Advanced Diploma in Quality

Purpose:

The purpose of the Advanced Diploma in Quality is to develop engineering management professionals who can plan, coordinate, design, implement and control the quality function in manufacturing and service organisations in order to increase productivity, optimise resources, decrease waste, and improve product quality. The qualification has research available in the areas of quality assurance, six sigma, lean manufacturing, project management, reliability and risk management. While quality indeed includes these principles, it also includes, for example, management systems and continuous improvement, risk management, customer satisfaction and market focus, quality circles, teamwork and the well-being of employees.

The Advanced Diploma in Quality qualification focuses mainly on the understanding of various quality management systems (i.e. ISO 9000, 14001, 17025 and guidelines in 19011 and 31000) and the use of quality management tools, techniques, methodologies and principles and is therefore industry broad-based in its application. A further purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with conceptual understanding as well as the necessary techniques, skills, and tools used in the quality and engineering management environment in modern industries. The purpose of the qualification is to ensure that such learners are able to take responsibility for products or services that are delivered by the industry as knowledgeable and highly skilled engineering and quality managers.

Rationale:

The National Development Plan (NDP) illustrates that economic growth of the country depends on the availability of highly skilled personnel at all levels. In the light of this call, the Advanced Diploma in Quality provides articulation for development of cumulative knowledge in the field of Quality. Quality Practitioners as a profession are listed in the Government Gazette no. 37678 of 23 May 2014 for the 'National Scarce Skills List: Top 100 Occupations in Demand' in South Africa. Thus, due to the scope, ability and impact that Quality Practitioners make in the world of work, they are sought after by all industries in the production and service sectors.

Quality systems, tools, principles, and methodologies are facing a new and exciting future in the Western Cape and South Africa as a whole. It will move away from the hands of the quality specialists to the public domain of operators, managers, entrepreneurs, and educators. As traditional trade barriers fall, they are replaced by internationally recognised quality systems such as ISO 9000 certification and Environmental Management Systems (EMS). As a result, quality becomes not only a business imperative but an essential life skill that is as fundamental to the success of individuals and companies.

This qualification offers an intensive, focused, and applied specialisation, which meets the need of a specific niche in the labour market. This qualification is suitable for continuing professional development through the inculcation of a deep and systematic understanding of current thinking, practice, theory, and methodology in the area of quality, risk and environmental management and systems. Engineering Management is considered to be a sub-discipline of industrial and systems engineering. Successful engineering managers typically require training and experience in business and engineering. Engineering Management is a specialised form of management that is concerned with the application of engineering principles to business practice. Engineering Management is a career that brings together the technological problem-solving understanding of engineering and the organisational, administrative, and planning abilities of management in order to oversee complex enterprises from conception to completion.

Quality is considered as a sub-discipline to the Engineering Management study field. In business, engineering and manufacturing quality is generally defined as fitness for purpose. Quality ensures that an organisation, product, or service is consistent. It is underpinned by four components: quality improvement, quality assurance, quality control, and quality management. A quality systems document processes, procedures, and responsibilities in order to achieving quality objectives.

This qualification is intended for middle managers within an engineering management in quality environment. Learners will be competent in applying quality management strategies and tools, systems and techniques in the manufacturing and service environment in order to optimise the resource usage in a company to benefit the bottom line. He/she will be eligible to operate as a Professional Technician, after a prescribed number of years as a practitioner in this field, subject to meeting workplace requirements. This qualification therefore aims to give learners a sound knowledge and skills base to be successful owners and senior quality manager of production management, services managers and planning managers, supply chain and logistics managers and completing their postgraduate qualification.

Manufacturing industries in South Africa play an important role in the South African economy as it employs a large percentage of the labour force. Job opportunities, therefore, are great in this sector. Within the manufacturing sector, the greater portion of the workers is engaged in the Production Function which includes specialist fields such as Quality Control, Production Planning and Control, Inventory Control, Quality Assurance, etc. This Advanced Diploma prepares learners to enter any of the specialist fields in production or to go directly into supervision of workers and later as Quality Managers. For learners with a Diploma in Engineering and Science, Baccalaureate Degrees in Technology, Engineering Technology, or Engineering, the qualification will provide education in quality and engineering management systems. For learners with the required technical Degrees, the qualification will provide an excellent continuing education opportunity with progression into a Postgraduate Diploma, Master's Degree and Doctoral Degree.