National Certificate in Rubber and Plastics Polymers
This course develops your ability to understand polymer materials and control the production and quality of plastic or rubber products.
About the course
This course develops your ability to understand polymer materials and control the production and quality of plastic or rubber products. Learning combines technical study with practical tasks relevant to Southern African organisations and communities.
What you'll learn
Relate material properties to a product and its processing method.
Plan and document a supervised production or testing task.
Evaluate product quality and identify process or material causes of defects.
Requirements
Review your English, numerical skills and introductory knowledge of the subject. Prepare to follow technical instructions, record results and complete supervised practical work. Check the provider's published admission requirements for this certificate before enrolment.
Course content
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
3 learning stages 11 subjects
1Specialist subjects6 subjects
2Foundations and shared practice4 subjects
3Practical integration1 subjects
Subjects in this programme
The programme combines supporting studies, specialist subjects and practical integration. Each subject below includes its learning focus, outcomes, practice and assessment.
11 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Specialist subjects
- Tool Designing 1. Study the production of components through measured workshop operations. Practice centres on a component process plan and inspection portfolio, drawing on drawings, tolerances and material requirements and tool selection and workholding. You will record findings, justify decisions and check dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
- Machine Setting And Operation. Study the production of components through measured workshop operations. Practice centres on a component process plan and inspection portfolio, drawing on drawings, tolerances and material requirements and tool selection and workholding. You will record findings, justify decisions and check dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
- Polymer Production. Study the selection and processing of materials into consistent manufactured products. Practice centres on a material-selection and production-quality case portfolio, drawing on material properties and product requirements and raw-material preparation and formulation concepts. You will record findings, justify decisions and check the relationship between material, process conditions and observed properties.
- Quality Control. Study the assurance of consistent work through specifications, measurement and corrective action. Practice centres on a quality plan, inspection sample and corrective-action report, drawing on customer or product requirements and specifications and acceptance criteria. You will record findings, justify decisions and check criteria, measurement reliability and evidence that the action addresses the cause.
- Tool Design 2. Study the production of components through measured workshop operations. Practice centres on a component process plan and inspection portfolio, drawing on drawings, tolerances and material requirements and tool selection and workholding. You will record findings, justify decisions and check dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
- Raw Material Preparation. Study the selection and processing of materials into consistent manufactured products. Practice centres on a material-selection and production-quality case portfolio, drawing on material properties and product requirements and raw-material preparation and formulation concepts. You will record findings, justify decisions and check the relationship between material, process conditions and observed properties.
Foundations and shared practice
- Safety, Health, And Environmental Management. Study the prevention of harm and the control of quality during vocational work. Practice centres on a task risk assessment, inspection record and improvement plan, drawing on hazard identification and exposure routes and risk assessment and control hierarchy. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether controls address the identified hazard rather than relying on labels alone.
- Laboratory Communication And Computer Applications. Study the use of digital tools to organise information and produce reliable work records. Practice centres on a linked set of documents, calculations and presentation files, drawing on files, folders, naming and version control and word-processing layouts and structured documents. You will record findings, justify decisions and check formula accuracy, consistency, readability and recoverability.
- National Studies. Study the relationship between citizenship, public institutions and working life. Practice centres on a local public-service case review, drawing on constitutional principles and public institutions and citizenship and civic responsibilities. You will record findings, justify decisions and check the distinction between fact, opinion and unsupported claims.
- Entrepreneurial Skills Development. Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Practical integration
- Skills Proficiency. Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate tool designing 1, machine setting and operation within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Assessment and practical learning
- Suggested learning checks: applied questions, calculations or short cases linked to the learning areas.
- Suggested practical assessment: demonstrate a procedure and submit a portfolio showing your method, results and quality checks.
- Explain your decisions to the assessor and use feedback to improve the completed work.
Practical application
Investigate a polymer product through a processing plan, supervised tests and a quality-improvement report.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Specialist subjects
Tool Designing 1
Study the production of components through measured workshop operations. Practice centres on a component process plan and inspection portfolio, drawing on drawings, tolerances and material requirements and tool selection and workholding. You will record findings, justify decisions and check dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
Learning outcomes
- Plan a component-making sequence from a technical drawing.
- Carry out an authorised workshop operation under supervision.
- Measure the result and document conformance or rework.
