National Diploma in Metal Fabrication and Welding
Study the planning, fabrication and quality control of welded metal work.
About the course
Study the planning, fabrication and quality control of welded metal work. The proposed diploma connects material and drawing interpretation with supervised workshop practice. Southern African projects should address a defined component or structure, with traceable measurements, appropriate workmanship and clear limits on the work authorised for learners.
What you'll learn
Interpret fabrication drawings and identify material and joint requirements.
Plan a supervised fabrication task with appropriate quality checks.
Evaluate a teaching weld or fabricated component against stated criteria.
Prepare a documented technical project and explain deviations from the brief.
Requirements
Recommended preparation is relevant certificate-level knowledge or an approved equivalent, with readiness for technical analysis and supervised applied work. BMIT must determine actual admission and recognition-of-prior-learning rules with the awarding body. This proposal does not assign official credits, duration or a qualification-framework level.
Course content
The subjects are grouped by learning stage, from foundations to specialist study and supervised application. Complete earlier foundations before the related advanced work. Clinical, laboratory, field and workplace subjects use approved facilities and supervision appropriate to the programme.
3 learning stages 19 subjects
1Stage 1: Foundations6 subjects
2Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects8 subjects
3Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration5 subjects
Subjects in this programme
The subjects are grouped by learning stage, from foundations to specialist study and supervised application. Complete earlier foundations before the related advanced work. Clinical, laboratory, field and workplace subjects use approved facilities and supervision appropriate to the programme.
19 subjects are listed below with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Foundations
- Technical Numeracy. Examine units, ratios and their relationship within technical numeracy. The subject develops measurement and geometry, then examines graphs and checking calculations. Solve measurements and costing problems from a practical teaching task.
- Engineering Materials. Develop your understanding of engineering materials through material classes and structure and properties. The subject develops mechanical behaviour and thermal behaviour, then examines corrosion and material selection. Compare material samples or published teaching data against a component brief.
- Technical Drawing Fundamentals. Study symbols and views as foundations for technical drawing fundamentals. The subject develops dimensions and sketching, then examines instructions and checking. Produce and interpret a simple workshop drawing.
- Workshop Tools and Practice. Examine tool identification, care and their relationship within workshop tools and practice. The subject develops measuring tools and work preparation, then examines housekeeping and safe storage. Use approved hand tools under direct workshop supervision.
- Occupational Safety and Risk. Develop your understanding of occupational safety and risk through hazard identification and exposure. The subject develops risk assessment and hierarchy of controls, then examines incident learning and worker participation. Review an authorised workplace case and propose proportionate controls.
- Academic and Professional Communication. Study reading strategies and evidence use as foundations for academic and professional communication. The subject develops report structure and presentations, then examines audience and referencing. Prepare a report and presentation for a defined professional audience.
Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects
- Metal Fabrication. Examine marking out, cutting concepts and their relationship within metal fabrication. The subject develops forming and assembly, then examines tolerances and quality checks. Complete approved supervised fabrication on non-safety-critical teaching work.
- Welding Processes and Practice. Develop your understanding of welding processes and practice through process families and joint preparation. The subject develops consumables and weld quality, then examines distortion and workshop safety. Complete selected approved welding tasks in a supervised equipped workshop.
- Strength of Materials. Study stress and strain and elastic behaviour as foundations for strength of materials. The subject develops bending and torsion, then examines deflection and failure criteria. Interpret supervised material-test results and relate them to a component model.
- Manufacturing Processes. Examine casting concepts, forming and their relationship within manufacturing processes. The subject develops machining and joining, then examines process capability and production quality. Compare manufacturing routes for a teaching component using supervised observations.
- NDT Principles and Reporting. Develop your understanding of ndt principles and reporting through discontinuities and method selection. The subject develops inspection scope and calibration awareness, then examines traceability and reporting. Compare inspection methods for approved teaching components.
- Surface NDT Methods. Study visual inspection and penetrant principles as foundations for surface ndt methods. The subject develops magnetic-particle principles and surface condition, then examines indications and limitations. Use approved method-specific teaching equipment under qualified supervision.
- Quality Management and Improvement. Examine quality criteria, process variation and their relationship within quality management and improvement. The subject develops traceability and nonconformity, then examines corrective action and improvement measures. Investigate a quality problem using permissioned records or teaching data.
