National Certificate: Metals Production (Engineering & Manufacturing) NQF2

The National Certificate: Metals Production NQF2 is designed for employees who work in, or are moving into, a metals production environment. It builds the skills needed to operate and maintain the process equipment used in a specific metals operation, such as extraction, melting, refining, casting, rolling, shearing or forging. At this level, learners typically run equipment like furnaces, casting machines and converters.

This equipment is large and complex, and operators need structured training over an extended period before they are fully competent. On completion, learners can help keep production running smoothly and efficiently within their operation.

The core of the qualification covers:

• Following quality procedures
• Applying organisational, health, safety and environmental procedures
• Preparing, setting up and operating process equipment
• Carrying out first-line maintenance

Purpose of the Qualification

This qualification is for any individual who is, or wishes to be, involved in a metals production environment and be able to perform a range of activities to operate and maintain process equipment for a particular process or operation within a specific metals production environment. Such processes or operations will include extracting, melting, refining, casting, rolling, shearing, forging and other metallurgical processes. In general, individuals at this level in the metal production environment will operate a furnace, casting machine or a converter among other process machines or equipment.

These are large and complex machines which require training a learner over an extended period of time before s/he acquires sufficient competence to operate them. An individual acquiring this qualification will be able to contribute towards the smooth and efficient operation of the production processes in the metal production sector.

The core component contains generic competencies covering, inter alia:

• Quality procedures.
• Organisational procedures, health, safety and environmental procedures.
• Preparation, setting-up and operating process equipment.
• Performing first line maintenance.