Higher Certificate in Logistics Management

Purpose

The Higher Certificate in Logistics Management will equip learners with logistics management skills to work at an entry-level in a business and industry. Qualifying learners will acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to operate in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing businesses.

The qualification provides learners who are already in the manufacturing industry or wish to find employment in the manufacturing industry, with the knowledge of the principles, concepts and techniques that underlie the disciplines necessary for effective management of the business system. The qualification will improve the learner's efficiency and effectiveness, which are key components in a general business or manufacturing environment for ensuring that the organisation runs smoothly. This contributes to higher productivity and improved service delivery. A qualifying learner will be a well-rounded practitioner with foundational technical skills in management, administration, planning and organisation.

The qualifying learner will develop foundational knowledge and requisite competencies in logistics management, which can be applied to the business environment. Learners will obtain exposure to communication, information systems, management, administration, logistics management, supply chain management, purchasing, operations management, quality, and project management. Training for this qualification is both theoretical and practical. It allows learners to grasp fundamental knowledge of the workings of various Logistics Management methods, approaches, and tools in the modern work environment. The qualification ensures a high degree of portability and enables learners to enter multiple job roles and careers in their quest to meet individual and organisational requirements.

Rationale

In all spheres of business and industry, logistics management has arisen as a key skill for managers, administrators, supervisors, and staff in general. Logistics management is used across business functions of organisations from manufacturing and the service industry and applies to many types and entities of businesses and organisations.

Statistics available from the National List of Occupations in High Demand (2018) lists Production managers and supervisors, Supply and Distribution Managers, Logistics Managers, Fleet Managers, Warehouse Managers and Transport Managers at the highest level of scarcity of occupations.

The current skills deficit across all sectors means that there is a great need for staff that are qualified and able to perform across the key areas of logistics, warehousing, freight, production, operations, quality and project management. Employees must be equipped with skills and knowledge that are key to the transformation of the South African economy and that they are able to contribute to the positive performance of their employers. The proposed qualification is highly relevant and required in today's business world as it focuses on what is required, thus allowing students to contribute to regional and national goals by facilitating capacity building and human resource development.

The skills, knowledge and understanding demonstrated within this qualification are essential for social and economic transformation and contribute to the upliftment and economic growth within the business sector. Learners will be able to obtain employment in a range of entry-level logistics management and administrative positions including office administration and related positions such as operations management, quality management, supply chain management and quality and to support managers and supervisors in logistics management tasks and activities.

This qualification has been designed and developed to make a positive contribution to the South African economy by providing an opportunity for the education and training of logistics management practitioners as well as for managers and administrators across all sectors of business and commerce.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy applicable to equivalent qualifications for admission into the qualification. RPL will be applied to accommodate applicants who qualify. RPL thus provides alternative access and admission to qualifications, as well as advancement within qualifications. RPL may be applied for access, credits from modules and credits for or towards the qualification.

RPL for access

• Learners who do not meet the minimum entrance requirements or the required qualification that is at the same NQF level as the qualification required for admission may be considered for admission through RPL.
• To be considered for admission in the qualification based on RPL, applicants should provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that they have acquired the relevant knowledge, skills, and competencies through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to cope with the qualification expectations.

RPL for exemption of modules

• Learners may apply for RPL to be exempted from modules that form part of the qualification. For a learner to be exempted from a module, the learner needs to provide sufficient evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates that competency was achieved for the learning outcomes that are equivalent to the learning outcomes of the module.

RPL for credit

• Learners may also apply for RPL for credit for or towards the qualification, in which they must provide evidence in the form of a portfolio that demonstrates prior learning through formal, non-formal and/or informal learning to obtain credits towards the qualification.
• Credit shall be appropriate to the context in which it is awarded and accepted.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to a Higher Certificate study.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate Studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 132 Credits.

Compulsory Modules,132 Credits

• Computing for Logistics Managers, 12 Credits.
• Business Communication, 12 Credits.
• Business Management Fundamentals, 16 Credits.
• Logistics Management, 16 Credits.
• Logistics Purchasing Management, 16 Credits.
• Supply Chain Management, 12 Credits.
• Quality Management Basics, 8 Credits.
• Project Management Basics, 8 Credits.
• Operations Management Fundamentals, 16 Credits.
• Logistics Management Practice, 16 Credits.

1. Communicate effectively, using various modes of accessing and communicating information to achieve business goals and objectives.
2. Demonstrate the use of information systems and technical knowledge to support the completion of business processes for Logistics Management and to understand the role of software, hardware, and equipment.
3. Apply management theories, models and approaches and key business functions that inform decision making and planning within a business
4. Evaluate and apply logistics management theories, concepts, approaches, techniques, and tools in the business environment
5. Apply logistics purchasing management theories, concepts, processes, and approaches in the business environment.
6. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the logistics and supply chain management discipline and how it relates to other disciplines, including an understanding of and the ability to apply key terms, concepts, facts, principles, and theories to unfamiliar contexts.
7. Apply project management concepts, theories, and procedures to enhance effectiveness and improve efficiencies within a business.
8. Implement operations and quality management theories, tools, techniques, and procedures that enable effective decision making and planning within a business.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Use a variety of communication technologies to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Use appropriate style and language to communicate coherently and concisely with stakeholders in the work environment.
• Apply appropriate communication skills to interact with culturally diverse colleagues and customers.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Describe, explain, and discuss information systems.
• Discuss the purpose and use of business computing equipment and devices.
• Demonstrate the use of:

>> Computer hardware, software applications, office software to complete business tasks.

