Table Of ContentAssessor’s Guidelines and
Assessment Guidance for the
SVQs in Supply Chain
Management at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5
Part 1: Mandatory Units
Publication date: November 2006
2nd edition: February 2009
3rd edition: April 2011
Publication code: DB3450/3
Published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority
The Optima Building, 58 Robertson Street Glasgow G2 8DQ, and Ironmills Road,
Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 1LE
The information in this publication may be reproduced in support of SQA qualifications. If it is
reproduced, SQA should be clearly acknowledged as the source. If it is to be used for any other
purpose, then written permission must be obtained from the Support Materials Development
Officer at SQA. It must not be reproduced for trade or commercial purposes.
© Scottish Qualifications Authority 2006, 2009, 2011
History of changes
It is anticipated that changes will take place during the life of the qualification,
and this section will record these changes. This document is the latest version and
incorporates the changes summarised below.
Version Description Date Authorised by
Number
3 Unit code DX6H 04 amended to April 2011 Qualifications Officer
DX6F 04 throughout
Contents
About this guide 1
Introduction 2
About SVQs 2
How are standards defined in SVQs? 3
Who is involved in SVQs? 3
The steps involved in assessing a candidate for an SVQ 4
1 The SVQs in Supply Chain Management 5
Structure of the SVQs 7
An assessment strategy for the SVQ 10
Why would people be interested in the SVQ? 10
How do candidates begin? 10
2 Preparing to assess the SVQ 12
Planning 13
Selecting methods of assessment 16
Methods of assessment 17
3 Generating evidence 24
Observation 25
Questions and candidate responses 27
Candidate‘s personal statement 29
Witness testimony 31
Filling the gaps 33
Guidance and support to candidates 34
Judging candidate evidence and making an assessment decision 34
4 Recording achievement 36
Completing the Unit progress record 37
Completing the Element achievement record 41
5 Further information 44
What else should I read? 44
6 Mandatory Units with Assessment Guidance 45
Level 2 Mandatory Units 46
Level 3 Mandatory Units 52
Level 4 Mandatory Units 61
Level 5 Mandatory Units 79
7 Blank recording forms 98
8 Supply Chain Management: The Units (Standards) 107
9 Imported Management Standards Centre Units (Standards) 215
2
About this guide
This guide provides some practical examples of how to assess your candidates for
the SVQ in Supply Chain Management at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5. You may be able
to think of other ways of assessing your candidates and recording your decisions
about their competence.
Using assessments based on these examples does not guarantee successful
verification — it is still your responsibility to ensure that internal quality
assurance procedures are followed.
1
Introduction
This introduction provides a brief overview of SVQs and how they are assessed in
the workplace. If you are already familiar with the concept of SVQs, you may
wish to go to the next section.
About SVQs
Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) are work-based qualifications which
set the level of occupational competence for each sector of the economy. The
qualifications have been designed by standards-setting bodies (SSB) or Sector
Skills Councils (SSC) made up of experienced practitioners who represent
employers, professional bodies, trade unions, education and voluntary
organisations.
Each standards-setting body or sector skills council is responsible for developing
national standards which define what employees (or potential employees) must be
able to do, how well, and in what circumstances, to show that they are competent
in their work.
Each SVQ which a standards-setting body or sector skills council develops has to
fit into a broad framework which allows qualifications in the UK and throughout
Europe to be compared. SVQs are specified at five levels which reflect the various
technical and supervisory skills, knowledge and experience, which employees
should have as they progress in their industry.
Explanation of levels
Level 1 Defines competent performance in a range of activities which are
largely routine and predictable.
Level 2 Specifies that competent performance must be shown in a broader
range of work activities which are less routine and predictable. The
employee will have more autonomy and responsibility, and may have
to work as part of a team.
Level 3 Specifies that competent performance must involve the employee in
carrying out a broad range of varied work activities, most of which
are complex and non-routine. There is considerable autonomy and
responsibility, including the possibility of controlling or guiding
others.
