From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is the Real Economy Report. The future of manufacturing in South Africa has in recent times raised concerns across the manufacturing sector. This has since seen multinational electronic company Siemens advocating that technology will be at the forefront of manufacturing in years to come. Zandile Mavuso has the story.
Zandile Mavuso:
Last month, Siemens held its Future of Manufacturing Conference in Boksburg, which highlighted technological advancements that will prove to change the industry for the better. To support this notion, Siemens unveiled a Curiosity Mars Rover, which currently lives on Mars and conveys vital information about the planet back to earth.
Being asked on the potential of South Africa being a great manufacturing country in the future, Siemens VP Raymond Padayachee says South Africa has the potential to be one of the leading countries in manufacturing
Siemens VP Raymond Padayachee
Zandile Mavuso:
Padayachee notes that in order to be a leading manufacturing country, learners have to be encouraged to study maths and science in order for them to become engineers that will design and manufacture for the future
Raymond Padayachee
Zandile Mavuso:
As part of its initiative to encourage young engineers, Siemens’ Cyber Junkyard Challenge ran concurrently with the conference, which saw students such as those from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Northlink College, North West University and College of Cape Town produce technology-driven products, which proved their manufacturing capabilities.
College of Cape Town
North West University
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Northlink College
Zandile Mavuso:
After having judges evaluate and assess the technology brought forth by the students, the College of Cape Town students were the overall winners of the Cyber Junkyard Challenge. This is how they felt after they won.
College of Cape Town
Zandile Mavuso
Shannon de Ryhove:
That’s Creamer Media’s Real Economy Report. Join us again next week for more news and insight into South Africa’s real economy.