Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Practice

Purpose

The Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Practice offers students a considered and thoughtful entry-level higher education qualification with a strong industry (vocational) oriented focus. It serves to provide students with the requisite introductory knowledge, cognitive and conceptual tools and practical competences for higher education studies as well as professional-occupational practice in the interrelated sub-fields of logistics and material management.

It prepares individuals to manage and coordinate all logistical and supply chain functions in an enterprise, ranging from acquisitions, to receiving and handling, through internal allocation of resources, to operations, to the handling and delivery of outputs. It covers not only the basic principles, but also the activities incumbent to an entry level logistics and supply chain manager as well as an oversight on the utilisation of resources. It also addresses the relationship between procurement and logistics management as an integrated system of supply chain management. Includes instruction in the principles of supply chain management; stock control and inventory management; principles of logistics management; basic accounting, business management; effective communication and the management of information in a digital office environment.

This qualification will develop the foundational skills and competencies required for task and people management including procurement, make or buy decisions, negotiation, stock and inventory management, stores administration, effective planning, organising and control, communication and sustainable reverse logistics and supply chain management. Management skills are contextualised for the supply chain environment ensuring the ability to meet industry and operational expectations and requirements.

Therefore, the learning qualification design balances the need for occupational specialisation with the requirement to extend students' occupational capacity beyond a single area of competency thereby providing broader opportunities for eventual employment and/or life-long learning.

Rationale

South African school leavers are not aware of logistics or supply chain management opportunities. Limited exposure to the field and lack of information at school level means many students are not aware of this crucial industry that encompasses a wide range of disciplines and career opportunities.

The qualification is a response to the workplace need for competent individuals across the industry. The current and future need for competent entry and junior practitioners, supervisors and management has been expressed by employers and employees. The skills, knowledge, attitudes and values required by Logistics and Supply Chain Management practitioners are captured in this qualification while remaining, to a certain degree a generalist qualification for the field of practice rather than a specialist qualification, by offering good breadth on the important topics combined with appropriate occupational and professional depth for its intended purpose.

Part of the rationale for this qualification is shared by all other distance mode qualifications available in the higher education band and includes:

• Providing access to students unable to attend classes at fixed times or centralised venues.
• Cost-effectiveness in relation to individual module costs and the ability to pace their progression in keeping with their life-world.
• The potential to produce quality teaching and learning resources that are significantly more 'durable' than the classroom experience and that contribute to the body of knowledge and material to support the teaching and learning exchange.

The qualification also provides exciting career opportunities in the manufacturing, wholesale, retail, shipping, government, non-governmental, distributing companies in various capacities for example:

• Logistics and Supply Chain Practitioner.
• Transport Officer.
• Supply Chain Consultant.
• Assistant Procurement Manager.
• Inventory and Material Controller.
• Operations Demand/Supply Officer.
• Assistant Production Manager.
• Stores Administration.
• Assistant Warehouse Administrator.
• Distribution Centre Supervisors.
• International Logistics Officer.
• Distribution Clerk.
• Quality Controller.
• Bookkeeper.
• Merchandise and Retail Clerk.
• Customer Relations Administrator.

While this qualification has specified a qualifier (Logistics and Supply Chain Management Practice) it remains a generalist qualification for these fields of practice rather than a specialist qualification. That is to say, it offers good breadth of coverage combined with appropriate occupational and professional depth (for its intended purpose) for the fields of Logistics and Supply Chain Management within a strongly bound commercial framework and context.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners may provide evidence of prior learning for which they may receive credit towards the qualification by means of portfolios or other forms of appropriate evidence which may include, verified accounts of previous relevant work done and performance records and which evidence is in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Quality Council.

Students who do not meet the minimum entry requirements of the Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management may be granted access through the institution's Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

Entry Requirements

Access to the Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Practice is granted to all applicants who meet the minimum statutory entrance requirements or who follow the available alternative route of entry. Applicants who are in possession of a:

• National Senior Certificate (NSC) which grants admission to Higher Certificate study, with English as one of the subjects passed.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational) (NC(V)) which grants admission to Higher Certificate study, with English as one of the subjects passed.

Or

• Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) Level 4 in Logistics and Supply Chain Management or similar qualification.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at Level 5 totalling 124 Credits.

• Computer Literacy 1, 8 Credits.
• Computer Literacy 2, 8 Credits.
• Principles of Procurement and Supply Chain, 25 Credits.
• Business Management 1, 16 Credits.
• Business Communication, 5 Credits.
• Basic Accounting, 16 Credits.
• Stock Control and Inventory Management, 16 Credits.
• Principles of Logistics Management, 16 Credits.
• Experiential Learning-Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (HLSCM), 14 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an informed understanding of and contribution to the strategic role of logistics and supply chain management in achieving sustainable enterprise-wide strategic objectives and the bottom line.
2. Understand the implications of stores accounting, value analysis/engineering in the reduction and possible elimination of total cost of operations in an organisation.
3. Apply different stock and materials management techniques in order to offer the best service to both internal and external customers/consumers.
4. Demonstrate an informed understanding of the different sources of vendor (supplier) information essential to a logistics and supply chain practitioner.
5. Effective and efficient management of different flows of products/goods, information and money that circulate within the chain, between suppliers and the end customers in digital office.
6. Apply logistics and procurement policies and procedures to determine, forecast and make available the right quantity of right quality products at the right place and time in right condition in a digital office.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Discuss the strategic role of logistics and supply chain management within the organisation and its contribution towards the achievement the enterprise's strategic objectives.
• Describe the status of procurement and supply management within the business environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply basic principles of accounting to account for the enterprise's resources.
• Describe the importance of financial information as a basis for decision making.
• Discuss the different users of financial information and their needs.
• Understand the importance of value management, engineering and analysis.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Discuss the scope and aims of inventory management.
• Utilise stock control techniques to determine the economics of inventory management.
• Analyse the nature of demand and supply management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify and describe sources of vendor (supplier) information and utilise it in vendor/supplier selection, rating and appraisal. Understand the need having logistics and supply chain policies and procedures in place.
• Discuss the reasons for establishing a supplier database.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Discuss how to integrate vertically between the various stages involved in creating a manufacturing strategy, and horizontally between the various business functions, product profiles, logistical concepts and production streams.
• Describe and provide examples of how an integrated and aligned operations strategy may lead to sustainable competitive advantage.
• Identify logistics and supply chain management's primary and secondary activities in the value chain.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Discuss electronic data interchange (EDI) and its uses in logistics and materials management.
• Describe the importance of collaborative business relationships and its associated formation.
• Explain the importance of managing relationship breakdowns and related matters.
• Analyse the role of a procurement specialist and the essentials of commercial law of contract.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Apply the management functions of planning, organising, and execution to effectively and efficiently control the flow and storage of goods and services, and related information from point of origin to point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirement.
• Explain the role of managers in modern organisations.
• Demonstrate an understanding of communication, the process of negotiation and how to manage conflict in an organisation.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessment integrates the cycle of teaching and learning, and assessment. Study guides and texts contain self-assessment exercises. The scheme of work includes formal assessments in the form of tests and/or assignments based on the learning material and students are graded and provided written feedback. The process is continuous and focuses on smaller sections of the work and limited in the number of outcomes assessed.

Summative Assessments are in the form of proctored examinations, or equivalent assessment such as a research report which assesses a representative selection of the outcomes practised and assessed in the formative stage. Summative Assessment also tests the student's ability to manage and integrate a large body of knowledge to achieve the stated outcomes of a full course.