Our unique GETC: AET NQF 1 learnership [SAQA] enables companies to achieve continuous improvement by unlocking real workforce potential. By equipping employees with foundational skills, they can further develop their competencies to perform more than one function. In this way, their useability and adaptability can be improved in the modern workplace. Multi-skilling is a proven way of bolstering productivity. However, technical skill is not enough to successfully navigate the modern workplace. Blue-collar workers now also need to be able to communicate effectively; collaborate with co-workers; and build relationships at work.
GETC: AET – inter-personal skills
Therefore, GETC: AET NQF 1 training also focuses on imparting these inter-personal, or “soft’ skills.
Over the past 40 years, many different management styles aimed at driving continuous improvement have come and gone. However, most can be described as mere “quick fixes”. They are simply “knee jerk” reactions to new operating conditions, not least of which is globalisation. Former so-called third-world nations have entered the global market with a very strategic competitive advantage, namely cost-effective labour. This enables them to manufacture products at cut-throat rates. Over the years, they have seized a sizeable market share from established players. In 2017, Chinese imports in South Africa’s manufacturing market stood at 8% of total domestic consumption.
The situation has negatively affected employment and sales growth. It has also impacted the survival rate of South African manufacturers. To compete successfully, companies have to improve productivity while also reducing their operating costs. It is a fact that those South African companies that have invested in their capabilities have been able to counter Chinese import penetration. This is compared to those companies that have not done so.
Continuous improvement cannot be achieved without investing in developing the skills of employees. Employees must be equipped with the skills needed to work according to new methods, based on speed and efficiency.
GETC: AET – learning bedrock
On the first rung of the National Qualifications Framework – SAQA, a GETC: AET NQF 1 qualification is the learning bedrock. From here, general and entry-level employees can work towards attaining an NQF 4 qualification. Thereafter, they can continue to further their knowledge by completing trade-enhancement courses. However, this is just the start. In modern workplaces, trade lines are constantly blurring. Employees are increasingly expected to do more that goes well beyond their initial “hard” skills set. Many qualified blue-collar workers also feel stifled by distinct craft lines. This is considering that it restricts their ability to grow and develop in their careers.
In today’s fast-paced workplaces, multi-skilling has become a must. A case in point is the maintenance function, a vital component of any production process. For example, previously the “change-out” of a small motor would have to be undertaken by two different artisans. An electrician would first disconnect the motor leads. Thereafter, a millwright or mechanic would disconnect the coupling; replace the motor; and perform the alignment. Then the electrician would reconnect the motor leads and inspect and possibly change the rotation. The millwright was then ready to connect the coupling halves to complete the job.
Training these employees to perform those functions beyond their normal skills enables companies to streamline scheduling. For example, a mechanic or millwright could be trained in the proper disconnection and reconnection of motor leads. He or she could also learn how to change the motor rotation. The electrician, on the other hand, could learn how to also disassemble and reassemble couplings, as well as alignment methods.
However, this approach does not only benefit employers. It also provides an opportunity for employees to earn incremental wage increases for their additional skills. Moreover, by enhancing their skills sets, employees ensure that they remain relevant.
GETC: AET addresses training limitations
Our GETC: AET NQF 1 learnership addresses traditional training model limitations.
Existing training programmes tend to only focus or place most of the emphasis on teaching job-specific skills or “hard” skills. Very little attention – if any – is given to developing personal values; mature attitudes; and confident self-knowledge. Individuality, creativity and an ability to think for oneself are now also considered to be assets on the assembly line.
Equipped with both “soft” and “hard” skills, employees are well-balanced and, therefore, better able to fulfil future corporate needs.
Importantly, these personal traits also facilitate further learning. For instance, continuing to learn and train on increasingly more pieces of equipment not only furthers machine operators’ knowledge base. It also facilitates career growth, while also enabling companies to quickly move their employees laterally or vertically. This flexibility is especially beneficial when companies have to respond quickly to unpredictable problems. Among others, these may include absence due to prolonged illness or a reduction in staffing levels due to redundancy or a recruitment “freeze”. Certainly, multi-skilling is also a way of building capacity during periods of growth.
GETC: AET takes ABET further
GETC: AET NQF 1 takes ABET [https://static.pmg.org.za/docs/2002/appendices/020917abet.htm] further to address these limitations in conventional training models.
For example, Life Orientation (LO) is a core learning area that, together with adult literacy and numeracy training, develops employees’ life skills. These help employees to overcome self-defeating behavioural problems. By attending LO classes, employees learn and practice new abilities to minimise or even eliminate weaknesses. This enables them to maximise their potential so that they can achieve success at work.
