Continuous professional development (CPD) is a statutory requirement, with all registered engineers obliged to earn 25 credits every five years to maintain their professional standing. The objective of CPD workshops is to ensure that professionals stay current with the latest advancements and best practices in their respective areas.

SKF South Africa’s Training Solutions Centre has been granted SaiMechE CPD accreditation that will allow it to provide engineers with a practical solutions path to ensure ongoing CPD compliance.

SKF South Africa manager: power transmission and training Micaela Willers points out that meeting CPD targets can place pressure on individuals and organisations, as the industry must balance day‑to‑day operational demands with the need for CPD.

“Against this backdrop, accessible, accredited training becomes more than a compliance exercise; it is a lifeline for safeguarding careers, sustaining business sustainability and credibility, and ensuring the sector continues to contribute meaningfully to national progress,” asserts Willers.

SKF’s accredited CPD training initiative will be launched with its first certified course, WE201: Bearing Maintenance and Technology. Designed to equip professional engineers with essential expertise, the programme covers core bearing principles, correct mounting and dismounting techniques, lubrication best practices, maintenance strategies, and the advanced technologies that drive bearing reliability across industrial applications.

Willers highlights that the company’s next programme, WE204: Damage, Bearing Failure and Analysis, is in the final stages of certification and will be formally accredited soon. The course aims to equip engineers to diagnose bearing damage, interpret failure patterns and trace root causes.

As part of the inauguration of its CPD programme, SKF is offering a complimentary WE201 course to 10 registered engineers. “We are expanding the learning journey by equipping engineers with the necessary skills to identify, interpret and prevent bearing failures,” affirms Willers.