Advanced Certificate in Operations Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Advanced Certificate in Operations Management is to equip learners already in industry as well as learners wishing to enter industry with the advanced knowledge, principles, and techniques required to effectively manage operations within an organisation. This qualification enhances career prospects by developing critical skills in process optimisation, resource management, and operational efficiency key competencies for roles in production, logistics, and supply chain management. Graduates will be well-positioned for career growth in operations management and can further advance their expertise through higher-level qualifications.

Upon achievement of the qualification, learners may build a career pathway in operations management by enabling them to fulfil or progress to junior and middle management positions in industry..

The Exit Level Outcomes were aligned with the level descriptors and were informed by the stated purpose of the qualification. The qualification aims to provide the learner with exposure to the principles, concepts, and techniques which would aid in the management of the operations process within the greater context of the business environment, as aligned to the exit level outcomes.

The learner is introduced to the more generic modules of human resources and financial management allowing the learner to expand their knowledge base and understand the context within which the Operations Manager functions. The introduction of the Contemporary Management module allows the learner to understand and apply the principles of planning, organising, leading and controlling in an environment where the 4IR requires flexibility and adaptability, and will therefore enhance their ability to manage operations as well as manage a team.

Rationale

Following extensive consultation with the client community, specifically in automotive manufacturing and logistics, a need was identified for a shorter qualification that equips employees at a junior or middle management level or those who aspire to become junior managers, with a holistic and more advanced view of the operations function. The qualification imparts knowledge of the principles and concepts that inform their daily activities over a range of disciplines. This need follows from the recognition that the junior manager and middle manager are key figures in the effective and efficient attainment of the organisation's objectives.

This qualification has operations management as its core discipline, whilst it also provides insights in the disciplines of quality, logistics, human resources and financial management as well as general management. A further module has been included to develop an understanding of the most used quantitative methods in industry to allow for a more systemic approach to problem-solving and data analytics. The diversity of this qualification will enable the learner to enter various career pathways.

Knowledge of the principles, cognitive tools, and concepts that underlie these fields of study is essential for the junior/middle manager to understand the contribution that they make to the effective management of the operations function within their industry.

The qualification is consistent with the objectives of the National Skills Development Policy in that it aims to equip learners with usable skills underpinned by the necessary knowledge to enhance understanding and provide a basis for further development. Qualification contributes to both regional and national goals by:

• Providing access to knowledge and skills for individuals who have been disadvantaged in their access to higher education, raising the skills level of the region and the nation.
• Providing expertise in the management organisations across a broad range of industries aiding in the improvement of the productivity of these industries and contributing to national competitiveness.
• Providing the learners with a pathway to achieving their potential thus contributing to the national goal of promoting life-long learning.
• Accommodating the recognition of prior learning ensuring that the national goals of equity and fairness in access to higher learning are addressed.
• The combination of theory and practice together with project work ensures that the learning is applied and that the learner is equipped with learning skills.
• The use of group work and a reflection on the experience of working in a team enhances the learners understanding of working with others.

The qualification is primarily designed to provide access for learners already employed in industry but is also open to other categories of learners.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution's policy is based on three principles: recognising all formal and informal learning to enhance access to further education; assessing prior learning to ensure applicants can succeed at their desired level; and acknowledging the multidisciplinary nature of Production Management, allowing diverse academic backgrounds for entry.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at the institution is categorised into RPL for programme access and RPL for module exemption.

• RPL for access requires candidates to demonstrate competence at the level below the desired course, with qualifications in a related field. If insufficient evidence exists, a four-hour assessment may be required.
• RPL for exemption requires a completed application form with certified transcripts (not older than five years) for formal qualifications. For work experience-based exemptions, candidates must submit a Portfolio of Evidence verified by a senior manager. A subject matter expert evaluates the portfolio and may recommend a written assessment if evidence is insufficient.

As per CHE regulations, no more than 10% of a cohort of learners will be admitted through an RPL process.

A learner cannot be granted an exemption for more than 50% of the modules in a qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Higher Certificate in Operations Management, NQF level 5.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 6 totalling 120 Credits

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 6, 120 Credits

• Operations Management II, 20 Credits.
• Quality Management II, 20 Credits.
• Business Statistics, 20 credits
• Human Resource Management, 15 Credits.
• Logistics Activities, 15 Credits.
• Financial Management, 15 Credits.
• Contemporary Management, 15 Credits.

