machine Mechanic Operator, Level 3.

Occupational Certificate: Ancillary Machine Maintenance Assistant, Level 4.

Occupational Certificate: Sewing Machine Maintenance and Repair Technician Assistant, Level 4.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION

None.

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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