Production Engineer Career in South Africa
Explore the official OFO occupation, common tasks, specialisations and approved South African qualification pathways.
Occupation overview
Devises methods to improve extraction and production and determines the need for new or modified tool designs.
What does a Production Engineer do?
A Production Engineer improves the way products and materials are extracted, made and produced. The work includes developing more effective production methods, identifying when tools need to be redesigned or modified, and helping production systems operate more efficiently. Related areas include fabrication engineering and robotics and production automation engineering.
Specialisations
How to become a Production Engineer in South Africa
- Learn about production engineering and the types of production, fabrication and automation work available in South Africa.
- Consider relevant training pathways such as the National Certificate (GETC): Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Activities (SAQA ID 23253, NQF Level 1, 124 credits), National Certificate: General Education and Training: Engineering (SAQA ID 22420, NQF Level 1, 120 credits), National Certificate: Metals Production: Manufacturing and Engineering (SAQA ID 65189, NQF Level 2, 120 credits), National Certificate: N1 Engineering Studies (SAQA ID 67109, NQF Level 1, 40 credits), or National Diploma: Mining Engineering (SAQA ID 109687, 360 credits).
- Compare the focus of each qualification with your intended area, such as fabrication, mining-related production, or robotics and production automation.
- Confirm current qualification, provider, registration and assessment details with SAQA, the relevant quality council or an accredited provider before enrolling.
- Develop practical understanding of production processes, tool design, process improvement and engineering problem-solving through suitable projects, practical learning or workplace exposure.
Edupstairs Preparation Guidance
There is no single universal qualification pathway stated for this career. The listed qualifications provide possible routes into related manufacturing, engineering, metals production or mining-engineering study, but their suitability depends on the production environment you want to enter. Confirm the current requirements and relevance of a pathway with an accredited provider or potential employer.
Useful school subjects
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- Mechanical Technology
- Computer Applications Technology
- Information Technology
Skills that may help
- Production-method improvement
- Engineering problem-solving
- Tool and equipment design thinking
- Manufacturing and metals-production awareness
- Process analysis
- Fabrication awareness
- Robotics and production automation awareness
- Ability to identify opportunities for modified or improved tools