>> The Internet to complete business tasks is demonstrated.

>> Operations management software in business contexts.

>> Quality management software in business contexts.

>> Project management software in business contexts.

>> Describe and demonstrate social media applications.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Describe and explain the elements and components of various organizational types.
• Discuss organisational types, models, organisational cultures, leadership, and management styles.
• Discuss planning, leadership, organising, motivating, and controlling as business activities and functions of managers.
• Describe the basic human resource legislation and regulations.
• Explain routine human resource operations (recruitment, selection, retention, and IR)
• Explain human resource management models, approaches, and the fundamental accounting terms.
• Describe accounting documentation (ledgers, journals, source documents).
• Explain accounting processes, accounting cycle and transactions.
• Describe accounting legal requirements.
• Use inventory recording techniques.
• Describe the different approaches to recording trading inventory.
• Demonstrate the ability to process large volumes of data.
• Undertake the financial transactions, closing entries and accounting output.
• Analyse and interpret financial statements.
• Explain the accounting entities.
• Apply the accounting equation method, statement of net worth and cashbook summary.
• Explain the basic marketing terms.
• Describe the marketing approaches and marketing legal requirements.
• Discuss the personal selling and advertising principles.
• Explain the marketing competition using Porter's model.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Explain and discuss current issues affecting the SA workplace.
• Identify and assess the methods that can be used to plan optimal transport systems within a business or organisation.
• Explain and discuss the transport function.
• Describe, explain, discuss, and apply the logistics function.
• Plan a route and schedule.
• Identify regulations in freight logistics and describe their value.
• Explore and apply the legislation of freight care management.
• Explain, discuss, and apply the control to be exercised in the logistics chain.
• Describe, explain, and discuss freight handling.
• Analyse insurance within freight handling.
• Explain, discuss, and apply maintenance and improvement of the quality of the logistics service.
• Describe, explain, and discuss freight logistics regulations.
• Explain and practice freight handling techniques and activities.
• Discuss and design practical and planned housekeeping within a warehouse.
• Explore and apply the key activities performed in a warehouse within its own context.
• Describe, explain, and discuss the selection and preparation of space according to product type, quantity, and size.
• Describe, explain, and discuss ergonomic aspects of efficient warehousing, and discuss the selection and preparation of storage space within a warehouse.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Discuss the history of ethics, morals, and beliefs.
• Explain, describe, and discuss the concept of corporate governance, ethical and professional standards.
• Examine legal issues and considerations required for world-class logistics management.
• Explain, describe, and discuss risk management, control, and corporate fraud.
• Exercise social responsibility and consider human rights.
• Explain, describe, and discuss the importance of demand to the purchasing function.
• Discuss principles and processes of purchasing management within a business context
• Analyse the nature of planning and control of capacity to meet demand.
• Explain, describe, and discuss production planning, scheduling, graphical representation of numerical data,
• Explain, describe, and discuss the time value of money in financial decision-making, and data using tables and charts.
• Perform probability and simple calculations.
• Discuss and apply relationship management strategies and processes within own context.
• Analyse the types and value of relationships to logistics management and procurement functions.
• Examine and apply the various aspects of relationship management and its interface with the business.
• Analyse, identify and explain the important principles and concepts of cost analysis.
• Explain, describe, and discuss purchasing and general management in cost analysis decision-making.
• Plan and implement cost analysis processes that add value to the organisation - cost reductions, continuous improvement and value-adding exercises.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Explain and discuss theories, concepts, models, approaches, and general principles of Supply Change Management.
• Ability to consider modern trends in Supply Change Management.
• Discuss the challenges and critical issues in applying the principles and theories of Supply Change Management.
• Identify and discuss current and future Supply Change Management skills and challenges within national and international frameworks.
• Identify and discuss the contribution of Supply Change Management in relation to the business impact and benefits to society and the economy.
• Describe, explain, and discuss the various methods that can be used to measure supply chain cost, service, profit, and revenue.
• Discuss transportation management strategies.
• Discuss and apply various types of supply chain modelling approaches and strategies.
• Explain, discuss, and apply relevant business systems within the logistics and supply chain environment.
• Identify, explain, discuss, and apply Information systems and technology knowledge to logistics and supply chain processes and scenarios.
• Discuss the importance of logistics channel strategy and network design.
• Discuss the importance of contract management in logistics and supply chain management activities.
• Discuss the role Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) plays in logistics and supply chain management.
• Explain the importance of strategic management in logistics.
• Discuss and apply knowledge of South African governmental supply chain management systems and processes.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Describe and explain project management concepts and terms.
• Explain and discuss project management theories and practices.
• Explain and discuss the keys steps and phases in the project management process.
• Discuss, plan and co-ordinate project activities.
• Identify, explain, and discuss project management tools and techniques.
• Explain, discuss, and apply project management tools in small scale projects.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Explain operations management concepts, terms, principles, theories, and practices.
• Discuss and apply production and operations management knowledge and skills in the manufacturing and service environment.
• Describe, explain, and discuss the purpose and application of product and service design.
• Discuss, analyse, and evaluate available product layouts for approval.
• Explain, discuss, and perform layout analysis and planning.
• Define and discuss quality and the origins of quality management systems.
• Explain the differences between quality assurance, quality control and quality management in businesses and organizations.
• Describe, explain, and discuss the quality cycle.
• Discuss the main characteristics of current quality models.
• Identify and apply TQM tools are explained, described, identified, discussed, and applied.