Marco Maree, Business Development Manager of Triple E Training, discusses the proficiencies required to perform blue collar work in factories such as for HVAC products, that are becoming increasingly more sophisticated. This is part two of a two-part article.
Enterprising manufacturers are working closely with Triple E Training to upskill their artisans. Supplied by Triple E
Employees who have completed the training are fluent in the language of learning and instruction and have the basic numeracy skills to understand technical concepts that are presented in occupational training. In this way, they have been primed to succeed in further learning to formalise the “hard” skills that they have acquired through work experience. These are complemented by essential workplace literacy skills, which enable modern factory workers to communicate efficiently, present and negotiate. These proficiencies are among the other “soft” skills that are highly sought after by employers in most industries.
Maree notes that although they do not hold a qualification, many older artisans working in the industry have gained immense experience over the years. Therefore, he believes that more effort needs to be made by the industry to certify these employees via a Recognition of Prior Learning Programme.
This will also provide scope for career and individual growth and development, which is a way of retaining these skills. Retention of these skills is of utmost importance to the sustainability of the industry considering the dire shortage of these professionals in the country. At present, 29% of all artisans employed in the industry are nearing retirement age, which will aggravate the skills crisis and intensify competition for talent.
The most enterprising artisans could be further developed to bolster a worrying decline in number of technicians in the industry in ages below 55–64. Although qualified, many technicians working in the industry do not hold a National Diploma from a University of Technology. This is a baseline qualification to work as a technician in the industry. Therefore, just more than 30% of technicians who work in the industry are adequately qualified to do so.
During the training of artisans, Triple E Training also helps manufacturers identify potential future industrial engineers, manufacturing managers, plant engineers and production supervisors. This is in addition to the other knowledge workers who ensure the seamless operation of factories. These industrious learners are encouraged to complete adult matric instead of pursuing National Certificate: Vocational training courses after passing the GETC-AET Level 4 Examination. In this way, they can work towards obtaining exemption to study relevant engineering disciplines at a university.
“Poor onboarding and inadequate training have played a large role in the many skills-related challenges with which local manufacturers grapple today. These have been compounded by the rapid onset of new technologies that significantly improve productivity, efficiency, accuracy and safety of production lines – the skills required to fully harness them is key to South Africa’s reindustrialisation,” Maree concludes.
Source: Triple E
