Instrument Mechanician

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as an Instrument Mechanician to install/remove, calibrate, maintain and repair instruments and control systems. A qualified learner will be able to: • Calibrate instrumentation equipment. • Install and remove instrumentation equipment. • Optimise Process Control Loops. • Fault find and repair instrumentation equipment. • Maintain instrumentation equipment.

The Occupational Certificate: Instrument Mechanician has been designed to meet the needs of a production environment in the manufacturing, engineering, technology, energy, mining, chemical, mechanical and other associated industries. Instrument Mechanicians are in high demand as trade industries require extremely precise measuring and monitoring equipment to regulate process variables, keep track of production, manage power use and to ensure correct measurement and control for the purpose of contributing to the safe and efficient operation of plants. This qualification was developed with the full participation of major employers, training providers and private providers in the sector. Instrument Mechanicians work with a wide variety of pneumatic, electronic and microcomputer instruments used to measure and control variables such as pressure, flow, temperature, level, motion, force, fluid dynamics and chemical composition, amongst others. People qualifying with this qualification will be able to install, modify, maintain, calibrate, fault-find and repair the measuring and control instruments used in industrial and commercial processing. Due to the advancement of technology in the world today, people who work or intend to work in the instrumentation environment need to adopt lifelong learning to keep abreast with technological advancement and remain on top of the trade. The combination of learning components will enable qualifying learners to be fully competent to perform the tasks in instrumentation processes that directly contribute to the revenue of businesses, individual development and ultimately the socio-economic growth of the country. Typical learners include people who are already working within the instrumentation environment and those who wish to enter the field.

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: • NQF Level 4 with Mathematics and Science.

• Calibrate instrumentation equipment.
• Install/remove instrumentation equipment.
• Optimise process control loop.
• Carry out fault diagnosis on instrumentation equipment.
• Carry out maintenance work of instrumentation equipment.