CNC Qualifications

The development of CNC Production Machining Qualifications Level 2 - 5

This page contains the links to the 

• workshop reports
• development work

This work has been commissioned by the SGB for Manufacturing and Assembly Processes and funded by MERSETA.

The Level 2, 3 and 4 have already been registered as of 9 February, the Level 5 qualification was approved for registration on 22 February 2007. The NLRD numbers will link you directly to the SAQA website, but please allow a week or so for the SAQA website to update itself.

It only remains for us to thank all those who contributed to the development of these qualifications. For some it has been a long and hard road, some 8 years in all.

I have briefly summarized the journey – the CNC Odyssey. I will not post it on the website. Should you want a copy please email me.

A late twist in the tail

A consultant panel member has motivated for the withdrawal of the CNC suite of qualifications. SAQA officials however, agreed these qualifications represent a new career path agreed to by the industry or users of these qualifications and that they should run for the three year period after which uptake feedback could be looked at.

I have been requested to responds to the recommendation and the detailed comments. The Director of Standards Setting and development would then take up the matter with the person concerned.

I won’t be uploading the documents concerned but if anyone wants to copies please e-mail me

Communication received from the Co-ordinator Field 06:

"SAQA Qualifications and Standards ( Q & S) Subcommittee of the 26 January 2007 has recommended a suite of CNC production machining qualifications from NQF Levels 2 to 5 for the SAQA EXCO. It is estimated that the qualifications would be registered by the SAQA Authority of the 21 February 2007.

I'll communicate the Authority feedback to the SGB at least by the 23 February 2007."

The burning of weekend oil paid off.

Submitted to SAQA:

1. Response to comments by consultative panel
2. Revised unit standards - now deleted

SAQA officials agreed, in view of the rapid response, to table the level 2, 3 and 4 qualifications at the Qualifications and Standards Sub-committee on 23 February 2007.

The unit standards were edited. WE tightened up on perceived repetition of assessment criteria as well as splitting some of the more complex assessment criteria into smaller ones. There were no substantive changes.

If approved by the Q&S Sub-Committee we are still on track for registration in February 2007

Level 2, 3 and 4 were tabled for comment at a Consultative Panel meeting.

SAQA staff agreed to hold back the the qualification pending clarification of the need for the qualifications and addressing of quality issues in the unit standards

Published for comment:

Qualification

Unit standards

Details of this qualification and unit standards are available on the qualifications and unit standards database.

Comment should reach SAQA at the address below and no later than 19 February 2007.All correspondence should be marked Standards Setting – Manufacturing and Assembly Processes addressed to

1. SAQA staff has readied the qualifications for publication in the government gazette in the week (18 - 22 November)

2. The documents were being readied for tabling at the SAQA Qualifications and Standards Sub-committee on 23 January 2007.

3. If there were no problems they would be submitted to the authority for registration on 17 February 2007

Published for comment:

Unit standards

Details of these qualifications and unit standards are available on the qualifications and unit standards database.

Comment should reach SAQA at the address below and no later than 23 December 2006. All correspondence should be marked Standards Setting – SGB for Chemical Industries and addressed to

The revised submission has been uploaded. Now removed

We received comments from SAQA - we will make the changes and send the documents out to interested parties for approval.

The final submission documents have been uploaded. Now removed

The Qualifications for CNC Production Machining were presented to the MAP SGB yesterday.

They have been approved for submission with the following corrections:

1. The NQF level 3 unit standard title Set up equipment and start the manufacturing process has been renamed Set up and start CNC machining processes
2. The credits have been adjusted downwards from 19 to 14
3. The NQF Level 3 qualification has had a similar downward adjustment of credits from 132 - 127
4. I have also seeded the qualifications and unit standards in the appropriate places with the requirement for systematic problem identification and solving, problem solving techniques such as 8D TOPS etc based on the comments I received
5. Minor editing changes

I made the changes without any further consultation, since the changes did not have substantive effect on the qualifications. If users find that the credits are short then they can be adjusted upwards on review.

The edited documents have been prepared for submission to SAQA and will be delivered during next week. Don't expect a speedy registration process: Qualifications I submitted in December 2005 have not yet passed the first hurdle - the technical review. SAQA has developed some significant bottle necks. Between Zack Mazibuko and myself we will keep the pressure up to get them to move things along.

The submission documents have been uploaded. Now removed

The revised drafts have been uploaded for comment. Click here >> to download. Now removed

The date of the next workshop 8 and 9 February 2006

Proceedings from the first workshop

• (now removed)

The dates for this working group are:

• 8 and 9 June 2005
• 29 and 30 June 2005
• 13 and 14 July 2005

Should we need another session we would hold it on 27 and 28 July 2005