One of the life skills that our GETC: AET NQF 1 learnership imparts is communication and active listening. Clear communication is important in all aspects of life, including the workplace. Face-to-face talk; messages; orders; and information transfer all involve listening, understanding and reacting [SAQA].
To perform their jobs efficiently, blue-collar factory workers, for example, need timely access to accurate information. Failures in internal communication can lead to production disruptions; quality problems; and safety risks. For example, changes on a production line must be communicated quickly and effectively to all team members. This is to reduce errors and ensure continuity. Research has demonstrated that internal communication systems can enable employees to work up to 30% more efficiently.
Employees with good communication skills and an appreciation of diversity [SAQA] can also better manage conflicts. These usually arise due to different opinions and contrasting interests. Tension also occurs when people do not know how to work with other people of different backgrounds and cultural beliefs. Certainly, both racism and sexism among employees can also lead to tension in the workplace.
GETC: AET – Social Sciences
Therefore, these important topics are also thoroughly covered by GETC: AET NQF 1 Human and Social Sciences [SAQA]. This is one of a number of academic subjects that are offered as part of our learnership. These were strategically selected with input from many companies operating across a broad spectrum of labour-intensive industries.
Driven largely by legislation [https://www.labour.gov.za/DocumentCenter/Publications/Employment%20Equity/What%20employers%20and%20workers%20need%20to%20know%20about%20Employment%20Equity/EE%20pamphlet%20opt%20red.pdf], South African workplaces are becoming diverse. However, this presents challenges. These include addressing biases and promoting a culture of respect and understanding.
GETC: AET – knowledge of self
GETC: AET NQF 1 LO teaches knowledge of self and understanding one’s identity and role within society [SAQA]. A positive self-image is important to be happy, motivated and successful. Conversely, employees with a poor self-image can have negative behaviours in the workplace. Worse still, they also pass this on to other team members.
Attending LO classes, employees also learn how to live healthy lifestyles [SAQA]. This includes the ability to manage stress that comes from working in high-performance workplaces. Certainly, stress is not always a negative factor. It may be necessary as an impetus to growth and productive change. However, it can also lead to fatigue, depression and a feeling of being overwhelmed. This is when stress impacts performance in the workplace.
Factory work, in particular, is becoming increasingly more complex, demanding more from employees. This can lead to stress and even anxiety and depression if not managed correctly. Then there are a host of other factors that add to stress levels in these workplaces. Among others, these include noise, vibration and dangerous machines.
Workers in the mining industry are also prone to extremely high incidences of stress. This is owing to the employment conditions in the industry. The environment is characterised by hard physical labour. Many employees also work underground where the conditions are both psychologically and physically challenging. This is in addition to the physical danger that these work environments pose.
GETC: AET – thinking and creativity
By teaching literacy and numeracy [SAQA] skills, GETC: AET NQF develops the basis of critical and logical thinking, as well as creativity. These are needed to cope, adapt and succeed in constantly evolving workplaces. Usual approaches are no longer adequate for optimum problem-solving and innovation. Equipped with basic education skills at a NQF 1, employees can explore, investigate and try different ideas to overcome challenges. Through the meticulous study of academic subjects, they further develop their capacity to use different thinking skills and tools. In creative problem-solving, employees need to use the entire brain. This is irrespective of whether they are inherently left-sided analytical or right-sided creative thinkers.
Most blue-collar workers will encounter unique issues that require creative and logical solutions. However, while the best problem-solvers are individually brilliant, they are also well aware of their limitations. Therefore, they are not afraid to ask more knowledgeable people for advice and use expert opinions to make sound decisions.
Our learnership also teaches another valuable life skill, namely time management. Successful employees also know how to manage their time. They think systematically about how they should spend their time to enhance the likelihood of accomplishing important objectives. A key to time management [https://allqs.saqa.org.za/showUnitStandard.php?id=15091] is being aware of the value of investing time in planning and establishing priorities.
Most blue-collar employees work to very tight deadlines. Therefore, employees need to be punctual and focus on work during their shifts. This enables them to complete tasks accordingly and prevent holdups. These and other desirable traits are also further developed by LO [SAQA]
GETC: AET – teamwork and collaboration
These GETC: AET NQF 1 skills also facilitate teamwork and collaboration, further important “soft” skills.
Because they respect different viewpoints and backgrounds, employees can collaborate with diverse teams to achieve common goals.
They can also resolve conflicts within the team constructively to avoid hindering progress.
Moreover, they can apply their problem-solving skills as a team. Collectively, your employees can analyse issues; brainstorm solutions; and chart the most effective way forward.
Learn more about Triple E Training, a leading provider of quality GETC: AET NQF 1 training to industry. www.eee.co.za
