Page 43 - Energize March 2022

VIEWS AND OPINION

Five tips on establishing a stronger engineering

sector in South Africa

BY KATLEGO MAKGATA, LEOKA ENGINEERING

t feels as though we’re on the cusp of Information Management (BIM) space. We
change – again. A post-pandemic world use these offerings and are in the process
Iis almost in sight and has prompted of implementing a full turnkey solution to
countless questions across every industry integrate these valuable services in-house.
about how things might be different going
forward. What have we learnt? What 3. Develop power skills internally
happens next? Using advanced and sometimes relatively
South Africa’s engineering sector, unknown tools, however, requires client
though hard hit by the pandemic, is poised buy-in, which isn’t always easy to secure.
to contribute – in physical and economic Getting to the point where a client trusts
ways – to the country’s reconstruction and you enough to see the advantages of
recovery. Here’s how we can make this introducing a seemingly complex new
contribution matter. form of technology requires certain skills,
communication and strong interpersonal
1. Work smart relationships among them.
For some time, many of South Africa’s These were once referred to as “soft Katlego Makgata
largest industries have been preoccupied skills”. Communication. Adaptability.
with brownfields projects. Greenfields Problem-solving. Creativity. But the For us, keeping people happy and loyal
projects remain scarce as companies defer implication in calling them “soft” is that comes down to training, development and
large capital expenditure. Macro and micro- they’re somehow inferior to the “harder”, general wellness. We know that we have a
economic circumstances have not been more “technical” skills that any profession responsibility to nurture their interests and
conducive to establishing new assets, and requires. This is no longer the case. abilities, and to improve their skill sets. At
businesses have been forced to focus on Communication and interpersonal skills are the same time, we’re looking to the youth.
improving, maintaining and optimising their no longer a nice-to-have. Instead, they’re While we will always value experience
current stables. business-critical power skills. among our team, we acknowledge that
A telling feature of most brownfields today’s engineers are learning in a less
projects is that, during site implementation, 4. Pay attention to all KPIs siloed, more technologically integrated
stoppages and shutdowns are rarely an Everyone has a job to do. An operations industry. They will come to us with the skills
option. Operations have to continue on manager has targets to meet. A safety of the future.
an ongoing basis, despite essential work officer is responsible for ensuring the team Of course, this future is different to
and maintenance being performed. The returns home safely at the end of every day. what we might have anticipated had we
only way for this to happen is for service As specialist consultants, we know that looked into a crystal ball several years ago.
providers to prioritise working smarter we have to be aware of and respect these Now, we’re not so confident about making
and more innovatively to meet a variety of KPIs. We have to treat them all equally, predictions anymore. But we know this: we
competing objectives. with the same amount of recognition and need to continue to work better, smarter
respect. Yet at the same time, we have to and more creatively if we’re going to
2. Use the technology at hand meet our own, performing our obligations recover from what has passed and build a
The time for outdated and unreliable accurately, on time and within budget. more resilient future going forward. In many
technological systems and processes is over. ways, it is a time of great opportunity.
And businesses that insist on using them are 5. Retain talent
sure to be left behind. Now more than ever, As South Africa slowly starts to emerge from Katlego Makgata is the managing director
we need to make use of the technology the grip of Covid-19, acquiring and retaining of Leoka Engineering, a Johannesburg-based
available to us – technology that guarantees talent in the engineering sector has become multi-disciplinary engineering, project
people’s safety, enhances production, cuts more competitive than ever before. Projects development and management services
down on inefficiencies and reduces costs. that were put on hold for the better part company.
In our industry, some of the most of two years are back online, and there is a
impressive advances sit in the laser frenzy for the people who can make them Send your comments to
scanning, 3D rendering and Business happen. rogerl@nowmedia.co.za

energize | March 2022 | 41