Review of Industrial Machine Knitting qualifications

FIELD MANUFACTURING

Review of Industrial Machine Knitting qualifications

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Warp Preparation-Warp Knitting) (Level 2) [Ref: 0156]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Technology) (Level 4) with strands in Circular Garment-Length, Circular Piece-Goods, Flat Bed, Full-Fashioned, Full-Length Hosiery, Half-Hose, and Warp Knitting [Ref: 0159]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Circular Garment-Length) (Level 5) [Ref: 0160]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Circular Piece-Goods) (Level 5) [Ref: 0161]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Flat Bed) (Level 5) [Ref: 0162]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Flat Bed Fabric Design) (Level 5) [Ref: 0163]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Full-Fashioned) (Level 5) with strands in Design, Production, and Maintenance [Ref: 0164]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Full-Length Hosiery) (Level 5) [Ref: 0165]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Half-Hose) (Level 5) [Ref: 0166]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Operation) (Level 2) [Ref: 0838]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Knitted Goods Production) (Level 3) [Ref: 0839]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Service and Repair) (Level 3) with strands in Warp Knitting, and Weft Knitting [Ref: 0840]

The Apparel and Textiles Industry Training Organisation (ATITO) has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

New qualification

National Diploma in Industrial Machine Knitting [Ref: 1552]

Date new versions published May 2010

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2015.

Summary of review and consultation process

The qualifications listed above were reviewed as part of the ATITO's review programme. Industry feedback indicated that many of the qualifications were not being used because the industry had changed dramatically in the last few years and the existing qualifications did not meet their needs. Many sectors were no longer manufacturing, therefore many of the qualifications were not needed.

Consultation took place via email; representatives of the Industrial Knitting Sector and ATITO were involved in the review of the standards and qualifications in the Industrial Machine Knitting subfield.

The group was asked to consider the following:

· Feedback which had been received from moderation and Training Advisor feedback.

· The appropriateness of the qualifications and standards for the knitting industry of the future.

· The reasons that some qualifications were not being used.

· The accuracy and appropriateness or their content.

· Any barriers that might prevent candidates from completing the qualifications.

The Level 4 and 5 National Certificates were very sector specific and had not been used, and as a result industry did not support their retention on the NQF. A new National Diploma was developed, it is more generically focussed and recognises advanced skills and knowledge in knitted goods manufacture.

Main changes resulting from the review

· Eight qualifications were designated expiring. A new National Diploma was developed.

· Purpose statements and special notes were updated.

· Credit total for Q0156 increased from 52 to 57 credits.

· Generic standards were replaced by industry specific standards in Q0156.

· Elective standards were removed from Q0838.

· Title of Q0840 was updated.

· Strands were removed and replaced with an elective in Q0840.

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Circular Garment-Length) (Level 5) [Ref: 0160]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Circular Piece-Goods) (Level 5) [Ref: 0161]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Flat Bed) (Level 5) [Ref: 0162]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Flat Bed Fabric Design) (Level 5) [Ref: 0163]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Full-Fashioned) (Level 5) with strands in Design, Production, and Maintenance [Ref: 0164]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Full-Length Hosiery) (Level 5) [Ref: 0165]

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Advanced Technology - Half-Hose) (Level 5) [Ref: 0166]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

No candidates were ever signed into training agreements that specified the replaced qualifications. As a result there are no transition implications. All new candidates will be enrolled in programmes leading to the new qualification. The last date for assessment against the expiring qualifications is December 2011.

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Warp Preparation-Warp Knitting) (Level 2) [Ref: 0156]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· Generic standards 543, 497, 1277 and 9677 were removed from the qualification and substituted with industry specific standards 17914 and 17915.

· Standard 19841 was added to the qualification.

· The credit total for the qualification increased from 52 to 57 credits.

Transition

People currently enrolled in programmes leading to the award of earlier versions or this qualification may either complete those versions or transfer to this version. The last date for assessment against previous versions is 31 December 2011.

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Operation) (Level 2) [Ref: 0838]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· Standards17914 and 19841 were added to the qualification.

· Both elective sections were removed.

Transition

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Knitted Goods Production) (Level 3) [Ref: 0839]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

There are no transition consequences resulting from this review.

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Service and Repair) (Level 3) with strands in Warp Knitting, and Weft Knitting

National Certificate in Industrial Machine Knitting (Service and Repair) (Level 3) [Ref: 0840]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· Standard 4496 was replaced with standards 26164-26168.

· A special note was added to clarify machines to be used for assessment.

· The strands were removed and the standards have been moved to a new elective.

Transition

This qualification contains standards that replace earlier standards. For the purposes of this qualification, people who have gained credit for the expiring standards are exempt from the requirement to gain credit for the replacement standards - see table below.

Credit for	Exempt from
4496	26164, 26165, 26166, 26167, 26168

General Transition

National Diploma in Industrial Machine Knitting (Level 5) [Ref: 1552]

This is a new qualification to recognise advanced skills and knowledge in knitted goods manufacture.

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review as no candidates have ever been signed into training agreements that specifies the expiring qualifications; however, if anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Apparel and Textile Industry Training Organisation at the address below.

Apparel and Textile Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 13 210

Armagh

Christchurch 8141

Telephone 03 377 8443

Email training@atito.org.nz

Key to Qualification Review Categories

Category A The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID	Changes are made to SSB name, contact details or purpose statement
	No change is made to title, rules or components of the qualification
	No transition arrangements are required
Category B The qualification is published as a new version with the same NQF ID	Changes are made to title, rules or components
	The new version of the qualification recognises a similar skill set to that recognised by the previous version
	The SSB is confident that people awarded the new or previous version are comparable in terms of competence
	Transition arrangements are required if candidates must gain additional/different credits for the new version
Category C A new (replacement) qualification is published with new NQF ID	Significant changes are made to the qualification in terms of components, structure, type or Level
	The SSB views people with the replacement qualification as being significantly different in terms of competence from those with the replaced qualification
	Transition arrangements are required
	Transition may be limited to phase-out dates
Category D Qualification will expire. There is no replacement qualification	Qualification is no longer required by industry
	The qualification is designated as expiring and a last date for meeting the qualification requirements is set