Main topics
- Drawings, tolerances and material requirements
- Tool selection and workholding
- Process sequence and operating preparation
- Cutting, shaping or forming principles
- Measurement, finish and dimensional inspection
- Tool condition, waste and production records
Practical task
For Tool Designing 1, prepare a component process plan and inspection portfolio in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Machine Setting And Operation
Study the production of components through measured workshop operations. Practice centres on a component process plan and inspection portfolio, drawing on drawings, tolerances and material requirements and tool selection and workholding. You will record findings, justify decisions and check dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
Learning outcomes
- Plan a component-making sequence from a technical drawing.
- Carry out an authorised workshop operation under supervision.
- Measure the result and document conformance or rework.
Main topics
- Drawings, tolerances and material requirements
- Tool selection and workholding
- Process sequence and operating preparation
- Cutting, shaping or forming principles
- Measurement, finish and dimensional inspection
- Tool condition, waste and production records
Practical task
For Machine Setting And Operation, prepare a component process plan and inspection portfolio in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
Assessment
Direct observation of the task, the completed output and oral explanation of the method.
Polymer Production
Study the selection and processing of materials into consistent manufactured products. Practice centres on a material-selection and production-quality case portfolio, drawing on material properties and product requirements and raw-material preparation and formulation concepts. You will record findings, justify decisions and check the relationship between material, process conditions and observed properties.
Learning outcomes
- Relate material properties to a stated product requirement.
- Explain how processing choices affect product quality.
- Interpret test results and propose a supported process improvement.
Main topics
- Material properties and product requirements
- Raw-material preparation and formulation concepts
- Processing methods and equipment functions
- Process variables and product behaviour
- Testing, defects and quality records
- Material efficiency, reuse and improvement
Practical task
For Polymer Production, prepare a material-selection and production-quality case portfolio in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of the relationship between material, process conditions and observed properties.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Quality Control
Study the assurance of consistent work through specifications, measurement and corrective action. Practice centres on a quality plan, inspection sample and corrective-action report, drawing on customer or product requirements and specifications and acceptance criteria. You will record findings, justify decisions and check criteria, measurement reliability and evidence that the action addresses the cause.
Learning outcomes
- Define measurable quality criteria for a work output.
- Interpret inspection or process data to identify a quality problem.
- Prepare a corrective action with evidence of follow-up.
Main topics
- Customer or product requirements
- Specifications and acceptance criteria
- Sampling, inspection and measurement
- Process variation and defect analysis
- Corrective action and document control
- Audits, review and continuous improvement
Practical task
For Quality Control, prepare a quality plan, inspection sample and corrective-action report in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of criteria, measurement reliability and evidence that the action addresses the cause.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Tool Design 2
Study the production of components through measured workshop operations. Practice centres on a component process plan and inspection portfolio, drawing on drawings, tolerances and material requirements and tool selection and workholding. You will record findings, justify decisions and check dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
Learning outcomes
- Plan a component-making sequence from a technical drawing.
- Carry out an authorised workshop operation under supervision.
- Measure the result and document conformance or rework.
Main topics
- Drawings, tolerances and material requirements
- Tool selection and workholding
- Process sequence and operating preparation
- Cutting, shaping or forming principles
- Measurement, finish and dimensional inspection
- Tool condition, waste and production records
Practical task
For Tool Design 2, prepare a component process plan and inspection portfolio in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of dimensions, tolerances, finish and process traceability.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Raw Material Preparation
Study the selection and processing of materials into consistent manufactured products. Practice centres on a material-selection and production-quality case portfolio, drawing on material properties and product requirements and raw-material preparation and formulation concepts. You will record findings, justify decisions and check the relationship between material, process conditions and observed properties.
Learning outcomes
- Relate material properties to a stated product requirement.
- Explain how processing choices affect product quality.
- Interpret test results and propose a supported process improvement.
Main topics
- Material properties and product requirements
- Raw-material preparation and formulation concepts
- Processing methods and equipment functions
- Process variables and product behaviour
- Testing, defects and quality records
- Material efficiency, reuse and improvement
Practical task
For Raw Material Preparation, prepare a material-selection and production-quality case portfolio in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of the relationship between material, process conditions and observed properties.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Foundations and shared practice
Safety, Health, And Environmental Management
Study the prevention of harm and the control of quality during vocational work. Practice centres on a task risk assessment, inspection record and improvement plan, drawing on hazard identification and exposure routes and risk assessment and control hierarchy. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether controls address the identified hazard rather than relying on labels alone.
