Dear industry colleagues.
Welcome to 2018. Of course as I am writing this it is still 2017 and we are all wondering if there will be an ANC elective conference? Who will be the successor of Jacob Zuma? Will we have a downgrade? What will happen to the Rand? The list goes on . . .
But I am not going to discuss these things. They will of course impact on all of us in different ways, in our private lives and in business, but I would rather focus on what we need to do as automation practitioners as we go into a new year.
In January 2018, all around the world, we are in this next (4th) industrial revolution. One way or another it is going to have an effect on us, and on industry in South Africa and Africa.
It seems to me that there are two prime areas of discussion at the moment. Firstly, what will happen if we fully implement this concept of Industrie 4.0? If we increase automation how many jobs will be lost? And secondly, what will happen if we do not implement Industrie 4.0? If we do not increase our productivity and quality to remain competitive how many businesses will have to close?
These are questions that we truly need to embrace in 2018. We discuss Industrie 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) as if they are a science project. There is tremendous interest – projects at universities and the CSIR – but so many in isolation. Universities are really focused on Big Data and analysis, but this is mostly Internet of Things (IoT) and not IIoT. What data does manufacturing really need, where do we get this data, and what should we do with it?
In process automation and manufacturing we need sensors and actuators and we need data communication. Where are we training the skills in South Africa to design and install industrial Ethernet networks? If you open the ceiling or floor in an office building today you will find kilometres of cables connecting desks, printers, telephones and so on – this does not work on a factory floor. What about wireless connection? How will you read the temperature on a rotating kiln?
At the SAIMC through our membership, branches and national coordination, we can offer so much. We have skills in almost every discipline and in every industry. In 2018 we should turn the questions around and ask: What will happen if we fully implement this concept of Industrie 4.0 and increase productivity, efficiency and quality to create globally competitive industries and develop the skills and jobs to implement this, not only in South Africa, but in all of Africa?
Let’s make this our focus in 2018. Whether you are a committee member, or not, whether you are a member of the SAIMC or not, look for opportunities to develop in South Africa. Raise questions. Challenge organisations to embrace technology. Join the SAIMC and become an active member of your branch.
At the national level we have contact with the DTI, with the Manufacturing Indaba and with ECSA. We have decided nationally to sponsor the FIRST Tech Challenge in South Africa to entice young skills into our industry.
Join our automation project – we look forward to working with you.
Rob MacKenzie (Pr.Eng).
| Tel: | +27 11 312 2445 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.saimc.co.za |
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