FIELD                        ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

 

Review of Engineering Machining and Toolmaking and Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering qualifications

 

National Certificate in Engineering Machining and Toolmaking (Level 4) [Ref: 0123]

National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) [Ref: 0125]

 

Competenz has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

 

Replacement qualification

 

National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) with strands in Fitting and Machining, General Engineering, Machining, Maintenance Engineering, and Toolmaking [Ref: 1262]

 

Date new qualification published                        November 2006

 

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2011.

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

Review of the National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) [Ref: 0125] began in 2003, when it became clear that the qualification no longer met the requirements of industry.  Whilst the qualification did address the needs of the larger enterprises, it had become difficult for apprentices in the more traditional engineering workshops to complete all the required standards.  Administration of course deliveries and assessment had become unnecessarily complex due to partial assessments against many standards by providers, with final assessments in the workplace.  Furthermore, pre-apprentice training delivered by some providers did not align well with the standards required by the national certificate.

 

As the National Certificate in Engineering Machining and Toolmaking (Level 4) [Ref: 0123] shared many of the same problems as well as having overlapping sets of foundation skills, it was decided to include it in the review, even though it was not due to be reviewed until 2007.  A common qualification with five strands was identified as meeting the current needs of industry.  A range of unit standards were written to underpin off-job learning and allow design of a more flexible and user friendly qualification structure and delivery packages.  Many standards had to be reviewed at the same time, as they had passed their planned review date.

 

Industry was widely consulted by means of road shows and meetings with various industry advisory groups, the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union, providers, apprentice coordinators, assessors, moderators, and the armed forces.  The draft qualification was endorsed by industry on 9 May 2006.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

The National Certificate in Engineering Machining and Toolmaking (Level 4) [Ref: 0123] and the National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) [Ref: 0125] have been replaced by the single new qualification, the National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) with strands in Fitting and Machining, General Engineering, Machining, Maintenance Engineering, and Toolmaking [Ref: 1262].

 

Summary of differences between the qualifications

 

·      Title of new qualification changed to better reflect current nature of the industry.

·      Five strands introduced to cater for current industry requirements and occupations.

·      Structure changed to core compulsory (116 credits), strand compulsory, and strand elective components.

·      Overall credit values range from 270 to 300 credits, depending on the strand.

·      Common skills of the two former qualifications were updated and combined into a compulsory core section to provide a common set of foundation skills.

·      Minimum number of level 4 credits required to gain the qualification was raised to 55.

·      New standards reflect current industry requirements and facilitate better delivery and assessment.

·      Some elective standards are now compulsory and vice versa.

·      New qualification includes transitions for standards that replace earlier standards.

·      Elective domains and standards not related to mechanical engineering have been removed.

 

Transition

 

All new trainees or apprentices from 2007 will be enrolled in the new qualification.

 

People currently working towards the National Certificate in Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering (Level 4) [Ref: 0125] or the National Certificate in Engineering Machining and Toolmaking (Level 4) [Ref: 0123] are encouraged to complete these qualifications by 2012.  The last date for award will be 31 December 2012.  Existing courses will be progressively phased out from 2007.  Provision will be made for final Year 2 and 3 courses in 2008 and 2009 respectively, if needed, for people who may have failed to complete earlier.

 

Whilst these provision should cater for most situations, the following exemptions are available for those who need to transition to the new qualification.  The table includes exemptions arising from earlier replacements of unit standards.  Note that many of the standards in the earlier qualifications are also contained in the replacement qualification, either as listed or as elective standards.

 

Credit for

Exempt from

2388

22913 and 22914

2389

21909

2405

12 credits at Level 4 from domain of Maintenance and Diagnostics in Mechanical Engineering

2405

19873

2431

2433

2434

2430 and 2433 and 21910

2670

21907

2711

22910

2824

21911 and 21912

3241

2 credits at Level 2 from domain of Mechanical Installation

3242

1 credit at Level 2 from domain of Mechanical Installation

3243

6 credits at Level 3 from domain of Mechanical Installation

4432 and 4434

21908

4795

20917

4796

20799

4798

4797

4810

12 credits at Level 2 from domain of Engineering Machining and Toolmaking

4811

12 credits at Level 3 from domain of Engineering Machining and Toolmaking

5223 and 5226 and 5251

21905

5228 and 5226 and 5251

21905

17344

20612

17345

20611

 

These exemptions will be available up to 31 December 2011.

 

Competenz will publicise these arrangements in the trade press and the Competenz website http://www.competenz.org.nz/, and by direct communication with apprentices and their employers.

 

Industry will continue to recognise the former qualifications, and there is no requirement for qualified trades people to 'upgrade' to the new qualification.

 

It is not intended that anyone be disadvantaged by this review, and the above arrangements have been designed for a smooth transition.  However, anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to Competenz at the address below.

 

Competenz

PO Box 62 561

CENTRAL PARK

Auckland

 

Telephone                        0800 275 455

Email                        qualifications@competenz.org.nz