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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: Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator |
| SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
| 118697 | Occupational Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator | |||
| 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 | 150 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 03 | Regular-ELOAC |
| REGISTRATION STATUS | SAQA DECISION NUMBER | REGISTRATION START DATE | REGISTRATION END DATE | |
| Registered | EXCO 0522/24 | 2022-02-03 | 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 the learner to operate as a Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator. A Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator performs routine operations and maintenance tasks on plastics manufacturing equipment. A qualified learner will be able to: Rationale: There is a substantial demand for Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operators across various manufacturing sectors. Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operators are responsible for monitoring and reporting on efficient running of the machine to ensure that quality plastics products are manufactured. The availability of an occupational certificate will ensure training of learners who wish to qualify as Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operators. There are currently similar qualifications registered on the National Qualification Framework (NQF), however, these qualifications differ from the Occupational Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator in terms of sector, content, products, application and the NQF levels. This qualification is designed in such a way that it provides learners with generic knowledge and skills that can be applied in a variety of plastics manufacturing processes such as injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, to name but a few. Competent learners will be able to move from one manufacturing context such as pharmaceutical companies, automotive components manufactures and other packing companies within different sectors. The plastics manufacturing sector is rapidly changing from a technology point of view as well as the sustainability perspective. The sector will thus benefit from operators that will perform their tasks in a resource efficient manner and to adapt to new technology. This qualification will enable an operator to be adaptable and agile in an everchanging environment. The availability of qualified Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operators will benefit societies by ensuring that recycling of plastics products is effectively and efficiently carried out and contributes towards sustaining communities. The qualified learners are potential entrepreneurs to formalise the informal recycling activities, thus formal employment expansion leading to economic growth. Qualified learners can participate effectively in the various manufacturing sectors, whether in small, medium and large enterprises. The qualification is aimed at new entrants as well as learners who have been working within the plastics manufacturing industry. Upon completion of this qualification, learners can advance their careers by taking higher level responsibilities as team leader and supervisory positions and higher qualifications such as Plastics Manufacturing Machine Setters. There is no required registration with a professional body as no professional body exists for this occupation. |
| LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
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. Entry Requirements: The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is: |
| RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
| Y |
| QUALIFICATION RULES |
| This qualification consists of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules:
Knowledge Modules: Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 36 Practical Skill Modules: Total Number of Credits of Practical Skill Modules: 66 Work Experience Modules: Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 52 |
| EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
| 1. Monitor the conversion process.
2. Perform basic maintenance on tooling and equipment. 3. Perform routine maintenance on manufacturing equipment. 4. Perform routine operations. 5. Perform tool, die and forming device changeover operations. 6. Perform loading, lifting and safe handling of dies and overhead crane. |
| ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
| Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5: Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6: |
| INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
| The qualification has been compared with plastics related qualifications offered in New Zealand and the United States.
New Zealand The South African Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator qualification has been compared with New Zealand Certificate in Plastics Processing (Level 3) with an optional strand in Plastics Engineering, ID number 2974. The qualification has credits values ranging between 65 and 115. This qualification is offered by Competenz. Comparison was done in terms of entry requirements, duration, course content and credits. This qualification is aimed at learners who are currently employed within the plastics industry and would wish to gain knowledge and skills to operate plastics processing machinery. Entry requirements are not specified, except for employment in the plastics industry. The qualification has core unit standards which upon completion, learners will be awarded a qualification with 65 credits. In addition to this, learners can progress their learning by pursue an optional strand in Plastics Engineering with 115. Upon completion of core unit standards of the qualification learners will be able to: Learners who pursue the optional strand, upon completion, will be able to: Looking at credit values, the qualification is offered over a period of 6 months for learners who enrol against core unit standards and a year for learners who progress their learning by enrolling against the optional strand in Plastics Engineering. Similarities Similarities have been found with course content. Differences Differences have been found with credits allocated, entry requirements and duration. The South African qualification has high credit values. This can be attributed to the composition and structure of the qualification. The South African qualification comprises knowledge modules, practical skills modules and work experience modules. In addition, included in this qualification are modules that are pitched at level 2. Differences have also been found to be with the duration of the qualification. Based on the credit value, the South African Plastics Manufacturing Operator qualification is offered over a period of one year and two months. It has also been found that except for the unit standard Participate in plastics processing trials that is found in the optional Plastics Engineering strand, competencies covered by the other three (3) unit standards in this strand have been covered in the Occupational Certificate: Plastics Manufacturing Operator. These are compulsory for the attainment of the qualification. United States Penn State University offers short courses for Plastics Engineering Technology - BC(PLET) to undergraduate learners. Among these short courses, a few whose content has been covered in the South African qualification were found to cover the scope of content covered in the South African qualification. Titles of these as well as credits, reflected in brackets, are listed below: Similarities Similarities were found to be with content covered in courses reflected above. Differences Differences were found to with the nature of the learning programmes. Whilst the South African Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator is a stand-alone qualification, courses found in the Penn State University are units of learning in their own right. However, completion of these together with additional courses, that have not been listed above, will lead to the attainment of the qualification. Differences have also been found with credits that have been allocated to listed courses. According to the Senate Policy 34-60, forty-five (45) hours is equivalent to 1 credit. In light of this, credits allocated to individual courses are a lot higher than credits allocated to similar modules in the South African qualification. Comparison with regards to entry level requirements was not possible as this was specified for each course. Conclusion The Occupational Certificate: Plastics and Manufacturing Machine Operator compares favourably with courses and qualifications offered in other international countries in terms of course content and learners' profile. |
| ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
| This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.
Horizontal Articulation: Vertical Articulation: |
| NOTES |
| Qualifying for External Assessment:
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: Plastics Manufacturing Machine Operator: 714204-001-00-00. Encompassed Trades This qualification encompasses the following trades as recorded on the NLRD. None Assessment Quality Partner (AQP) |
| 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. |