- Production Planning and Control. Develop your understanding of production planning and control through demand forecasting and capacity. The subject develops scheduling and inventory, then examines material requirements and performance measures. Develop a production plan using a realistic teaching dataset.
Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration
- Engineering Economics. Study time value of money and cost estimation as foundations for engineering economics. The subject develops lifecycle costs and investment appraisal, then examines sensitivity and resource decisions. Compare two feasible project options using transparent cost assumptions.
- Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise. Examine customer needs, value proposition and their relationship within entrepreneurship and small enterprise. The subject develops business models and costs, then examines operations and enterprise risk. Develop a small-enterprise proposal grounded in a defined local need.
- Supervised Workplace Learning. Develop your understanding of supervised workplace learning through workplace roles and approved task planning. The subject develops professional conduct and technical records, then examines feedback and reflective learning. Complete an agreed placement task under an approved workplace supervisor.
- Project Development and Feasibility. Study problem definition and evidence review as foundations for project development and feasibility. The subject develops requirements and method selection, then examines feasibility and evaluation criteria. Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.
- Integrated Project and Technical Report. Examine implementation, evidence collection and their relationship within integrated project and technical report. The subject develops analysis and verification, then examines limitations and communication. Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.
Assessment and practical learning
- Proposed assessment: short knowledge checks, calculations and interpretation of technical information.
- Direct observation of authorised practical tasks, supported by an individual record of preparation, results and quality checks.
- An applied project and oral explanation. Weighting, external examinations and award requirements remain subject to the approved BMIT and awarding-body arrangements.
Practical application
Practical delivery needs a properly equipped fabrication workshop, ventilation, suitable protective equipment and qualified supervision. Welding exercises must use approved procedures and controlled materials. Competence in one teaching task does not establish certification for every process, material or production application, especially safety-critical work.
Subject descriptions
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Stage 1: Foundations
Technical Numeracy
Examine units, ratios and their relationship within technical numeracy. The subject develops measurement and geometry, then examines graphs and checking calculations. Solve measurements and costing problems from a practical teaching task.
Learning outcomes
- Explain units and ratios using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving measurement and geometry.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing graphs and checking calculations.
Main topics
- Units
- Ratios
- Measurement
- Geometry
- Graphs
- Checking calculations
Practical task
Solve measurements and costing problems from a practical teaching task.
Assessment
Submit checked calculations with units and a clear explanation.
Engineering Materials
Develop your understanding of engineering materials through material classes and structure and properties. The subject develops mechanical behaviour and thermal behaviour, then examines corrosion and material selection. Compare material samples or published teaching data against a component brief.
Learning outcomes
- Explain material classes and structure and properties using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving mechanical behaviour and thermal behaviour.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing corrosion and material selection.
Main topics
- Material classes
- Structure and properties
- Mechanical behaviour
- Thermal behaviour
- Corrosion
- Material selection
Practical task
Compare material samples or published teaching data against a component brief.
Assessment
Submit a selection report explaining evidence and trade-offs.
Technical Drawing Fundamentals
Study symbols and views as foundations for technical drawing fundamentals. The subject develops dimensions and sketching, then examines instructions and checking. Produce and interpret a simple workshop drawing.
Learning outcomes
- Explain symbols and views using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving dimensions and sketching.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing instructions and checking.
Main topics
- Symbols
- Views
- Dimensions
- Sketching
- Instructions
- Checking
Practical task
Produce and interpret a simple workshop drawing.
Assessment
Submit a drawing portfolio and interpretation exercise.
Workshop Tools and Practice
Examine tool identification, care and their relationship within workshop tools and practice. The subject develops measuring tools and work preparation, then examines housekeeping and safe storage. Use approved hand tools under direct workshop supervision.
Learning outcomes
- Explain tool identification and care using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving measuring tools and work preparation.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing housekeeping and safe storage.
Main topics
- Tool identification
- Care
- Measuring tools
- Work preparation
- Housekeeping
- Safe storage
Practical task
Use approved hand tools under direct workshop supervision.
Assessment
Complete an observed practical task and tool-care record.
Occupational Safety and Risk
Develop your understanding of occupational safety and risk through hazard identification and exposure. The subject develops risk assessment and hierarchy of controls, then examines incident learning and worker participation. Review an authorised workplace case and propose proportionate controls.
