Title
Version
Level
1
4
Qualification type Certificate
Credits 120
NZSCED 030108 Engineering and Related Technologies > Manufacturing,
Engineering and Technology > Plastics Processing Technology
Qualification developer Competenz
December 2020 Next review
Approval date
Strategic purpose statement
October 2015
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the plastics processing industry with competent employees who have the skills and knowledge to manage, optimise, and maintain the processing of plastics.
It is intended to be attainable in a variety of plastics processing contexts.
Learners will benefit by having a qualification within a training pathway that recognises progression through the plastics processing industry, as well as increased skills and knowledge acquisition to improve job performance and career opportunities.
Learners will typically be already working in the plastics processing industry. Graduates will be able to work as competent plastics engineers under broad guidance, and may have some responsibility for the performance of others.
Graduate profile Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
- quality assure the production of plastics
- carry out plastics processing trials of new products or product changes
- apply advanced knowledge of processing machinery to manage plastics processing
- apply advanced knowledge of processing materials to manage plastics processing
- troubleshoot plant and equipment to identify and communicate faults
- identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to improve plastics product processing.
Education pathway
Qualification Reference 2975
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates may progress to the New Zealand Certificate in
Plastics Engineering Technology (Level 5) [Ref: 2976] or transition to generic engineering qualifications.
Graduates keen to specialise in workplace management may
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Employment pathway progress to the New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line
Management) (Level 4) [Ref: 2456].
Graduates may be employed with technical responsibility for plastics processing operations under broad guidance. The qualification may be used as part of a New Zealand apprenticeship in a plastics engineering programme.
Qualification award
Evidence requirements for assuring consistency
This qualification can be awarded by an organisation which has an approved programme of study or industry training programme leading to the qualification.
The certificate will display the logo of the New Zealand
Qualifications Framework (NZQF) and may display the name and/or logo of the awarding body.
Evidence must include the following:
- employer surveys to determine if graduates of the qualification meet graduate profile outcomes
- evidence of effective processes to ensure programmes continue to meet current industry needs
- a range of workplace evidence demonstrating that graduates meet the graduate profile outcomes
- any other relevant evidence as appropriate
Further information on the consistency process can be found on the NZQA website.
Achieved. Minimum standard of achievement and standards for grade endorsements
General conditions for programme
It is expected that fundamental health and safety awareness will be a focus at the start of the programme, and further embedded in all on-job and off-job learning throughout the duration of the programme.
It is expected that the learning of technical knowledge and skills will be reinforced through application in a commercial environment.
Should unit standards be specified in a programme of study or industry training programme leading to this qualification, please consult the explanatory notes section of the unit standards concerned, as there may be legislative and health and safety requirements.
Qualification Reference 2975
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes Conditions
1 Quality assure the production of plastics.
Credits 20
Programmes must include:
- quality assurance tools to establish and develop quality assurance specifications for plastics products and processes
- undertaking root cause analysis to determine cause of production and quality issues, and making recommendations for their resolution.
2 Carry out plastics processing trials of new products or product changes.
Credits 10
Programmes must include:
- developing trial specifications to design requirements
- carrying out pre-trial preparation
- setting up machinery and associated equipment for trial, and identifying relevant staff members to participate in trial procedures
- monitoring trial and making adjustments if required to meet design requirements
- recording trial results according to design requirements
- reporting trial conclusions and making recommendations including specifying retrial if necessary.
3 Apply advanced knowledge of processing machinery to manage plastics processing.
Credits 30
Programmes must include:
- complex processes, processing and ancillary machinery, tooling and associated processing issues
- communicating machinery and tooling set up requirements using detailed engineering drawings.
4 Apply advanced knowledge of plastics materials to manage plastics processing.
Credits 20
Programmes must include:
- plastics product development
- polymer morphology
- plastics materials test methods
- polymer physical failure
- plasticisation
- plastics mixing requirements
- plastics additives.
5 Troubleshoot plant and equipment to identify and communicate faults.
Credits 20
Programmes must include :
- control systems, fault identification, description, reporting
- mechatronics
- electronics
- pneumatics
- hydraulics
- interpretation of engineering drawings and specifications, and schematics
Page 3 of 4 Qualification Reference 2975
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015

- mould maintenance
- bearings.
6 Identify areas for improvement and make recommendations to improve plastics product processing.
Credits 20
Programmes must include:
- diagnosing, monitoring and resolving routine and critical processing issues to maintain production requirements and product quality
- analysing plastics processing line data and making recommendations for process optimisation.
Replacement information This qualification replaces the following:
- National Certificate in Plastics Processing Technology
(Technical) (Level 4) with strands in Injection Moulding,
Extrusion, Extrusion Blow Moulding, Thermoforming, Blown
Film Extrusion, Injection Stretch-Blow Moulding Single Stage,
Injection Stretch-Blow Moulding Two Stage, and Rotational
Moulding [Ref: 0396]
- National Certificate in Engineering and Technology (Plastics
Engineering) (Level 4) with strands in Injection Moulding,
Extrusion, Blow Moulding, Pressure Thermoforming, Vacuum
Thermoforming, Blown Film Extrusion, Film Conversion,
Injection Stretch-Blow Moulding, and Rotational Moulding
[Ref: 1407]
The last date for entry into the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2017.
The last date for assessment against the replaced qualification is 31 December 2019.
It is anticipated that no existing candidates will be disadvantaged by these transition arrangements.
However, anyone who feels that they have been disadvantaged may appeal to Competenz at the address below. Appeals will be considered on a case by case basis.
Competenz, PO Box 9005, Newmarket, Auckland 1149.
Qualification Reference 2975
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
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