The Tooling Association of South Africa (TASA) held
their first Eastern Gauteng Region event on 14 March 2013, where members and
potential members from this region gathered to discuss the progress that TASA
has made in the development of key initiatives and the impact that these will
have in bringing about positive change to the Tool, Die and Mouldmaking
industry of South Africa.
Johannesburg, GP
March 22, 2013 – For many years, the South African Tool, Die and Mouldmaking
(TDM) Industry struggled to defend its market share with increased competition
from low cost imports. TASA was established in 2004 to intervene and revitalise
the industry to create a local TDM industry that is internationally accepted.
Now, nearly 9 years later, TASA has made great strides to bring about positive
change through the development of skilled artisans and in-company support
mechanisms for companies in the TDM industry.
At the event,
Henk Snyman, Secretary of TASA, spoke about the various initiatives that TASA
has put in place to advance the industry, including the Skills Development
Programme which has so far seen R110 million invested into the training of more
than 500 tool-making artisans countrywide of who 213 will be qualified in Gauteng by 2014. One of the main barriers hindering
the TDM industry at the moment is the lack of skills to fill vacant positions
within tool-making companies. TASA focusses on bridging this gap by providing
training and offering access to apprentices for on-the-job training.
Another area that
TASA focusses on is Enterprise Development – enabling South African tool-making
companies themselves to become more competitive by giving them better access to
the market. Snyman presented attendees with TASA’s standardised Contract for
Toolmakers, Benchmarking Principles, and Consulting and Enterprise Management
Toolkits which together, aim to structure the way that companies and their
processes are laid out to promote co-operation between tool rooms and to make
it easier for customers to do business with South African companies.
By developing these
initiatives and through regular regional events such as this, TASA strives to
bring together the capabilities and knowledge to give toolmakers and
tool-making companies the tools to strengthen the trade in their region, thus
contributing to a better, more globally competitive market share for economic
growth. According to Snyman, ”I can now take you to South African tool makers
who have deployed the TASA toolkit and can take you from prototype to
production in four weeks “
ABOUT:
The Tooling
Association of South Africa (TASA) was established in 2004 as a representative
body for the South African Tool, Die and Mould (TDM) making industry. TASA is
constituted as a national body with representation in all provinces that have
significant tool, die and mould making activities. Representation is through
the TASA provincial structures. http://tasaweb.co.za
Contact
Henk Snyman
012 643 1285
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