Page 26 - EngineerIT July 2022

INDUSTRY 4.0

South African manufacturing

sector’s readiness for Industry 4.0

I4.0 can exponentially grow developing economies and combat resource-related challenges

he manufacturing sector is South through the incorporation of I4.0, manufacturers can increase innovation and decrease
Africa’s fourth largest sector and production costs which results in effective manufacturing strategy outputs (MSOs).
Ta key driver of economic growth.
However, industrialisation challenges in Vinesh Maharaj, smart manufacturing leader for PwC in South Africa, says: “For
recent decades and the relatively slow manufacturing sectors to leverage the value of I4.0, they need teams who understand
adoption of new technologies have the data to be able to translate it into findings that would benefit them. Digitalisation
hampered the true potential of this has created the possibility to adopt the progression of information and communication
industry. Smart manufacturing is fast technologies within a limited period, which ultimately increases operational efficacy and
becoming the direction of development sustainability. The integration of I4.0 has revolutionised the human resource processes
for the country’s manufacturing sector and companies that merge the digitisation process with traditional approaches to achieve
and adopting Industry 4.0 (I4.0) tools will the most benefits.”
be a defining and growth-enabling game
changer for it. THE DATA INDICATES SIX KEY INSIGHTS:
New research from PwC’s
Insights into the I4.0 Readiness of SA 1. Leaders behind the 4IR agenda
Manufacturing 2022 report shows that Twenty-seven percent of survey respondents identified the CEO as the person
I4.0 tools have the ability to increase responsible for staying up to date with the latest developments and embracing
the quality, flexibility, performance, the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) way of thinking. CEOs are seen as the people
and overall competitiveness of the responsible for challenging current methods used in the business, exploring new
manufacturing sector. technologies that align with a reduction in costs and increases in productivity.
This report explores the local However, technical role players are also identified as key in assisting leaders to drive
manufacturing sector’s readiness for I4.0 digital transformation.
by gaining an intimate understanding
of the value proposition of I4.0 across 2. Uncertain returns
various sectors. PwC conducted in-depth Literature investigating manufacturers’ investment in the 4IR revealed that more
interviews with 31 senior leaders across than two-fifths of companies in South Africa have made solid investments, with more
nine manufacturing sectors from April than a third expecting these to provide a payoff on productivity. However, more than
to May 2022. Key themes and insights half (57%) are yet to make any investments in 4IR technologies as a result of certain
that emerged from the study show that barriers such as skills and technical challenges.

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