Higher Occupational Certificate: Organisation and Methods Analyst (Work Study Officer)

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Work Study Officer.

A Work Study Officer maintains optimal operational systems and sequence of events, procedures, audit control and quality check mechanisms to continuously improve productivity, methods, and processes and apply work-study techniques to establish reasons for substandard efficiencies.

A qualified learner will be able to

• Maintain optimal operational methods (best method) and sequence (flow) of operations of a production process so that the company remain competitive in the market and monitor control mechanisms at regular intervals to maintain performances.
• Improve standards of an operation by applying internationally accepted work-study and ergonomic protocols and work measurement techniques and establish reasons for substandard efficiencies related to machine downtime, breakage and stoppage.
• Allocate machine operators and machines per operation considering the skills set of the machine operator for effective line balancing.

Rationale

Work study is relevant to various industries and has been used extensively in manufacturing. It is applied to determine the best method and correct time to complete a task in the workplace and can be used to reduce and control costs, improve working conditions and the environment and motivate employees. Work study results in an overall improvement of productivity and supports lean manufacturing and best practices.

Typical learners who would enter this qualification would include job seekers and or learners who have completed their schooling and want to pursue a career within the related sectors.

In addition, learners currently employed as Work Study Officers, Production Managers and other related industry personnel seeking to acquire a formal qualification within their occupational field would benefit from entering this qualification.

Learners achieving this qualification will be able to apply systematic recording and critical examination of how tasks are completed to find the most efficient method in terms of time and effort and suggest improvements.

Learners who are employed in various sectors in operations, production and supervision. It will enable those unemployed to be better positioned to enter the job market.

Competent learners at the community level could find employment in various industries, especially the manufacturing industry, as work study officers, time and method analysts, and industry analysts in multiple organisations, which includes but is not limited to clothing manufacturing, textile manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, forestry, wood products and pulp and paper production, etc. Employers will benefit from the value added by the work study officers by integrating optimised systems and more efficient and effective production activities, thereby increasingly becoming more competitive in the global market. Various sectors will benefit from potential cost-saving implications if the techniques and lean processes associated with Work Study are implemented. Through eliminating waste and unnecessary operations, organisations would benefit from improved profitability at the manufacturing level. Furthermore, a Higher Occupational Certificate in Work Study, whilst ensuring higher levels of productivity, will provide additional benefits in terms of improved working conditions for employees within a particular sector.

Raised profitability levels equate to a more significant contribution toward the income tax payable by organisations. Greater taxable earnings benefit the government and the economy. Government would have a more excellent pool of resources to utilise to improve services and service delivery in areas such as education, hospital services, and infrastructural development, to name but a few. Opportunities for the creation of jobs which would assist in alleviating unemployment would see the economy strengthening. In addition, to which, the Higher Occupational Certificate in Work Study would help with the development of an Occupation that is in High Demand, and in so doing, affording organisations the opportunity of contributing toward more incredible sustainable economic growth.

With reduced waste at its core, implementing Work Study techniques and practices will further benefit society and its consumers by providing quality products and services delivered on-time and in-full. With an emphasis on lean manufacturing principles, Work Study will help reduce societal waste. This Higher Occupational Certificate would ensure that learners entering the qualification are able to develop their skills set to organise the resources within the business for enhancement of productivity.

There are no other Work Study Officer Qualifications registered. Regarding similar qualifications that may be registered on the National Qualifications Framework, the following is noted: This particular Work Study Officer qualification has been developed in response to an industry-wide need, cutting across several sectors, including clothing, textile, footwear, leather, forestry and furniture. It specifically focuses on the core principles within the Work Study field, with a critical component being directed toward the uptake and transference of practical skills within the workplace environment. To date, related industries have been implementing Work Study programmes that are non-credit bearing, given that there are no other formally registered qualifications with a specific focus on productivity and quality improvement practices and procedures. This qualification would allow learners to gain a recognised officially Higher Occupational Certificate as a Work Study Officer, which has yet to be available.

It should be noted that the Higher Occupational Certificate Work Study Officer needs to meet the requirements for professional registration, membership or licence as required by recognised professional bodies.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for Access to the Qualification

Learners may use the RPL process to gain access to training opportunities for a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme if they do not meet the formal, minimum entry requirements for admission. RPL assessment provides an alternative access route into a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme.

Such an RPL assessment may be developed, moderated, and conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider which offers that specific qualification/part qualification/skills programme. Such an assessment must ensure that the learner is able to display the equivalent level of competencies required for access, based on the NQF level descriptors.

RPL for Exemption

For exemption from modules through RPL, learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification, or skills programme through any means of formal, informal, or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

RPL for awarding credits

Learners who have gained the stipulated competencies of the modules of a programme of learning, qualification, part-qualification or skills programme through any means of formal, informal or non-formal learning and/or work experience, may be awarded credits towards relevant modules, and gaps identified for training, which is then concluded.

A valid Statement of Results is required for admission to the EISA in which confirmation of achievement is provided that all internal assessment criteria for all modules in the related curriculum document have been achieved.

For a Skills Programme, the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP) must ensure all modular competency requirements are met prior to the FISA and keep record of such evidence.

Upon successful completion of the EISA/FISA, RPL learners will be issued with the QCTO certificate for the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme. Quality Partners are responsible for ensuring the RPL mechanism and process for qualifications and part-qualification is approved by the QCTO.

Entry Requirements

• NQF Level 3 with mathematical literacy and communication or practical experience of five years in a production environment.

