Industries
Find out about the different industries
Competenz qualifications cover the following areas:
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
General Engineering
What does it involve?
Training as a General Engineer in an engineering workshop, where the work requires a broad variety of engineering skills and knowledge. General Engineers learn about fitting, machining, welding, maintenance, repair, hydraulics, pneumatics, marine or rail engineering, and/or fabrication.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Mechanical Engineering (including machining and toolmaking, fitting and turning, machinery maintenance or precision engineering)
- Fabrication (including welding, structural steel work, etc)
- Making one-off items to a customer’s specifications (within a variety of different industries)
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – General Engineering, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (General and Maintenace Engineering), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified), increases with experience.
Maintenance Engineering
What does it involve?
Maintenance Engineers are trained with a focus on maintaining machinery to be reliable on the production line, usually within a manufacturing environment.
Maintenance Engineers typically have a planned approach to maintenance, involving computerised maintenance systems and condition monitoring, where the work may require a broad variety of engineering skills and knowledge.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Maintain machinery onsite at a production / manufacturing business
- Shut-down maintenance work for other companies in the engineering/manufacturing/mining industries
- Machinery adjustments to meet production requirements
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – Maintenance, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (General and Maintenace Engineering), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified), increases with experience.
Machining
What does it involve?
People awarded with this certificate are able to manufacture precision componentry from engineering materials using a wide range of machining and hand processes.
What kind of jobs could I do?
As part of their job, machinists make precision metal parts utilizing machine tools like lathes, milling machines, and machining centres. Normally parts will be made in large volumes, but precision machinists also make small quantities of unique or special parts. In order to make products that hold to strict specs, machinist must rely on their knowledge and understanding of the metals’ properties while utilizing their skills and abilities in combination with machine tools.
- Making parts for new machines or reconditioning components for existing machinery
- Making moulds and dies for use in the plastics industry
- Manufacturing precision components for the automotive and construction industry
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – Machining, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Precision Engineering), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $40,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified), increases with experience.
Toolmaking
What does it involve?
Toolmakers are trained in engineering skills and knowledge needed to make moulds, dies, gauges, jigs, tooling, press tooling, and fixtures for industrial processes. Many common household items, such as aerosol and paint cans, start with a toolmaker’s design
Tools are typically used in sheet metal presses, or in injection moulding, blow moulding, extrusion, and pressure diecasting operations.
You’ll become knowledgable on tool operation and Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) design programs, and also machining using computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining centres or electro-discharge machines (EDM).
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Design and manufacture moulds, dies or casts for mass-produced product containers (for example paint and aerosol cans, etc)
- Design and manufacture one-off tools needed within industry
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – Toolmaking , with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mecahnical Engineering (Precision Engineering), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $40,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Fitting and Machining
What does it involve?
Machinists require training in machine building, where both precision fitting and machining skills are needed. A machinist’s work typically involves the assembly, alignment and machining of components to close tolerances, plus the installation of machines, hydraulic or pneumatic control systems. Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machinery and basic toolmaking skills and knowledge are often needed, too.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Building new machines or rebuilding components for existing machinery
- Testing, troubleshooting and maintaining alignment of machinery and their components
- Making prototypes for testing purposes
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – Fitting and Machining, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Precision Engineering), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $40,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified), increases with experience.
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
What does it involve?
Knowledge in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning technologies (including electrical knowledge), the fabrication and installation of units, safe use of refrigerants, as well as supervisory, business and administration skills.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Refrigeration engineering (installing and maintaining refrigeration systems in warehouses, ships, containers, trucks and other settings)
- Ventilation and air conditioning engineering (fabricating, installing and maintaining systems in office buildings, hospitals and factories)
- Installing split system air conditioning units
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Mechanical Services), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
What does it involve?
Knowledge in the fields of advanced heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology, supervision, business and administration.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Installing split system air conditioning units
- Ventilation and air conditioning engineering (fabricating, installing and maintaining systems in office buildings, hospitals and factories)
- Refrigeration engineering (installing and maintaining refrigeration systems in warehouses, ships, containers, trucks and other settings)
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Mechanical Services), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Fabrication (Light, Heavy, or Steel Construction)
What does it involve?
Fabricators (or sheet metal workers, boiler makers, steel construction workers, and fitter-welders) all need to be trained in a common foundation of engineering and fabrication skills. But not all fabricators are alike, so specialised ‘strands’ of training are available depending on the type of work you are likely to do.
Heavy Fabricators work with heavier gauge plate, sections, and pipes, to produce a wide variety of products including pressure vessels (such as boilers).
Light Fabricators typically work with sheet metals and lighter gauge plate, sections, and pipes to produce a large variety of metal products used commercially and in private.
