The wonderful modern life enhancing measures in the forms of communication, international trade and global standardisation have brought with them the sudden realisation that we are no longer competing with 'the other supplier down the road' but with all other suppliers around the globe. Essentially if we do not produce a world-class product, we could be forgotten, not only by the world consumers, but also by the local consumers looking for a better 'deal'.
The future of your business is dependent on your end product being equal too, but preferably better in some way than your international competitor. This is where the search begins to find 'a better mouse trap', or your competitive advantage over your international counterpart. One thing we know for sure is that your competitor, wherever they may be, is spending time and vast amounts of research resource in doing just that.
This however is old news and - with the changes we have experienced in South Africa in the past five to 10 years - is foremost on every manufacturers mind. The challenge at this point is how far down your hierarchy do these needs and goals disseminate, and is there a corporate culture of reward for finding a better, cheaper more efficient solution.
In this technologically intense industry of control and instrumentation, the next challenge is to ensure that staff at all levels, from trainee to management, have the tools by way of information and knowledge to enable them to identify better process/manufacturing solutions which lead to better products. Very often the key to an improved product is identified by a staff member close to the manufacturing process, and not necessarily from managerial level.
Internationally, experience has shown that one of the most effective means of providing users with this information is by exposing them to available technology at trade fairs or exhibitions where they can interact with new and existing technologies. This exposure tends to stimulate ideas on getting the job done, better, cheaper or in a shorter space of time, all impacting on the competitiveness of your end product.
Management in the manufacturing industry therefore have a vested interest in ensuring that their staff are constantly updated with the latest products with a view to remaining internationally competitive, and a social responsibility to ensure that their staff maintain a competitive skills base.
Transporting large numbers of staff to exhibitions is not always practical, however great value can be gleaned from local road shows and presentations that cover a broad spectrum of suppliers and technologies. Such exhibitions are constantly being moved around the country by Penmac Exhibitions, and in 2001 will visit the areas of Rustenburg, Richards Bay, Newcastle, Secunda, Port Elizabeth, Vaal Triangle and Stellenbosch.
Should you require more information about these shows, or would like to have a show hosted in your area, contact Malcolm Finlay at Penmac Exhibitions, (011) 476 2066 or [email protected]
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