This qualification is made up of compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skill and Work Experience Modules

Knowledge Modules

• 242102-001-00-KM-01- Work Study in the Workplace, Level 5, 4 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-KM-02- Introduction to Work Study and Productivity, Level 5, 8 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-KM-03- Work Study Principles and Methodology, Level 5, 30 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-KM-04- Work Study Information Gathering, Recording and Report Writing, Level 5, 8 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-KM-05- Time Study Principles and Techniques, Level 4, 11 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 61

Practical Skill Modules

• 242102-001-00-PM-01- Determine best Methods for Operations by conducting Time and method Studies, Level 5, 20 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-PM-02- Apply control Mechanisms at regular intervals to monitor performances, Level 5, 3 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-PM-03- Identify Opportunities to improve Worker/Operator efficiency by conducting Time and Motion Studies, Level 5, 15 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-PM-04- Conduct Root cause Analysis to improve Productivity, NQF Level 5, 5 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-PM-05- Balance (work) Flow in the Production area to Deliver within targets and timelines, NQF Level 5, 3 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-PM-06- Conduct basic time studies to determine productivity, Level 4, 6 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 52

Work Experience Modules

• 242102-001-00-WM-01- Optimal Operational Methods through Work Study, NQF Level 5, 40 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-WM-02- Operation Standards and Process Improvement, NQF Level 5, 30 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-WM-03- Line/System Balancing and Manning/Staff Compliment, NQF Level 5, 10 Credits.
• 242102-001-00-WM-04- Time and Method Study Operations, NQF Level 4, 18 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 98

1. Establish optimal operational methods by conducting time and method studies.
2. Develop operation standards (operation standard minute value) by applying company systems.
3. Apply work measurement techniques and determine the work content (minutes) to produce a product/unit.
4. Determine the number of machine operators per operation and allocate resources (person, power and equipment) considering the skills set of the operator to balance the line/system smoothly.
5. Monitor operations to maintain quantity and quality standards and address deviations from the method or standard.
6. Conduct a root cause analysis by applying work study techniques to establish reasons for substandard efficiencies.
7. Apply time study principles and techniques to measure production and efficiency.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Determine the best and easiest method to finish the operation to for best quality and quantity.
• Identify and observe a range of production operations are recognised.
• Analyse and improve work layout at work station is observed.
• Sequence the flow of operations of a process, and the production line/system is set up to ensure optimal productivity for optimal competitiveness.
• Calculate and analyse labour costing to improve cost-effectiveness.
• Apply method study techniques to improve productivity.
• Operation targets are set by doing method and time studies to achieve optimum performance.
• Conduct line/system balancing by ensuring all operations are balanced to ensure correct working levels are maintained.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Conduct and compare ratings of operator performance with standards to determine the operator's efficiency.
• Analyse and time standards are set by the method and analysing historical data and benchmarking according to international standards.
• Cost each operation in terms of labour content.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Accurately perform time and motion studies.
• Construct a work plan indicating a logical sequence of operations to determine the layout of the production line.
• Compile a labour breakdown to determine the number of operators and number of machines and machine types per operation required.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Perform line/system balancing by considering operational constraints, such as resource availability, required output and efficiency.
• Conduct workplace/site layouts by applying ergonomic principles to achieve optimal output.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Perform efficiency evaluations using measurement inputs obtained from score sheets/cards calculating information vs output.
• Perform operator boostings to motivate operators and address deviations from the required quality and quantity standard(s).
• Perform a skills gap analysis to increase the capacity potential.
• Determine output and capacity per operator and address variances and deviations to optimise outputs.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Determine troubleshooting tools are utilised, i.e. fishbone diagram and questioning technique, the root cause of substandard efficiencies.
• Production studies are performed to prove the standard time per operation and highlight any other problems.
• Recommend suitable corrective measures address deviations.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Time existing methods/operations using a decimal stopwatch.
• Apply calculations to work out production targets.
• Estimate the completion time of operations.
• Apply manning principles to achieve optimum production.
• Perform boostings to improve individual production and performance.
• Observe operations to recognise if the correct method is being used.
• Check and verify levels of performance.
• Estimate the skill level of a machine operator.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Formative assessment

Formative Assessments conducted internally

Formative assessments are conducted throughout the training of learners. A range of formal, non-formal, and informal ongoing assessment activities are used to focus on teaching and learning outcomes to improve learner attainment.

Formative assessments are conducted continuously by the facilitator to feed into further learning, to identify strengths and weakness, and to ensure the learner's ability to apply knowledge, skills and workplace experience gained.

Formative Assessments are conducted by the accredited Skills Development Provider (SDP), and a variety of ongoing assessment methods may be used, for example, quizzes, assignments, tests, scenarios, role play, interviews. Continuous feedback must be provided.

Integrated Summative Assessment

Integrated Assessment involves all the different types of assessment tasks required for a particular qualification, part-qualification or occupational skills programme, such as written assessment of theory and practical demonstration of competence. To achieve this, the Internal Assessment Criteria (IAC) for all modules as found in the QCTO curriculum document must be followed.

An accredited SDP should implement a well-designed, formal, relevant, final internal Summative Assessment strategy for all modules to prepare learners for the EISA. These assessments evaluate learning achievements relating to the achievement of each module of the relevant components of the qualification, part-qualification or skills programme.

Internal Summative Assessments are developed, moderated and conducted by the SDP at the end of each module or after integration of relevant modules, e.g. applied knowledge tests, workplace tasks, practical demonstrations, simulated tasks/demonstrations, projects, case studies, etc.

The results of these final formal summative assessments must be recorded. These results, which include the Statement of Work Experience results, where applicable, contribute to the Statement of Results (SoR) that is a requirement for admission to the EISA. An SoR, using the template provided by the Quality Partner, is issued by the accredited SDP for qualifications and part-qualifications. The SDP must produce a valid Statement of Results for each learner, indicating the final result and the date on which the competence in each module, of each component, was achieved. Learners are required to produce this SoR, together with their ID document or alternative ID document, at the point of the EISA.