Level 4 Specifies competence as complex technical or professional work
activities which require a substantial degree of personal autonomy or
responsibility. Managing staff and other resources is often involved.
Level 5 Specifies competent performance as involving the employee in
carrying out a significant range of activities in a wide variety of
situations which are often unpredictable. Substantial responsibility
and autonomy is involved in the work, which requires decision-
making in the allocation of resources and the work of others. This
will require complex skills such as analysis, design and evaluation.
2
How are standards defined in SVQs?
All SVQs consist of standards which can be broken down into various parts.
Units define the broad functions carried out in the sector, and are made up of a
number of Elements. These Elements describe the activities which employees
have to perform, and will require candidates to demonstrate certain skills or
knowledge and understanding.
The quality of performance in what people must be able to do — how well they
have to perform — is described by Performance Requirements. These may also
be called statements of competence or what candidates should do.
The section on application of knowledge and understanding says what candidates
must know and understand, and how this knowledge applies to their jobs.
You may also come across standards containing statements on scope. These
statements could, for example, list the equipment that candidates are expected to
be familiar with and use in their occupational area.
Increasingly, you may see changes to this format as standards become more user-
friendly and are written in plain English. For example, there may be some
standards containing Achievement Criteria, but over time these should
disappear. You may, however, find that information on the context, nature and
amount of evidence which is required to prove competence (which used to be
given in Range Statements and Evidence Requirements) is now defined in the
assessment guidance for the qualification. Assessment guidance is drawn up by
the awarding body and is often packaged along with the standards to form the
SVQ. Assessment guidance is produced within this document for each of the
mandatory Units.
Who is involved in SVQs?
There are several roles:
the candidate: the person who wants to achieve the SVQ (eg an
employee)
the assessor*: the person who assesses the candidates and decides if
they are competent (eg supervisor)
the internal verifier*: an individual nominated by the centre (eg a company)
who ensures that assessors apply the standards
uniformly and consistently (eg supervisor‘s line
manager)
the external verifier*: an individual appointed by SQA who ensures that
standards are being applied uniformly and
consistently across all centres offering the SVQ
3
*Assessors and verifiers in centres will be asked by SQA to prove they have the
appropriate occupational competence to assess and verify the SVQ. Occupational
competence has been defined by the SSC in the assessment strategy for these
SVQ(s).
Assessors and verifiers are also expected to obtain an appropriate qualification in
assessment and verification — the Assessor/Verifier Units (the national standards
for assessment and verification).
The steps involved in assessing a candidate for an
SVQ
In deciding whether a candidate should get an SVQ, you will go through these
stages:
planning for assessment
generating and collecting evidence of the candidate‘s competence in the Units
judging the evidence of the candidate‘s ability and making an assessment
decision based on the evidence
recording the assessment decision and the candidate‘s achievement
4
1 The SVQs in Supply Chain
Management
The SVQs in Supply Chain Management were developed as part of the Polemics
Project under the auspices of the Sector Skills Council, Skills for Logistics. They
are intended for people in the Supply Chain.
These people may be working as any of the following:
Material Planner
Purchasing Manager
Material Scheduler
Supply Chain Manager
Buyer
Warehouse Assistant
Procurement Assistant
Senior Procurement Manager
Customers Logistics Manager
Director of Supply Chain
Procurement & Contract Officer
Senior Buyer
Inventory Controller
Distribution Supervisor
Logistics Assistant/Supervisor
Contract Manager
Category Manager
Planner
Strategic Supply Chain Manager
Material Manager
Expeditor
Assistant Purchasing Manager
Warehouse Supervisor
Global Supplies Manager
Strategic Procurement Manager
Supplies Assistant
Logistics Manager
Assistant Buyer
Commercial Manager
Contracts Assistant
Logistics & Supply Analyst
Warehouse & Transport Team Manager
Imports Manager
Demand Planner
Supply Chain Development Manager
Logistics & Warehouse Manager
Distribution Supervisor
Export Assistant
Global Supply Chain Director
5
They will require skills and knowledge in certain areas appropriate to the SVQ
level:
Level 2 The candidate should have reasonable numeracy and writing skills.