Learning outcomes
- Explain hazard identification and exposure using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving risk assessment and hierarchy of controls.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing incident learning and worker participation.
Main topics
- Hazard identification
- Exposure
- Risk assessment
- Hierarchy of controls
- Incident learning
- Worker participation
Practical task
Review an authorised workplace case and propose proportionate controls.
Assessment
Submit a risk assessment and a follow-up evaluation plan.
Academic and Professional Communication
Study reading strategies and evidence use as foundations for academic and professional communication. The subject develops report structure and presentations, then examines audience and referencing. Prepare a report and presentation for a defined professional audience.
Learning outcomes
- Explain reading strategies and evidence use using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving report structure and presentations.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing audience and referencing.
Main topics
- Reading strategies
- Evidence use
- Report structure
- Presentations
- Audience
- Referencing
Practical task
Prepare a report and presentation for a defined professional audience.
Assessment
Submit revised written work and an individual presentation.
Stage 2: Technical and applied subjects
Metal Fabrication
Examine marking out, cutting concepts and their relationship within metal fabrication. The subject develops forming and assembly, then examines tolerances and quality checks. Complete approved supervised fabrication on non-safety-critical teaching work.
Learning outcomes
- Explain marking out and cutting concepts using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving forming and assembly.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing tolerances and quality checks.
Main topics
- Marking out
- Cutting concepts
- Forming
- Assembly
- Tolerances
- Quality checks
Practical task
Complete approved supervised fabrication on non-safety-critical teaching work.
Assessment
Submit drawings, measurements and an authenticated practical record.
Welding Processes and Practice
Develop your understanding of welding processes and practice through process families and joint preparation. The subject develops consumables and weld quality, then examines distortion and workshop safety. Complete selected approved welding tasks in a supervised equipped workshop.
Learning outcomes
- Explain process families and joint preparation using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving consumables and weld quality.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing distortion and workshop safety.
Main topics
- Process families
- Joint preparation
- Consumables
- Weld quality
- Distortion
- Workshop safety
Practical task
Complete selected approved welding tasks in a supervised equipped workshop.
Assessment
Submit test pieces and observed quality assessments within the authorised process scope.
Strength of Materials
Study stress and strain and elastic behaviour as foundations for strength of materials. The subject develops bending and torsion, then examines deflection and failure criteria. Interpret supervised material-test results and relate them to a component model.
Learning outcomes
- Explain stress and strain and elastic behaviour using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving bending and torsion.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing deflection and failure criteria.
Main topics
- Stress and strain
- Elastic behaviour
- Bending
- Torsion
- Deflection
- Failure criteria
Practical task
Interpret supervised material-test results and relate them to a component model.
Assessment
Submit a test report and justified calculations.
Manufacturing Processes
Examine casting concepts, forming and their relationship within manufacturing processes. The subject develops machining and joining, then examines process capability and production quality. Compare manufacturing routes for a teaching component using supervised observations.
Learning outcomes
- Explain casting concepts and forming using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving machining and joining.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing process capability and production quality.
Main topics
- Casting concepts
- Forming
- Machining
- Joining
- Process capability
- Production quality
Practical task
Compare manufacturing routes for a teaching component using supervised observations.
Assessment
Submit a process-selection and quality-control report.
NDT Principles and Reporting
Develop your understanding of ndt principles and reporting through discontinuities and method selection. The subject develops inspection scope and calibration awareness, then examines traceability and reporting. Compare inspection methods for approved teaching components.
Learning outcomes
- Explain discontinuities and method selection using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving inspection scope and calibration awareness.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing traceability and reporting.
Main topics
- Discontinuities
- Method selection
- Inspection scope
- Calibration awareness
- Traceability
- Reporting
Practical task
Compare inspection methods for approved teaching components.
Assessment
Submit a method-selection and reporting portfolio.
Surface NDT Methods
Study visual inspection and penetrant principles as foundations for surface ndt methods. The subject develops magnetic-particle principles and surface condition, then examines indications and limitations. Use approved method-specific teaching equipment under qualified supervision.
Learning outcomes
- Explain visual inspection and penetrant principles using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving magnetic-particle principles and surface condition.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing indications and limitations.
