Diploma in Operations Management

Purpose.

The intended purpose of this qualification is to give the successful learner a professional, vocational and sound understanding of the general theoretical principles and their applications in the field of Operations Management. The qualifying learner will be able to optimise the resource usage in a team to benefit the department concerned. The incumbent will be able to be a member of a management team.

Rationale.

This qualification provides students with an overall understanding of Operations Management. It is intended for supervisors within an operations management environment. Learners achieving this qualification will be competent in supporting and applying operations management strategies and tools, systems and techniques in the manufacturing and service management environment.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

The Institutional Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy and procedures are followed. Learners who do not meet entry requirements can apply for access to the qualification through RPL against a module, or part/full qualification for learning obtained through formal, informal and non-formal learning. Learners need to submit a Portfolio of Evidence which will be internally assessed. Credits may be awarded based on the assessment results and learners have the opportunity to appeal against the assessment result where credits were not awarded.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement is

• National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4.

This qualification comprises of compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 5 and 6 totalling at 362 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 126 Credits

• Workplace Dynamics 1.2, 10 Credits.
• Information and Communication Technology(ICT) Skills 1, 10 Credits.
• Mathematics 1, 10 Credits.
• Applied Communication Skills 1.2, 8 Credits.
• Applied Communication Skills 1.1, 8 Credits.
• Quality Management 1, 10 Credits.
• Manufacturing Technology 1.2, 10 Credits.
• Organisational Effectiveness 1.1, 10 Credits.
• Manufacturing Technology 1.1, 10 Credits.
• Organisational Effectiveness 1.2, 10 Credits.
• Workplace Dynamics 1.1, 10 Credits.
• Costing and Estimating 1.1, 10 Credits.
• Costing and Estimating 1.2, 10 Credits.

Electives Modules, Level 5, 10 Credits

• Programming 1, 10 Credits.
• Labour Law 1.1, 15 Credits.
• Physics 1, 10 Credits.
• Engineering Chemistry 1, 10 Credits.
• Physics 2, 10 Credits.
• Engineering Chemistry 2, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 216 Credits

• Operations Management 1.2, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management 1.1, 10 Credits.
• Applied Communication Skills 2.2, 8 Credits.
• Applied Communication Skills 2.1, 8 Credits.
• Statistics 1.1, 10 Credits.
• Organisational Effectiveness 2.2, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management 2.1, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management 2.2, 10 Credits.
• Quality Assurance 2, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management Techniques 2, 10 Credits.
• Organisational Effectiveness 2.1, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management Techniques 3, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management 3.1, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management Practice 1, 60 Credits.
• Organisational Effectiveness 3, 10 Credits.
• Industrial Leadership 3, 10 Credits.
• Operations Management Technology 3, 10 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 10 Credits

• Maintenance Engineering 2, 10 Credits.
• Programming 2, 10 Credits.
• Manufacturing Engineering 2, 10 Credits.

1.Manage some of the resources in the manufacturing or service environment.

1. Apply management science principles, techniques, tools and systems in working environment.
2. Apply optimising techniques in the operations and services of an organisation.
3. Solve well defined operations management problems.
4. Apply scientific, production and operations knowledge.
5. Perform project management designs.
6. Conduct investigations, experiments and collate data analysis.
7. Use appropriate operations management methods, skills, tools and information technology.
8. Communicate technical information in a professional manner.
9. Demonstrate critical awareness of the impact of the operations management activity. Effectively working as an individual and in teams.
10. Engage in independent learning.
11. Act professionally and ethically at all times.
12. Engage in operations practice via work-integrated learning.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome

• Manage resources in the manufacturing or service environments.
• Apply management science principles, techniques, tools and systems in working environment with regard to: manpower management, financial management, materials resource management, maintenance management, quality management, human resource management and product management.
• Demonstrate the ability to manage a section or small department in the manufacturing or service environment.
• Apply quality management techniques in the manufacturing or service environment.
• Apply production and operations management advanced tools and techniques to make management proposals using such as multidimensional linear programming, duality theory, matrix algebra, integer programming, dynamic programming, and maintenance analysis and quality tools.
• Make management proposals using systems analysis and design, performance improvement programs and organisational development.
• Apply advanced technology design parameters for management proposals using appropriate operations management tools and techniques.

Integrated Assessment.

Both formative and summative assessments are integral components of all modules within the qualification and have application to both traditional summative and continuous assessment, ensuring overall applied competence. All teaching and learning activities in the qualification are aligned to the assessment approach of the individual modules indicating a constructive alignment approach in the design of the qualification. The assessment activities form an integral part of the teaching and learning process and are systematically and purposefully used to generate data for grading. Timely feedback provided to the learners form part of the assessment strategy of the institution and is used to inform teaching and learning and to improve the curriculum. Learning outcomes in all modules give an indication as to what will be assessed in the module and thus ensures constructive alignment of the modules within the qualification.