Toolmaker

The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Toolmaker. Toolmakers manufacture, modify and repair tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, moulds and other precision parts and equipment to fine tolerances used in various production disciplines. A qualified learner will be able to: • Assist, advise and plan for product development, tool/die/mould design, production processes, equipment and material, including machining components and assembly. • Assess process planning, process adjustment, quality control and inspection. • Oversee, and execute tool/die/mould parts production processes. • Assemble, test, debug and quality assure the tool/die/mould and related operational and maintenance processes.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) incorporated the National Tooling Initiative (NTI) into the Industrial Policy Action Plan - IPAP (2) as a key action programme for Capital Equipment and Allied Services. The Programme was initially incubated through the European Sector (EU) Sector Wide Enterprise and Equity Programme (SWEEP) donor funding from April 2006 to 31 December 2009, 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. 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 in 2006, 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 a critical shortage of designers, artisans, engineers and project managers in this sector. The advent of 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 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. • Improved 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. • Improved 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 competiveness 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 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 industry and those with a specific interest in production of tooling. This qualification resides as one of several in the mechanical engineering and manufacturing environments and makes allowance for any feeder occupation within this context to gain access to the Toolmaker qualification. The Toolmaker qualification also makes provision for people to progress within this discipline to other aspects such as patternmaking and computer aided design. The main benefits of this qualification for the learner are that the learner has an opportunity to be recognised as a qualified artisan with well-structured, relevant and current competencies and have access to entrepreneurial opportunities within the mechanical engineering and manufacturing environments. Society will be served by qualified toolmakers that not only undertake work with improved skills but are also contributing to the competitiveness of South Africa's manufacturing sector. The overall benefits for the economy would include efficient and effective Toolmaking 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: • NQF Level 4 equivalent to N3 knowledge areas of Engineering Maths, Science and Engineering Drawing.

• The ability to assist, advise and plan product development, tool design, production processes, equipment and material, including machining of tool components and assembly of tool.
• The ability to assess process planning, process adjustment, quality control and inspection.
• The ability to oversee and execute tool parts production processes.
• The ability to assemble, dry test, debug and conduct quality assurance of the tool and related operational and maintenance processes.