1. Understand the role of management in business and apply the fundamental tasks of the management process.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of human resource management tasks and functions within the context of current labour legislation.
3. Describe and analyse process design; design of products and services; and supply network design and forecasting within the operations field.
4. Understand and analyse financial statements.
5. Explain and apply the principles, roles, and performance of various logistics activities.
6. Define and understand the measurement of quality characteristics as well as the integration of the environment, health, and safety requirements within the quality management systems (including risk identification and total productive maintenance initiatives).
7. Describe, understand, and apply basic problem-solving and decision-making techniques in the workplace.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Discuss the role of management in the business organisation to understand the purpose of management.
• Plan, organise, lead, and control a team or department and differentiate the application of management tasks.
• Discuss business performance, productivity, and competitiveness for effective management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Explain human resource management tasks and functions to understand how they affect the working environment
• Discuss and apply the principles of job design and analysis to ensure organisational success
• Outline the recruitment and selection process for consistency and compliance.
• Discuss employee orientation to promote motivation
• Discuss performance management and appraisal to understand its importance in the workplace.
• Discuss training and development to understand the purpose and importance of this in the workplace
• Outline the union-management relationship, and employee discipline and dismissal

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Describe the process design to better understand the development of products and services
• Analyse the design in the context of the overall operations model to create better products and services
• Analyse the advantages and constraints of process technologies are analysed to create high-quality products.
• Describe queuing system behaviour through the use of queuing formulae for efficiency.
• Differentiate project planning, control to understand its importance in operations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Explain financial management terms, goals, principles, and functions of the financial manager to understand the operational environment of the business.
• Analyse financial statements to understand the businesses' overall performance.
• Ratio analysis is conducted to understand the time value of money.
• Identify the sources of finance to understand how these assist the business.
• Define risk and return to understand how these affect the business,

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Explain the role of logistics to understand its role in supply chain management.
• Describe customer accommodation and its implications to understand how it affects logistics activities.
• Discuss packaging designs that facilitate standard configurations.
• Basic materials handling systems are described in the context of receiving materials, conveying materials to the line side, and finished goods.
• Explain the various warehousing ownership arrangements available, handling and storage principles, and warehouse decision criteria for better warehouse management.
• Analyse transportation structure, modal transportation, transport functionality, and transport service as key logistics activities
• Explain entry-level inventory control theory to manage inventory efficiently

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Explain. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) to identify risk.
• Describe ISO 14001 concepts and requirements to ensure compliance.
• Explain and understand the benefits of EMS and its importance.
• Illustrate the integration of ISO 14000 with ISO 9000 for better efficiency within the organisation.
• Explain the relationship to Health and Safety in respect of OHSAS 18001 and its importance in health and safety within the organisation.
• Illustrate a correlation between the ISO standards for Safety, Health, Environment, and Quality (SHEQ) to understand efficiency and effectiveness in the environment
• Outline the auditing process to ensure the organisation is compliant.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Effectively explain the concept of quantitative decision making and the role it plays in industry to decide on the workplace.
• Apply basic mathematical calculations, basic probability theory, line balancing, and forecasting techniques, and apply them to work-based situations
• Explain the factors that influence the location of a factory using the method of business as the Centre of Gravity to have a better understanding of logistics.
• Describe how to formulate transportation problems for problem-solving solving
• Apply linear programming techniques to optimise decision-making.

Integrated Assessment

Even though the nature of the qualification is essentially academic and theoretical the emphasis in the tasks and assignments is on the integration of the theory with actual practice. The tasks encourage the learners to integrate theory and practice and to reflect on the application of the theory in their own work environment and other unfamiliar environments.

The institution's qualifications do not have a WIL component as majority of learners are already employed; however, all formatives include a component of integrated learning where learners would need to apply theory in real life examples in a workplace.

Formative Assessment

Each of the components described in the Exit Level Outcomes and Associated Assessment Criteria have several tasks associated with them. The tasks vary in number and complexity depending on the characteristics of the outcome and criteria.

The tasks constitute the prime formative assessment mechanism and can be either individual or group assignments. Group tasks are incorporated to provide practice in working effectively as a team. They include a presentation element which develops the ability to communicate effectively utilising a range of techniques. The assignments test the reflexive component of assessment.

At this level the emphasis is on integration of theory and practice in a variety of environments. For all modules except quantitative modules, learners will complete one formative assignment that focuses on the application of theory. For quantitative modules like Applied Mathematics, Business Statistics and all Finance modules, learners will write two tests. The formative assessments produce the course mark, and a learner must achieve at least 50% for admission to the exam.

Summative Assessment

Examinations are the primary summative assessment method. Use is made of case studies and practical exercises in examinations wherever appropriate.

The examinations assess the learners' understanding of the theoretical learning (Foundational Competence). The tasks and assignments provide a means to assess the learners` ability to apply the theory to real workplace situations (Practical Competence).

The following sub-minima must be achieved by the learner

• Course mark: 50%
• Summative assessment/examination: 40%

The following must be achieved in order to qualify for a supplementary

• Course mark: 50%
• Final Mark: 45% or more if the sub-minimum of 40% for the exam not achieved.