Main topics
- Visual inspection
- Penetrant principles
- Magnetic-particle principles
- Surface condition
- Indications
- Limitations
Practical task
Use approved method-specific teaching equipment under qualified supervision.
Assessment
Submit authenticated observations and indication-interpretation exercises.
Quality Management and Improvement
Examine quality criteria, process variation and their relationship within quality management and improvement. The subject develops traceability and nonconformity, then examines corrective action and improvement measures. Investigate a quality problem using permissioned records or teaching data.
Learning outcomes
- Explain quality criteria and process variation using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving traceability and nonconformity.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing corrective action and improvement measures.
Main topics
- Quality criteria
- Process variation
- Traceability
- Nonconformity
- Corrective action
- Improvement measures
Practical task
Investigate a quality problem using permissioned records or teaching data.
Assessment
Submit a quality review and a measurable improvement proposal.
Production Planning and Control
Develop your understanding of production planning and control through demand forecasting and capacity. The subject develops scheduling and inventory, then examines material requirements and performance measures. Develop a production plan using a realistic teaching dataset.
Learning outcomes
- Explain demand forecasting and capacity using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving scheduling and inventory.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing material requirements and performance measures.
Main topics
- Demand forecasting
- Capacity
- Scheduling
- Inventory
- Material requirements
- Performance measures
Practical task
Develop a production plan using a realistic teaching dataset.
Assessment
Submit a schedule and a comparison of operating scenarios.
Stage 3: Supervised practice and integration
Engineering Economics
Study time value of money and cost estimation as foundations for engineering economics. The subject develops lifecycle costs and investment appraisal, then examines sensitivity and resource decisions. Compare two feasible project options using transparent cost assumptions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain time value of money and cost estimation using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving lifecycle costs and investment appraisal.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing sensitivity and resource decisions.
Main topics
- Time value of money
- Cost estimation
- Lifecycle costs
- Investment appraisal
- Sensitivity
- Resource decisions
Practical task
Compare two feasible project options using transparent cost assumptions.
Assessment
Submit an economic appraisal and sensitivity analysis.
Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprise
Examine customer needs, value proposition and their relationship within entrepreneurship and small enterprise. The subject develops business models and costs, then examines operations and enterprise risk. Develop a small-enterprise proposal grounded in a defined local need.
Learning outcomes
- Explain customer needs and value proposition using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving business models and costs.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing operations and enterprise risk.
Main topics
- Customer needs
- Value proposition
- Business models
- Costs
- Operations
- Enterprise risk
Practical task
Develop a small-enterprise proposal grounded in a defined local need.
Assessment
Submit a feasible business concept, budget and implementation outline.
Supervised Workplace Learning
Develop your understanding of supervised workplace learning through workplace roles and approved task planning. The subject develops professional conduct and technical records, then examines feedback and reflective learning. Complete an agreed placement task under an approved workplace supervisor.
Learning outcomes
- Explain workplace roles and approved task planning using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving professional conduct and technical records.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing feedback and reflective learning.
Main topics
- Workplace roles
- Approved task planning
- Professional conduct
- Technical records
- Feedback
- Reflective learning
Practical task
Complete an agreed placement task under an approved workplace supervisor.
Assessment
Submit an authenticated work portfolio and reflective presentation.
Project Development and Feasibility
Study problem definition and evidence review as foundations for project development and feasibility. The subject develops requirements and method selection, then examines feasibility and evaluation criteria. Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem definition and evidence review using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving requirements and method selection.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing feasibility and evaluation criteria.
Main topics
- Problem definition
- Evidence review
- Requirements
- Method selection
- Feasibility
- Evaluation criteria
Practical task
Develop an approved discipline-specific project proposal with a supervisor.
Assessment
Submit a proposal, evidence review and evaluation plan.
Integrated Project and Technical Report
Examine implementation, evidence collection and their relationship within integrated project and technical report. The subject develops analysis and verification, then examines limitations and communication. Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.
Learning outcomes
- Explain implementation and evidence collection using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving analysis and verification.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing limitations and communication.
Main topics
- Implementation
- Evidence collection
- Analysis
- Verification
- Limitations
- Communication
Practical task
Complete the approved project and maintain an auditable evidence record.
Assessment
Submit the final project, report and individual oral defence.
Instructors