Level 3 The candidate should have some supervisory experience within the
Supply Chain and have adequate writing and calculative skills and
have the ability to relate to those around them.
Level 4 The candidate should have some supervisory/managerial
experience and able to work closely with others within the Supply
Chain. They should also be able to write cohesively, deal with
complex issues and possess good numeracy skills.
Level 5 The candidates should be experienced managers/senior managers
able to communicate effectively at all levels, to create high value
relationships and be able to convey complex issues along the
Supply Chain to others effectively.
The SVQs are designed to be assessed in the workplace or in conditions of the
workplace. Examples of the settings in which the SVQs could be delivered
include:
Further Education Colleges
Training Providers
Employers Centres
Collaborations between any of the above centres.
To assist centres the SQA codes for each of the group award and Unit titles have
been included in this document. The SQA code is the alpha numeric four and two
digit reference which appears after each Unit or group award title. The original
Unit code which represents the National Occupational Standard reference is also
given for each Unit and appears immediately before each Unit title.
6
Structure of the SVQs
This section lists the Units which form the SVQs in Supply Chain Management.
SVQ in Supply Chain Management Level 2 (G881 22)
Total number of Units available for selection in this qualification is 11.
Total number of Units that the candidate needs to achieve for the qualification is 5.
Mandatory Units
SQA Ref SSC Ref Title
DX55 04 Unit T21 Contribute to operational relationships within the supply chain
DX6K 04 Unit T22 Obtain information on the supply chain
Optional Units: any 3 Units from 9 have to be achieved
DX5P 04 Unit T12 Identify potential suppliers for the supply chain
DX6L 04 Unit T13 Place orders with suppliers
DX61 04 Unit T14 Monitor and progress the delivery of orders
DX67 04 Unit T15 Monitor the flow of supplies in the supply chain
DX6G 04 Unit T16 Obtain information on storage locations and facilities
DX6F 04 Unit T17 Obtain information on distribution requirements
DX65 04 Unit T18 Monitor the distribution of supplies
DX69 04 Unit T19 Monitor the flow of returned supplies
DX6D 04 Unit T20 Monitor the transportation of supplies
SVQ in Supply Chain Management Level 3 (G882 23)
Total number of Units available for selection in this qualification is 20.
Total number of Units that the candidate needs to achieve for the qualification is 9.
Mandatory Units
SQA Ref SSC Ref Title
DX5Y 04 Unit T1 Maintain operational relationships within the supply chain
DX4X 04 Unit T2 Analyse information on the supply chain
DX50 04 Unit T3 Apply improvements to the supply chain
Optional Units: any 6 Units from 17 have to be achieved
DX63 04 Unit T4 Monitor the achievement of project tasks
DX56 04 Unit T5 Control supplies at storage locations and facilities
DX52 04 Unit T6 Complete export procedures and requirements
DX53 04 Unit T7 Complete import procedures and requirements
DX4V 04 Unit T8 Administer contracts
DX4W 04 Unit T9 Analyse information on the procurement of supplies in the supply
chain
DX7E 04 Unit T10 Verify the capability of suppliers to meet supply specifications
DX4Y 04 Unit T11 Analyse the performance of suppliers
DX5P 04 Unit T12 Identify potential suppliers for the supply chain
DX6L 04 Unit T13 Place orders with suppliers
DX61 04 Unit T14 Monitor and progress the delivery of orders
DX67 04 Unit T15 Monitor the flow of supplies in the supply chain
DX6G 04 Unit T16 Obtain information on storage locations and facilities
7
Description:This guide provides some practical examples of how to assess your candidates
for the SVQ in Supply Chain Management at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5. You may be