Steel Construction training is for fabricators who manufacture and install structural steel components for buildings and civil engineering projects.
What kind of jobs could I do?
Depending on the type of fabrication work you want to specialise in, you could
- Make heavy road transport trailers, stainless steel tankers, pressurised boilers or similar products
- Manufacture light-gauge metal products, such as steam line or product line pipework within plants
- Make and install I-beams and other structural steel components for buildings and civil engineering projects
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Engineering – Fabrication specialising in either Heavy Fabrication, Light Fabrication, or Steel Construction, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Engineering Fabrication), or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Locksmithing
What does it involve?
Locksmiths are trained to design, install, and service a wide range of locking systems, manufacture a range of key types, and develop knowledge to cover motor vehicles, safes, and other specialist locking systems.
You’ll be trained to use the specific knowledge, skills and tools to needed in this industry while learning about and maintaining a code of ethics that is important in this industry. You may also develop general skills such as computing and basic first aid that are desirable for workers in this industry to have.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Work for a large, national locksmithing company with both commercial and private customers
- Start your own business as an independent locksmith (for private or commercial clients)
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 4 National Certificate in Locksmithing.
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $60,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Manufacturing
What does it involve?
Understanding how production lines, the machinery, and manufacturing processes work. And as you advance in your career you’ll need a range of personnel management and organisational skills. Training around competitive manufacturing principles and applying them within a production environment is often valued within the wider manufacturing industries.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Assisting in the making of household brands
- Supporting the Engineering industry
- Making key components for other industries
- Production Operator (operating factory machines)
- Team Leader (managing a team of factory machine operators)
- Pathway to line or technical manager
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A Level 2 National Certificate in Manufacturing (Core Skills), through to a National Certificate in Manufacturing (Metal and Related Products or Metal Casting) up to Level 4 for those working in the metals manufacturing sector.
How much could I earn?
Between $30,000 – $50,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
What does it involve?
Learning the standard operational processes within a food production environment, worksite safety, and interpersonal communications.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Miller (making flour products)
- Brewery Worker (making beer products)
- Production Worker / Manager (managing production lines)
- Food Manufacturer (making food products)
- Wine Cellar Hand
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
National Certificate in Food & Related Products Processing (up to Level 4)
How much could I earn?
Between $30,000 – $50,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Baking
What does it involve?
Mixing, preparing, baking and decorating cakes, breads, pastries and/or other goods for consumers to purchase and eat.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Baker (making breads, pastries, biscuits, and/or cakes)
- Confectioner (making chocolate and sweet products)
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
Up to a Level 4 National Certificate in Baking (Craft, Plant or Instore/Franchise).
How much could I earn?
Between $30,000 – $45,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Rail Transport
What does it involve?
Training in the rail industry is more varied than yu might think. You can train as a Locomotive Engineer where recognise the skills and knowledge required
- the haulage of freight trains
- the haulage of passenger trains
- the operation of multiple units and/or railcars all on network routes
- maintenance of rail infrastructure (tracks, structures, signals)
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Locomotive Engineer
- Track and signal maintenance personnel
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
National Certificate in Rail Transport, Rail Operations (Locomotive Engineering) or Rail Infrastructure (up to Level 4).
How much could I earn?
Between $35,000 – $50,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Maritime
What does it involve?
The qualification recognises that the holder has the marine engineering, seamanship and navigation skills necessary to take charge of a vessel, operate its radar and radio, and to maintain the sea safety of the vessel and its personnel including the sea survival functions of distress response and first aid.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Deckhand (working as part of a ship crew)
- Marine Hospitality Crew Member (working in food production/entertainment on ships)
- Launchmaster (managing ship staff)
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A National Certificate in Maritime (up to Level 4).
How much could I earn?
Between $30,000 – $50,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.
Fire Protection
The Fire Protection industry offers a wide variety of career and training options, many of which are related to mechanical engineering skills and knowledge.
What kind of jobs could I do?
- Surveying, selecting, installing, commissioning and maintaining hand operated firefighting equipment
- Inspection and testing of fire detection and alarm systems
- Installation of fire sprinkler systems, or the testing of fire sprinkler systems and fixed systems
- special hazards fire protection systems
- Installation and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems
- Inspection and testing of fire safety systems
What kind of qualification would I end up with?
A National Certificate in Fire Protection (up to Level 4) in any one of a number of disciplines, with the option to continue studying for a Level 5 National Certificate in Mechanical Engeering – Fire Protection, or the NZ Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) at a number of tertiary providers.
How much could I earn?
Between $30,000 – $50,000 per year (newly qualified) – increases with experience.