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Black businesses in the automotive industry in South Africa might soon benefit from a new business agreement with their counterparts in the US.A delegation of US small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) automotive component companies visited South Africa earlier this month to partner US minority business owners in the automotive space with black South African business and SMEs that could benefit from the knowledge and expertise of these US companiesFocal areas included the transfer of technical skills and knowledge, the creation of jobs and the development of a pool of black South Africans that would be ready and capable of operating their own companies or becoming executives in other companies.
The US minority companies on this mission are currently supplying original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 suppliers in the US, such as medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer Navistar, and are seeking to partner with automotive suppliers in South Africa.The aim is to invest in these partnerships and then jointly continue to supply their OEM customers. Each of the companies is a successful business that has been or is capable of oper- ating globally and is committed to working with the South African Department of Trade and Industry to facilitate business with its counterparts in South Africa in support of the South African automotive industry.A number of the OEMs in South Africa are already customers of these minority companies in the US, Mexico, Canada and Brazil.
The mission was provided with an insight into the challenges faced by the South African tool, die and mouldmaking (TDM) industry as a core support industry for the automotive industry.The group visited the Tshwane South College for Further Education and Training’s Pretoria West campus, which is one of the 12 sites countrywide facilitating the training of artisans for the local TDM industry.National Tooling Initiative Programme (NTIP) CEO Dirk van Dyk told the delegation that South Africa was successfully implementing a rehabilitation strategy for the local TDM industry. The NTIP introduced the first pilot programme for foundation-level training of artisans in 2010 and achieved a remarkable pass rate of more than 80%.The NTIP is a member company of the Tooling Association of South Africa (TASA).The mission also visited the Automotive Supplier Park, in Rosslyn, Pretoria, where they were introduced to interested South African toolmaking companies. The delegation indicated particular interest in supporting local toolmaking companies and alluded to the possibility of investing in one of the existing toolmaking companies currently supporting the Tier 1 suppliers in the park.
The mission members indicated that they had been successful in supporting companies and creating jobs in India. They are confident that, with the skills base being established by the TDM programme, they can do the same in South Africa.

This could give the drive in the TDM sector a significant boost. Gauteng Tooling Initiative CEO Henk Snyman said this job creation initiative and potential support from US companies could not have come at a more opportune time.

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Training is the tool for job creation

The Toolmaking Association of South Africa (TASA)’s implementation agency, the NTIP (National Tooling Initiative Programme), has signed an agreement with Machine Simulation SA, for the supply of advanced Dassault Systemes Europe training software to the tooling manufacturing industry.

The software supplied to NTIP by Machine Simulation SA for use in the NTIP’s TDM Powered Apprenticeship Programme represents a private sector investment of millions in training in the SA tooling industry.

Gauteng Tooling Initiative (GTI) CEO Henk Snyman says the tooling manufacturing industry needs to have state of the art electronic and computer aided design content as part of the industry’s curriculum to meet global and international standards.

“The National Tooling Initiative Programme chose Dassault Systemes Catia for the local training curriculum to equip students with skills in 2D and 3D drawings, solids, CNC CAD/CAM, core and cavity design and functional moulded part design because of the comprehensive training suite offered by the Catia educational solution” Snyman says.

Dassault Systemes’ portfolio of products is rated as the global standard in industry, as it offers a full “end to end” product lifecycle management solution (PLM) - from concept to design and simulation to manufacturing. The software is supplied by Jim Plester of Machine Simulation SA and is supported by Dassault Systemes Europe.

Plester says it is critically important for South Africa to develop a proper manufacturing base. “This agreement will enhance job creation as it will enable the industry to improve training and skills development. Local companies will benefit from the extended pool of trained artisans, proficient in the industry standard CAD/CAM solution. Machine Simulation SA as an industry partner is very keen to see this happening”, Plester says.

Snyman has expressed his sincere thanks to Machine Simulation SA for the company’s contribution to training in the tooling manufacturing industry and it’s commitment to the industry and TASA/GTI projects.

Please contact Henk Snyman of TASA at 012 663 9413 or Jim Plester of Machine Simulation SA on 011 021 0616.

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NTIP fills key government post http://www.skillsportal.co.za/page/skills-development/377976-NTIP-fills-key-government-post

The National Tooling Initiative Programme (NTIP) has appointed Brigadier General Deacon Mathe to the position of National Government Stakeholders Manager. General Mathe, a former head of the South African Air Force Reserves and chairperson of the MK Military Veterans\' Association (MKMVA). He is naturally a social transformer, former trade unionist, community leader and former chairperson of National Youth Organisation, a predecessor to the South African Youth Congress.

General Mathe was an uMkhonto We Sizwe Military Commander from 1976 to 1990 and also spent time on Robben Island as a Political Prisoner for his active support and formation of MK underground structures of the, then banned ANC. As National Government Stakeholder Manager, General Mathe will be tasked with promoting the NTIP’s cause within the Government, the Department of Trade and Industry, and amongst others, the ruling party as a whole. He will also act as the link between the Government and the NTIP.

General Deacon Mathe is a graduate of the German School of Technology (DEULA) where he qualified in tool and die making. He is also a graduate from Witwatersrand Business School, where he attained an Advanced Business Management and Public Administration qualification.

General Mathe’s qualifications makes him an ideal candidate to fulfil the role of National Government Stakeholders Manager. Apart from a general business management and administration understanding this role requires a fundamental knowledge of the manufacturing industry and in particular the making of jigs, fixtures, dies, moulds, machine tools, cutting tools, gauges, and other tools used in manufacturing processes.

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The National Tooling Initiative Programme will proudly host the Benchmarking Presentation where the Six Gauteng Benchmarked Companies will showcase their presenations to the industry.

This Benchmark was done in conjuction with the Aachen University, University Of Stellenbosch, Gauteng Tooling Initaitive (GTI) and the National Tooling Initiative Programme (NTIP).

The Event will take place on Friday, 16 April 2010 in Johannesburg.