Review of Solid Wood Processing and Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills qualifications

FIELD MANUFACTURING

Review of Solid Wood Processing and Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills qualifications

National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) with strands in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing, Solid Wood Manufacturing, Sliced Veneer Operations, Technical Awareness, Wood Handling and Distribution, Wood Panel Manufacturing, and Wood Product Manufacturing [Ref: 1305]

National Certificate in Solid Wood Processing (Timber Yarding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1045]

The Forest Industries Training and Education Council (FITEC) has completed the review of the qualifications listed above.

New qualification

National Certificate in Wood Fibre Manufacturing (Pulp and Paper) (Level 2) [Ref: 1531]

Date new versions published January 2010

The next qualification review is planned to take place during 2014.

Summary of review and consultation process

The National Certificate in Solid Wood Processing (Timber Yarding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1045] was reviewed as part of FITEC's scheduled review cycle and in response to industry feedback. The consultation process showed that the qualification was no longer fit for purpose.

Industry feedback indicated that one of the two target groups for which the qualification was intended, those working in timber yards attached to sawmills were already catered for by the Wood Handling strand of the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 1305] and by the National Certificate in Wood Handling and Distribution (Level 3) with strands in Log Yard and Wood Preparation, and Timber Yarding and Despatch [Ref: 1308].

The second target group consists of people working in timber yards that are not attached to sawmills, and could include people working in remote locations who are usually only required to stack and handle timber. Industry feedback showed that the skills and knowledge required by this group could be covered by a minor revision to the Wood Handling strand of the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 1305].

The review of the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 1305] also included consultation with the Pulp and Paper Sector Committee, which represents 100% of the pulp and paper sector. This consultation indicated that the Core Compulsory was not suitable for people wishing to complete the Pulp and Paper strand. It was agreed to remove the Pulp and Paper strand from the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 1305] and register a new stand-alone qualification, the National Certificate in Wood Fibre Manufacturing (Pulp and Paper) (Level 2) [Ref: 1531].

Main changes resulting from the review

The National Certificate in Solid Wood Processing (Timber Yarding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1045] was designated as expiring.

Additional standards were added to the Wood Handling and Distribution strand of the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 1305].

National Certificate in Solid Wood Processing (Timber Yarding) (Level 3) [Ref: 1045]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

People currently enrolled in programmes of study leading to the award of this qualification have until 31 December 2012 to complete the assessment requirements. The last date for entry to programmes or courses leading to this qualification is January 2010.

This qualification contains standards that are expiring. For the purposes of this qualification people who have not gained credit for the expiring standards may choose to complete the new standards instead. All candidates wishing to gain credit for standards 135, 4550, 4552, and 15769 must complete those standards before December 2010.

Credit for	Exempt from
20751	135

National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) with strands in Solid Wood Manufacturing, Sliced Veneer Operations, Technical Awareness, Wood Handling and Distribution, Wood Panel Manufacturing, and Wood Product Manufacturing [Ref: 1305]

Review category

See Key to Qualification Review Categories at the end of report

Changes to structure and content

· The Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand was replaced by the National Certificate in Wood Fibre Manufacturing (Pulp and Paper) (Level 2) [Ref: 1531].

· The title was changed to account for the removal of the Pulp and Paper strand.

· The Elective and Balance of the Wood Handling and Distribution strand were combined into one elective.

· The minimum credits required for the Wood Handling and Distribution strand increased from 20 to 26.

· Standards 164, 165, 9774, and 20754 were added to the Wood Handling and Distribution strand Elective.

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

Credit for	Exempt from
135	20751
691, 692	21482
4550	20751
4556	21459
16297, 16298	21462
21756	22977

People currently working towards previous versions of this qualification may either complete the requirements for that version or transfer their results to version 3. The last date for entry to programmes or courses leading to version 2 is 31 December 2010. People currently enrolled in programmes of study leading to the award of version 2 have until 31 December 2013 to complete the assessment requirements for that version.

There are substantial differences between the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand in the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 1305] and the replacement qualification [Ref: 1531]. Please refer to the National Certificate in Wood Fibre Manufacturing (Pulp and Paper) (Level 2) [Ref: 1531] section for details of the similarities between the replaced strand and the new qualification. People who are considering transition from the Pulp and Paper strand in this qualification to the new qualification should contact their training provider or FITEC at the address below for further advice.

National Certificate in Wood Fibre Manufacturing (Pulp and Paper) (Level 2) [Ref: 1531]

This qualification replaced the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand of versions 1 and 2 of the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) with strands in Pulp and Paper Manufacturing, Solid Wood Manufacturing, Sliced Veneer Operations, Technical Awareness, Wood Handling and Distribution, Wood Panel Manufacturing, and Wood Product Manufacturing [Ref: 1305].

Similarities between the National Certificate in Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills (Level 2) with the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand [Ref: 1305] and the National Certificate in Wood Fibre Manufacturing (Pulp and Paper) (Level 2) [Ref: 1531] include:

· Standards 22970, 22973, and 22977 from the Core Compulsory can be used towards the requirements of Elective 2 in Ref: 1531.

· Standards 736, 20766, and 22976 can be used towards the requirements of Elective 2 in Ref: 1531.

· Standard 17858 from the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand Compulsory has been included in the Compulsory of Ref: 1531.

· Standards 17856 and 10833 from the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand Elective have been included in the Compulsory of Ref: 1531.

· Standards 3510, 3514, 3589, 3562, 3592, 15382, 20760, and 23075 from the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand Elective can be used towards the requirements of Elective 2 in Ref: 1531.

· Standard 3800 from the Pulp and Paper Manufacturing strand Elective has not been included in the new qualification.

People who are considering transition from Ref: 1305 to this qualification should contact their training provider or FITEC at the address below for further advice.

It is anticipated that no existing trainees will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements. Any person who feels they have been disadvantaged by these transition arrangements should contact FITEC at the address below. Appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Forest Industries Training and Education Council (FITEC)

PO Box 137067

Parnell

Auckland 1151

Telephone 09 356 7250

Email info@fitec.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