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 UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Apply mathematical and statistical techniques in a production environment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
335876  Apply mathematical and statistical techniques in a production environment 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Manufacturing and Assembly Processes 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  20 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
12432  Use mathematical and statistical techniques effectively  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  20   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Learners will understand the importance and role of mathematical and statistical techniques in optimising activities, processes and procedures in the production environment. These techniques have wide-ranging applications and contribute largely to the learner's ability to develop a deeper understanding of the holistic and integrated nature of the production environment.

Learners credited with this standard will be able to:
  • Perform mathematical calculations.
  • Perform statistical calculations.
  • Access and organise information or data.
  • Apply mathematical and statistical techniques to manage teams and staff.
  • Use mathematical and statistical techniques to manage safety in the workplace.
  • Implement mathematical and statistical techniques to manage production and related elements.
  • Apply mathematics and statistical techniques to manage costing and pricing and related elements.
  • Apply mathematical and statistical techniques to manage inventory and stock.
  • Use mathematical and statistical techniques to budget and analyse budgets. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Further Education and Training Certificate: Automotive Components. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Perform mathematical calculations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Mathematical techniques and calculations important in the workplace are identified in terms of their importance and how they are used in the workplace. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Mathematical calculations and mathematical techniques in the workplace are discussed, explained and used to resolve problems. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Calculations include percentages, conversions from fractions to percentages, ratios, pie-charts, tables, graphs, reading and interpreting tables.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Perform statistical calculations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The concepts of qualitative and quantitative analysis/data are explained in terms of the difference between them. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of sampling are discussed in terms of the differences between them. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The reasons for manipulating/ organising/summarising data and for using statistical information and techniques are discussed to show how these aspects can be useful in the workplace. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Statistical calculations are selected and performed in relation to work environment. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Statistical calculations include knowledge of mean, median, range, mode, average and standard deviation.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Statistical graphs are discussed and used in relation to their applications in the industry. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION NOTES 
    Bar graphs, pie charts and line graphs are commonly used to communicate output of goods manufactured over time, ratio of various costs in the manufacturing process (usually in pie charts). Stem and leaf graphs are also often used in manufacturing companies to communicate data about various employees (e.g. age profiles). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Data is manipulated, analysed, interpreted and displayed in graphical form and findings are communicated to others. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Access and organise information or data. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Information and data required and the place where they can be accessed are identified and the reasons for acquiring them are discussed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The way in which information/data needs to be organised and displayed is discussed and the systems that can help achieve this are identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Confidential information required for mathematical or statistical analysis is accessed using company protocol and analysed according to procedure. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Apply mathematical and statistical techniques to manage teams and staff. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Industry and organisational norms in relation to team and staff key indicators are identified and discussed to make it possible to effect the correct change. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The use of mathematics and statistics in managing team and staff is discussed to show their benefits for staff management. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The requirements of effective teams and staff within the organisation are discussed in relation to the mathematics and statistics associated in managing them. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Calculations are performed regarding key indicators, with regard to teams and staff. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Calculations include but are not limited to percentiles, statistical, value and ratio calculations.

    Key indicators include:
  • Leave schedules, overtime (as percentage, ratios, statistics), incentives (as percentage, ratios, statistics), staff health (as percentage, ratios, statistics, including absenteeism, HIV/AIDS related), staff turnover, salaries (percentage, statistics, ratio's, percentiles), productivity per individual or cluster.
     
