FIELD                        MANUFACTURING

 

Review of Steel Furniture Manufacture qualification

 

National Certificate in Steel Furniture Manufacture (Level 3) [Ref: 0090]

 

The NZ Furniture Industry Training Organisation (FITO) has completed the review of the above qualification that was registered in May 1997.

 

Date new version published                        March 2004

 

Early in 2001 employers and training providers were notified that the National Certificate in Steel Furniture Manufacture (Level 3) [Ref: 0090] was to be reviewed and were invited to comment on the quality of the qualification package.  In particular, stakeholders were asked to report on whether the qualification was fit for purpose and on whether the package could be improved in any way.  FITO gathered feedback and collated it into a review paper that was circulated to interested employers and the training provider sector.  Meetings were arranged in Auckland and Wellington with representatives from the steel furniture manufacturing industry, FITO, and the National Moderator based at Christchurch Polytechnic.

 

In order to make the qualification more accessible and attainable it was decided to restructure the package, develop new standards, review the existing standards, and develop new qualifications for the sector.  New standards were developed where gaps were perceived in the qualification package and the existing unit standards were reviewed in February 2002.  A National Certificate in Steel Furniture Manufacture (Level 2) [Ref: 1090] has been developed and a national certificate at Level 4 is also under development.  The new qualifications are designed to provide a career path for furniture trainees and modern apprentices.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

Changes to structure and content

·        Compulsory section expanded to include unit standards from the Steel Furniture Manufacture domain.

·        Expiring unit standards 2168 and 2169 and unit standards in the Furniture Making and Upholstery domains removed from the compulsory section.

·        Expiring unit standard 2174 removed from the Elective section.

·        Elective B (credits from anywhere on the NQF) deleted.

 

Transition

 

All new trainees entering the steel furniture industry from 2004 will be entered into version 3 of the qualification.  People affected by the transition process will be contacted by the NZ Furniture Industry Training Organisation and asked whether they wish to complete the version they are currently enrolled on or transfer to version 3.

 

The last date for award of version 1 is December 2004.

The last date for award of version 2 is December 2007.

 

All versions of the qualification are, and will continue to be, acceptable to the NZ Furniture Industry Training Organisation.

 

People who feel disadvantaged by the transition process should contact:

 

NZ Furniture Industry Training Organisation

PO Box 11 435

WELLINGTON

 

Telephone            04 801 5083

Email              amurray@fito.co.nz