The Manufacturing Indaba 2018 aims to provide a unified platform for current and prospective manufacturers to explore how they can benefit from new innovations in the sphere of IoT and Industry 4.0. These innovations empower manufacturers to enhance their competitiveness while paving the way for them to enter new markets as well as establish advanced solutions and business models.
Manufacturing facilities in developed nations which have already adopted principles and strategies proposed under the umbrella of Industry 4.0, have observed positive impacts on areas such as product design, material requirements planning (MRP), process optimisation and functioning of machines through data analytics and algorithms. The promising outcomes of these practices give rise to greater customer satisfaction levels and ultimately, increased profit generation.
Owing to the potential offered by Intra-Africa trade, the growth trend of the continent is expected to achieve a rate of 5.5%. In view of this, The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) has highlighted the fundamental role of South Africa’s manufacturing industry in guiding the nation’s radical economic transformation. The theme of the Indaba is therefore one of engaging with manufacturers across the country and educating them on strategies which can align their business operations with the tenets of Industry 4.0.
Moreover, the conference acknowledges the role of small manufacturers in meeting the objectives of the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP). With this in mind, the Indaba will host for the 3rd year, the Small Business Indaba where manufacturing experts, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) leaders and entrepreneurs will advise prospective entrants about various financing opportunities available to them along with supplier development programmes. Furthermore, through the integration of Industry 4.0, small manufacturers will learn to incorporate competitive strategies into their operations. A series of panel discussions featuring leading speakers and industry gurus will ensure that attendants are offered the most unique, critical and valuable industry insight that they can apply in order to grow the scope of their businesses.
Leveraging the benefits of innovative practices, this year’s conference will host the one of a kind ‘Business Matchmaking’ system, providing conference delegates with the opportunity to connect with influencers pertinent to their individual profiles and goals. This programme is specifically designed to ensure that participants reap the maximum advantages of attending the conference and effectively manage their time through the availability of tools such as pre-scheduled meetings, online private diaries, text or email reminders and meeting status trackers. Attendees will consequently be able to hold gatherings with the most relevant contacts at a central meeting venue.
This year’s Manufacturing Indaba will become a benchmark for manufacturing by empowering South African manufacturing participants to enter a new age of innovation, technology, competitiveness and sustainability. The conference will not only provide a multitude of opportunities for the aforementioned stakeholders, but for anyone invested in the manufacturing sector, and in so doing, contributing to the growth of the Sun-Saharan economy by and large.