EDM Plunge Operator

The purpose of this part qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an EDM Plunge Operator by implementing Measurement, Materials and Safety (MMS) requirements and conducting EDM plunge programming, EDM plunge setting and EDM plunge operations.

The Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) is firmly entrenched in Government's overall policy and plans to address the key challenges of economic and industrial growth and race-based poverty, inequality and unemployment. It is a key component of the President's Nine Point Plan and is aligned to the policy perspective of Radical Economic Transformation. It is guided by the vision of the National Development Plan. IPAP 2017 is aligned to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as well as the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) incorporated the National Tooling Initiative (NTI) into the Industrial Policy Action Plan - IPAP as a key action programme for the Industrial Development - Fourth Industrial Revolution Division's Future Industrial Production and Technologies programme. The Programme was initially incubated through the European Sector (EU) Sector Wide Enterprise and Equity Programme (SWEEEP) donor funding with expanded support drawn from the National Treasury budget line item for the next Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period to ensure continuity of the programme. The NTI is the turnaround intervention programme aimed at the rehabilitation and growth of the Tool, Die and Mould manufacturing (TDM) Sector and has been identified by the DTI as a key programme to uplift the manufacturing industry to international standards to develop the market and showcase the niche competitive advantages and capabilities of South Africa. The importance of Tooling in Manufacturing: Tools, Dies and Moulds, Jigs and Fixtures, Gauges and Metrology Equipment are core, key and critical to Manufacturing Competitiveness, as they are key Product Life Cycle Cost Drivers in terms of: • Initial Capital Investment to enable manufacturing of any new product, (Design and Manufacturing Cost of Original Tooling). • Production Cost Competitiveness (through Production Cycle Time, Reject). • Rate, Conversion Efficiency of the product to be produced. • End Product Quality standard. • Reliability of Production output and End product. • Maintenance Cost of Tooling. • Occupational health and safety. A FRIDGE study was done by the government, with which they wanted to establish the size and development of the industry. This study confirmed the status of the South-African TDM industry as a key support component of the manufacturing sector. This study confirmed the need for a national intervention programme to address the steady decline of this support sector to the manufacturing industry over the past 15 to 20 years. This study found the TDM Sector distress drivers to be skills erosion and job losses resulting in huge critical shortage of skilled operators, designers, artisans, engineers and project managers in this sector. The advent of Industry 4.0, Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing radically changed the skills requirements for the production of tooling. The need for revamping and updating the training capacity for the TDM sector cannot be over-emphasised and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) model for provision of training received overwhelming support from the industry. In particular, the advent of this system is considered opportune to address existing problems in the industry, such as: • Improved industrial competitiveness by addressing current loss of work to Europe, China, India and other far east countries resulting from the lack of skills availability. • Decline in quality standards (out-dated non-competitive technology). • Decline in SA TDM companies' ability to meet delivery capacity and timing requirements improving the BBBEE transformation in TDM industry where, as a result of perceived distress in the sector, financial institutions and investors classify this industry sector as high risk, thus empowerment investment to date remains largely insignificant. Capacity building will address start-up SME enterprises in the sector to improve investor perception and improve chances for investment finance improving the Balance of Payments through import substitution resulting from local production and manufacturing competitiveness, i.e. machine setting, tooling adjustment and tool maintenance services. The improved competitiveness will further address downstream problems like plant downtime, higher scrap rates, drop in output efficiencies, quality problems, missed supply deadlines, and increased input costs. The CNC Milling Machinist is one of the following ten special skills that constitute a Toolmaker: • Lathe Operator. • Milling Machine Operator. • Surface Grinding Operator. • CNC Milling Machinist. • CNC Turning Machinist. • EDM Wire Operator. • EDM Plunge Operator. • Manufacturing Workshop Assistant. • Tooling Machinist. • Tooling CAD Operator. The range of typical learners that will enter this qualification are people who would like to gain access to employment in the Tool and Die Making and manufacturing industries and those with a specific interest in manufacturing and the production of tooling. This qualification resides as one of several in the mechanical engineering and manufacturing environments related to tool making, general manufacturing and advanced machining. It acts as a feeder occupation within this context to gain access to the Toolmaker and other mechanical engineering qualification. This qualification also makes provision for people to progress to other aspects such as general manufacturing and advanced machining, and patternmaking. The main benefits of this qualification for the learner are that the learner has an opportunity to be recognised with a well-structured, relevant and current competency addressing some of the advanced machining processes as part of Industry 4.0 and have access to entrepreneurial opportunities within the mechanical engineering and manufacturing environments. Society will be served by qualified machinists that not only undertake work with improved skills but are also contributing to the competitiveness of South Africa's manufacturing sector and addressing some Industry 4.0 requirements. The overall benefits for the economy would include efficient and effective competencies available to be utilised for economic growth purposes.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record. RPL for access to the qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • Level 4 with Mathematics and Science. Or • N3 Engineering Studies with Mathematics and Engineering Science.

Part Qualification Exit Level Outcome 7: • Operate an EDM (Spark erosion) plunge machine and set the spark and electrode parameters to perform the required operations.