Learning outcomes
- Identify hazards and select controls appropriate to the task.
- Follow an agreed safe-work and quality-check procedure.
- Record an incident or defect and recommend corrective action.
Main topics
- Hazard identification and exposure routes
- Risk assessment and control hierarchy
- Safe work preparation and protective equipment
- Environmental impacts and waste handling
- Incident reporting and emergency communication
- Inspection records and corrective action
Practical task
For Safety, Health, And Environmental Management, prepare a task risk assessment, inspection record and improvement plan in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of whether controls address the identified hazard rather than relying on labels alone.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Laboratory Communication And Computer Applications
Study the use of digital tools to organise information and produce reliable work records. Practice centres on a linked set of documents, calculations and presentation files, drawing on files, folders, naming and version control and word-processing layouts and structured documents. You will record findings, justify decisions and check formula accuracy, consistency, readability and recoverability.
Learning outcomes
- Create and organise files for a defined work task.
- Use a spreadsheet or document tool to process information accurately.
- Check outputs and protect the underlying information.
Main topics
- Files, folders, naming and version control
- Word-processing layouts and structured documents
- Spreadsheet calculations and charts
- Presentation of findings and supporting evidence
- Data entry, validation and checking
- Access controls, backup and responsible information use
Practical task
For Laboratory Communication And Computer Applications, prepare a linked set of documents, calculations and presentation files in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of formula accuracy, consistency, readability and recoverability.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
National Studies
Study the relationship between citizenship, public institutions and working life. Practice centres on a local public-service case review, drawing on constitutional principles and public institutions and citizenship and civic responsibilities. You will record findings, justify decisions and check the distinction between fact, opinion and unsupported claims.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the role of public institutions in a community issue.
- Compare perspectives using identifiable evidence.
- Prepare a reasoned civic or workplace contribution.
Main topics
- Constitutional principles and public institutions
- Citizenship and civic responsibilities
- Zimbabwean history and national development
- Cultural diversity and community participation
- Work, enterprise and public services
- Evidence, public debate and responsible participation
Practical task
For National Studies, prepare a local public-service case review in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of the distinction between fact, opinion and unsupported claims.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Entrepreneurial Skills Development
Study the development of a viable small enterprise from a defined customer need. Practice centres on a small-enterprise plan and test record, drawing on customer problems and enterprise opportunities and products, services and value propositions. You will record findings, justify decisions and check whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Define a customer need and a practical enterprise response.
- Estimate resources, costs and cash requirements.
- Revise a business proposal using evidence from a small market test.
Main topics
- Customer problems and enterprise opportunities
- Products, services and value propositions
- Startup resources and operating costs
- Pricing, cash flow and basic records
- Market testing and customer feedback
- Business risks, responsibilities and growth choices
Practical task
For Entrepreneurial Skills Development, prepare a small-enterprise plan and test record in a rubber and plastics polymers setting. Use supplied records, a realistic simulation or authorised supervised practice. Include your working and checks of whether the financial assumptions and customer evidence support the proposal.
Assessment
Applied questions, a worked case and an individual explanation supported by calculations, diagrams or records.
Practical integration
Skills Proficiency
Demonstrate the practical skills developed across the programme. Tasks integrate tool designing 1, machine setting and operation within an agreed work brief. You will prepare resources, carry out the authorised task and check the result. Your evidence should show consistent performance, accurate records and an explanation of decisions within your learner role.
Learning outcomes
- Plan and complete an integrated task to agreed criteria.
- Demonstrate safe and consistent practical performance.
- Explain the result and correct identified weaknesses.
Main topics
- Interpreting an integrated work brief
- Preparing tools, information and resources
- Demonstrating the required technical skills
- Checking output against agreed criteria
- Responding to faults and assessor feedback
- Presenting evidence and explaining decisions
Practical task
Investigate a polymer product through a processing plan, supervised tests and a quality-improvement report.
Assessment
Direct observation, the completed output, a quality-check record and oral questions provide the evidence for this subject.
Instructors