    		•

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Change is effected as a result of findings. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Use mathematical and statistical techniques to manage safety in the workplace. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Industry specific health and safety requirements and acts and industry specific benchmarks/norms are identified and discussed to ensure compliance and optimal performance with respect to health and safety. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Calculations are performed regarding key indicators, with regard to key health and safety indicators. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The calculations include but not be limited to injury free days, days since safety variances, number of safety non-compliances, number/percentage /ratio of injuries, total spend on safety, total payouts for injury, number and positions of safety equipment (such as fans per meters cubed, fire extinguishers per size of room, toilets per staff and staff per machine.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Health and safety non-conformances are identified and reported, findings are compared to quality requirements and calculations are used to analyse and report on health and safety information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Improvements are recommended based on information obtained. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Implement mathematical and statistical techniques to manage production and related elements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The production indicator benchmarks for the industry and the organisation are discussed to help assess a company's performance compared to external standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Productivity indicators include but are not limited to wastage, spoilage, maintenance, labour productivity, machine efficiency, capacity measures.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Calculations are performed within a production environment to analyse and report on key production indicators. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Variances are identified and findings are compared to key indicators in the company/industry. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A productivity report is prepared and presented to recommend improvements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 7 
    Apply mathematics and statistical techniques to manage costing and pricing and related elements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Key costing, pricing principles and indicators used both in the industry and within the organisation are discussed in order to make decisions. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Costing includes but is not limited to manufacturing or product expenses, administrative expenses, selling, distribution, marketing expenses and financial expenses.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Costing/pricing are discussed in relation to the factors that can impact on them. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Factors include but are not limited to quality, process, material and time.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The implications of discounting and other variables are discussed in terms of their impact on the costing/pricing of the company. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Calculations are used to analyse costing and pricing and a report is presented on information, trends and inconsistencies within the work context. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Calculations include but are not limited to profit (rand value), profit margin, markup, discounting; cost of raw materials (rand value, as a percentage of Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), cost of scrap (as percentage of COGS/ profit); variance from budget (rand value and as percentage of), transport costs as percentage of COGS, wastage and spoilage as percentages of COGS.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    A quote is produced based on knowledge of costing and pricing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    A report is prepared and presented to recommend improvements. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 8 
    Apply mathematical and statistical techniques to manage inventory and stock. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The industry norms in relation to inventory and stock key indicators are discussed to help assess how a company is performing with respect to external standards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The company norms, policies and procedures pertaining to managing stock and inventory, and the stock systems that are used by the company to manage its stock are discussed to assess whether adjustments to these aspects need to be made. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Calculations related to management of stock are performed using formulae and other mechanisms and compared to industry standards. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Calculations include but are not limited to incidents of stock out (percentage, ratio, numbers), average stock storage time, optimal stock levels (formula), stock lead time, stock forecasting, percentage correct items in system against actual counted item (stock count).
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Results are interpreted and change is implemented based on findings. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 9 
    Use mathematical and statistical techniques to budget and analyse budgets. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The elements of a budget are discussed in relation to the other budgets of the organisaton/company as a whole. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Aspects to be considered include Organisational Objectives Set, Sales Budget Set, Operational Budgets Set, Financial Budgets Set, Master Budget Set, Review and Comparison of actual results with budgets, Control and Corrective Action.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The basic principles and industry norms for budgeting are discussed to obtain a broader and deeper understanding of the budgeting processes. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Principles and norms include zero-based budgeting, broader participation in the process, annual and interval budgets, discretionary spending budgets.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Indicators, ratios and percentages are used to determine the practicality and realistic nature of a budget. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    These include Gross Profit percentage and Mark up percentage; Net Profit Percentage; COGS to turnover; ratio of raw materials, work in progress and finished goods; percentage research and development to turnover; percentage sales expenditure to turnover; wages as a percentage of COGS; factory overhead as a percentage of raw material; training and development spend as a percentage of salaries.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The company guidelines for budgeting are identified and discussed to ensure that budgeting remains within these parameters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Calculations are performed for the budgeting process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The budget is developed and checked as per company procedure. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Aspects to be considered include but are not limited to broad company guidelines, sales budget, production budget, how many items to produce (given opening and closing stock requirements), raw materials budget (given opening and closing stock requirements), direct labour budget, manufacturing overhead budget, selling expenses budget, administrative budget, financial budget, capital expenditure budgets and cash flow budgets.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The budget is interpreted, analysed and reviewed according to company procedure. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Assessment and Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA policies and guidelines for Assessment and Moderation.
  • Moderation must include both Internal and External Moderation of assessments at exit points of the Qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the Qualification. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Mathematical and statistical techniques, concepts and calculations.
  • Sampling methods.
  • Graphs.
  • Company protocols, guidelines, procedures and processes.
  • Indicators (for eg production, safety etc).
  • Non-conformances.
  • Report writing.
  • Industry norms, standards, policies and procedures.
  • Types of budget. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made when:
  • Identifying problems and using mathematical and statistical techniques to resolving them.
  • Distinguishing between types of indicators and detecting non-conformances.
  • Differentiate between types of budgets.
  • Interpret results. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation and community to:
  • Apply mathematical and statistical techniques to resolving problems. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsively and effectively when:
  • Performing mathematical and statistical calculations to obtain a better understanding of the process.
  • Using mathematical and statistical techniques to resolving them.
  • Distinguishing between types of indicators and detecting non-conformances.
  • Differentiate between types of budgets.
  • Interpreting results and findings and effecting change. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information to:
  • Interpret data and information.
  • Resolve problems related to a variety of aspects in production. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation when:
  • Identifying problems and using mathematical and statistical techniques to resolving them. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others by:
  • Using the equipment and software according to manufacturer's instructions. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This Unit Standard replaces Unit Standard 12432, "Use mathematical and statistical techniques effectively", Level 5, 20 credits. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Fundamental  71969   National Certificate: Automotive Components: Manufacturing and Assembly  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2015-06-30  MERSETA 
    Fundamental  78943   National Certificate: Autotronics  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MERSETA 
    Fundamental  80686   National Diploma: Supply Chain Management: Sensitive Consumer Products  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FOODBEV 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.