The SATISI forum (South African Tooling Industry Support Initiative) jointly hosted by the CSIR and the AIDC engaged with the DTI as early as 2002 for support for the ailing South African Tool, Die and Mould making industry.

The DTI / NEDLAC Fund for Research into Industrial Development Growth and Equity (FRIDGE) commissioned a research study in 2004, to assess the status of the South African Tool, Die and Mould making industry and to recommend a STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNATIONALLY COMPETITIVE TOOLING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA. Emphasis was also placed on job creation.

The research was jointly sanctioned by the CSIR, the AIDC and TASA (representing industry), through the SATISI forum.

The research was conducted by Blueprint International (Pty) Ltd and the research report was completed in June 2005. The report is available under the TASA usefull documents section.

Quoting from the Executive Summary of this report:

"The research has found that the South African TDM industry is not currently well positioned to take advantage of the growth opportunities available to it but that it has the possibility of adapting efficiently and effectively if an Industry Master Plan is adopted by all stakeholders and implemented thoroughly over the next ten years."

and further

"....the industry is strategically critical for South African manufacturing as an underpinning industry. Every manufacturer in South and Southern Africa needs tools, dies or moulds in order to manufacture. To the extent that these can be supplied competitively locally, this improves the competitive capability of all South African industry across the board. Equally, the industry is relatively labour intensive, and requires skills at all levels. Even if the industry did not grow, some action would be required to prevent job losses. Since many of the TDMs in South Africa are small enterprises, job creation potential is high and barriers to entry at the lower tech levels are relatively low. Finally, the TDM process is an extremely high value added process. Even though the raw materials are largely imported, such substantial value is added that from a value add point of view, it is a desirable industry to support."

In April 2005 the DTI made R1.1m available to TASA, through it's SSAS program (Sector Specific Assistance Scheme), in order to develop a multi stakeholder master plan for the rehabilitation of the industry. This master plan has been completed, submitted to and accepted by the DTI.

The NTIP (Pty) Ltd, the agency created for management and execution of the SSAS program as well as for management and execution of the future master plan, is now engaged with the DTI in order to define and mobilise future support for the NTI.