Higher Certificate in Operations Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Higher Certificate in Operations Management is to equip learners with operations 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 no 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 operating system. The qualification will improve the learner's efficiency and effectiveness, which are key components in an office and 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.

Qualifying learners will develop foundational knowledge and requisite competencies in operations management, which can be applied to the business environment. Learners will obtain exposure to communication, information systems, management, administration, operations management, quality, and project management.

This qualification will contribute to the full development of the learner within the business environment by providing recognition and further mobility within the field.

Upon completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Communicate effectively, using various modes of accessing and communicating information to achieve business goals and objectives.
• Use information systems and technical knowledge to support the completion of business processes for operations management to understand the role of software, hardware, and equipment.
• Apply management theories, models and approaches and key business functions that inform decision making and planning within a business.
• Apply operations management tools and techniques in the business environment.
• Apply project management procedures to enhance effectiveness and improve efficiencies within a business.
• Demonstrate continuous improvement through operations and quality management tools, techniques and procedures that enable effective planning within a business.

Rationale

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

Statistics available from the National List of Occupations in High Demand (2018) lists Operations and Production managers and supervisors 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 operations, production, 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 can contribute to the positive performance of their employers. The qualification is required in today's business world as it focuses on what is required, thus allowing learners to contribute to regional and national goals by facilitating capacity building and human resource development.

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 operations management practitioners as well as for managers and administrators across all sectors of business and commerce.

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. Qualifying learners will be able to obtain employment in a range of entry-level operations management and administrative positions including office administration and related positions and support managers and supervisors in operations management tasks and activities. The learners are trained to support management and administrative staff with various tasks using technological tools and facilities.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an approved Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy which is 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 should they be allowed entrance into the qualification.

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

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

Or

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

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4, granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 5 totalling 128 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5,128 Credits

• Computing for Operation Managers, 16 Credits.
• Business Communication, 12 Credits.
• Business Management Fundamentals, 16 Credits.
• Operations Management Techniques, 16 Credits.
• Quality Management Basics, 16 Credits.
• Project Management Basics, 16 Credits.
• Operations Management Fundamentals, 20 Credits.
• Operations 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 Operations 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. Apply operations management tools and techniques in the business environment.
5. Apply project management procedures to enhance effectiveness and improve efficiencies within a business.
6. Demonstrate continuous improvement through operations and quality management tools, techniques and procedures that enable effective 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 interpersonal skills to work effectively as part of a team to achieve a common outcome.
• 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.
• Manage the use of computer hardware, software applications.
• Manage the use of the office software to complete business tasks.
• Understand the use of the Internet to complete business tasks.
• Ability to use the operations management software in business contexts.
• Apply quality management and project management software in business contexts.
• Describe 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 and organisational cultures.
• Discuss leadership, management styles, 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 and accounting legal requirements. (ledgers, journals, source documents).
• Explain the basic marketing terms, accounting processes, accounting transactions and accounting cycle.
• Describe marketing approaches and marketing legal requirements.
• Discuss personal selling and advertising principles.
• Explain the 4Ps.
• Explain the marketing competition using Porter's model.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Describe and explain operations management processes and phases.
• Discuss and apply statistical measures in grouped and ungrouped datasets.
• Discuss and solve organisational problems using quantitative, mathematical, and statistical models.
• Discuss and formulate informed decision making using operations management and work-study techniques.
• Describe, discuss, analyse, and interpret patterns in data using quantitative, mathematical, and statistical techniques.
• Discuss and perform productivity improvement exercises in the workplace.
• Explain, discuss, analyse, evaluate, and solve business problems at manufacturing, processing, and service levels.
• Explain and discuss the importance and role of the human element in the application of work-study principles and techniques.
• Explain health and safety provisions in the business and work environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• 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.
• 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 6

• 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 purposes and application of product and service design.
• Discuss, analyse and evaluate available product layouts for approval.
• 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 organisations.
• Describe, explain, and discuss the quality cycle.
• Discuss the main characteristics of current quality models.
• Calculate the costs of quality.
• Identify and apply TQM tools.
• Discuss the dimensions of quality.

Integrated Assessment

Both formative and summative assessment methods will be used in the qualification using a range of assessment methods and approaches. Learners are provided with various assessment opportunities to develop and demonstrate attainment of the exit outcomes of this qualification.

The assessment approaches include

• Tests
• Assignments
• Practicals
• Workbooks
• Presentations
• Examinations
• Oral assessments

General and specific feedback will be provided after each assessment. Learner feedback will either be provided verbally or in written format within two to three weeks from the date of assessment. Opportunities for reassessment after the intervention may be provided when necessary.

Work-Integrated Learning WIL

WIL is divided into teaching and learning led laboratory assessments and workplace assessments.

• Learners will undergo practical guided evaluations during which time they will perform tasks and will be given feedback.
• Remedial activities will be done where a learner requires additional support.
• Workbooks will be kept by learners for completion during practical assignments.