The National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) with strands in Electricity Supply, Fitting and Machining, General Engineering, Machining, Maintenance Engineering, and Toolmaking is a trade qualification for people in the engineering industry. It combines a broad, common foundation of mechanical engineering with more specialised skills and knowledge in the form of strands to suit the nature of the particular trade or enterprise the individual is engaged in. It is intended to provide training for people in occupations traditionally referred to as Fitters, Fitters and Turners, Fitters and Welders, Maintenance and Diagnostics Engineers, Maintenance Fitters, Power Station Fitters, Toolmakers, Precision Machinists, and Machine Tool Setters.

The training common to all strands includes health and safety, measurement and tolerancing, tools, materials and metals, sketching, drawing interpretation, trade calculations, mechanics, hydraulics, pneumatics, basic machining, welding, fitting, assembly, and job costing. Additional training provides the special skills needed for each strand, and elective unit standards are chosen to match the range of work available in the candidate''s enterprise.

The Fitting and Machining strand is for those employed in machine building and related occupations, where both precision fitting and machining skills are required. Typically this involves machining, assembly, and alignment of components to close tolerances, machine installation, and hydraulic or pneumatic control systems. Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machinery and simple toolmaking may be involved in some enterprises.

The General Engineering strand is for those employed in a general engineering workshop, where the work may involve fitting, machining, welding, maintenance, repair, hydraulics, pneumatics, marine or rail engineering, fabrication, or gunsmithing. Often the work will be of a one-off or contractual nature.

The Machining strand is for those employed in enterprises where the emphasis is on precision machining of components. These enterprises typically employ sophisticated CNC mills and lathes to produce engineering components to high degrees of tolerance and finish.

The Maintenance Engineering strand is for those employed on engineering maintenance work in enterprises where the emphasis is on maintaining reliable production, possibly in a lean (competitive) manufacturing environment. These enterprises typically have a planned approach to maintenance, involving computerised maintenance systems and condition monitoring. The strand is also appropriate for those employed in contract maintenance work for such enterprises.

The Toolmaking strand is for those employed in enterprises making tooling, press tooling, moulds, dies, gauges, jigs, and fixtures for industrial processes. Tools are typically used in sheet metal presses, or in injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, and pressure diecasting operations. The making of these tools requires knowledge of tool operation and Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques, and may involve machining using CNC machining centres or electro discharge machines (EDM).

The Electricity Supply strand is for those employed in enterprises installing, maintaining and servicing electricity generating plant and equipment as well as ancillary plant and equipment. This will include a planned approach to maintenance using computerised maintenance systems and conditioning monitoring.

There are standards in common in the requirements of some strands. This structure has been designed so that the elective choices made by apprentices or trainees will naturally reflect the unique nature of their occupation and strand.

This qualification incorporates the standards of the National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 2) [Ref: 1220]. People who have achieved that qualification will already have 60 credits towards this qualification.

Having completed this qualification in one strand, candidates need only complete the additional strand requirements to gain this qualification in a second strand.

Those who have achieved this qualification may wish to continue training for the following higher qualifications:
. National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering (Level 5) [Ref: 0718]; or
. National Certificate in Engineering Machining and Toolmaking (Level 5) [Ref: 0719]; or
. proposed National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 5) [currently under development]; or
. National Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with strands in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, and an optional Practical Endorsement strand [Ref: 0534].

Those who have achieved this qualification may wish to continue training for the following higher qualifications:
. National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering (Level 5) [Ref: 0718]; or
. National Certificate in Engineering Machining and Toolmaking (Level 5) [Ref: 0719]; or
. proposed National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 5) [currently under development]; or
. National Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with strands in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, and an optional Practical Endorsement strand [Ref: 0534].

Open entry. Is a good idea if candidates have met sea time requirements. To be able to sit the MNZ examination students must have completed 24 months sea service operating the main propulsion machinery of commercial vessels or NZ warships including 12 months working on diesel engines and 12 months sea service within the last 10 years.