Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Operations Management is to equip learners with the ability to integrate the central areas of operations management with high-level computer systems in order to maximise decision making in the manufacturing and service industry. Qualifying learners will be able to conduct research pertaining to all operational tasks such as capacity planning, inventory/materials management, scheduling, and application of quantitative techniques, forecasting, and quality control.

The qualification is also intended to prepare learners for further Postgraduate studies and it articulates with the Master of Management Sciences in Operations Management qualification. The Exit Level Outcomes have been structured to align them to the purpose of the qualification in that the relevant use of technology and the outcomes related to entrepreneurial skills have been integrated in the qualification. The Research module included in this the qualification provide learners with an opportunity to pursue further learning in the field of operations management, and this is in line with the institution's mission of conducting relevant research and promoting innovation, engagement and social enterprise.

Rationale

The manufacturing industry globally and in South Africa has shown continued growth. In South Africa Manufacturing, industries have grown. The contribution of manufacturing to the economy of South African can be depicted in the steady growth of manufacturing sector to the country. The sector contributed 15.2% to South Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013, making it the third-largest contributor to the nation's economy (Statistics South Africa, 2014). It is also reported that the South African manufacturing sector is "at a crossroads" and it is time for the country to reassess its strategy. The competition within the manufacturing sector has become increasingly complex. Coupled to this are ever changing customer demands and preference.

The need to be a cut above the rest is now forceful reality. Levels of production certainties and organisational stability are fundamental requirements in increasing the reliability levels and improvement in resilience and robust performance. This qualification prepares the learners in exploring the theory, practical and principles of operations management and learn to analyse them in a range of business contexts.

The qualification will equip the learner with research based knowledge and in-depth conceptual understanding to provide an informed input in planning and decision-making. It follows a vocational stream of qualifications that builds from Diploma in Operations Management and Advanced Diploma in Operations Management. The qualifying learner would occupy positions such as operations managers, operations supervisors, operations specialists etc. in the industry.

The qualification partially fills the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate studies in this discipline. Relevant stakeholders, including academic peers from outside the institution and employers represented on Advisory Committee, were involved in the development of the qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part through the recognition of relevant prior learning, which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning through prior experience as a practitioner in the field of operations management. Providers are required to develop structured means for the assessment of individual learners against the Exit Level Outcomes of the qualification on a case-by-case basis and assessment is done by means of Integrated.

The learner will be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and support and guidance that will be provided. The necessary evidence as required by the Exit Level Outcomes, and presented by the learner, should meet the following principles: currency of evidence, sufficiency of evidence, validity of evidence and authenticity of evidence. If the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification, the appropriate credits will be assigned to the learner.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Operations Management, NQF Level 7, 120 Credits.

Or

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree, NQF Level 7, 360 Credits.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Enterprise Resource Planning V, 30 Credits.
• Manufacturing Systems Engineering V, 30 Credits.
• Advanced Research Methodology, 30 Credits.
• Simulation, 30 Credits.

1. Demonstrate the ability to integrate Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to solve problems and coordinate information in every area of the business.
2. Evaluate the manufacturing systems engineering in relation to factory models.
3. Develop a research proposal with a topic related to issues within the field of operations management.
4. Demonstrate the ability to evaluate simulation models and operations management techniques.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Historical perspectives of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are evaluated.
• The various roles and relationships between elements within a system or systems in the manufacturing and service industry are evaluated.
• The ability to develop ERP systems for operations business is demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The probability and the properties of various distributions are analysed.
• Multiple-stage single-product factory models and workstation factory models are evaluated and possible solutions are proposed.
• The relevance of network models in relation to various forms of batching are examined.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• A quality research proposal with a topic that meets the requirements for access into a Master's Degree is developed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The simulation models and operations management techniques (from planning to implementation and monitoring) are examined.
• The key ingredients of a simulation model are analysed.

Integrated Assessment

The overall assessment strategy of the institution is that of integrated assessment which is evident in the approach to the assessment of applied competence. Applied competence is understood as the learners' ability to integrate concepts, ideas and actions in authentic, real-life contexts; the assessment of which is broken down to the assessment of foundational, practical and reflexive competence.

Integrated Assessment further implies a planned combination of formative and summative assessment strategies with varying ratios, depending on the NQF level of study where: formative assessment implies being supportive to learning, non-judgmental and focused on providing constructive feedback or criticism to the learner, takes place during the learning process and informs planning of future learning activities, and: summative assessment implies assessment to be mainly concerned with "judging" if the outcomes have been achieved through the learning process and therefore usually takes place at the end of the relevant learning process. The qualification incorporates the different aspects of integrated, formative and summative assessments in its assessment strategy.