South Africa is gearing up for the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), with the launch of a newly-expanded Intsimbi Future Production Technologies Initiative (IFPTI) Programme in Cape Town on Thursday.
Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies is expected to launch the IFPTI Programme, which was developed in line with the digital economy and the principles of the 4IR.
The launch will take place at the Production Technologies Centre of Excellence in Parow. The centre, which is the third of its kind in South Africa, is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for training the future workforce.
The launch follows on the heels of the successful Intsimbi National Tooling Initiative Programme, which was first established in 2010. The programme was launched as a pilot project developed to govern partnerships between government and the tool, dye and mould industry.
“The IFPTI Programme will serve as one of the levers which government will implement to lessen the disruptive impact of the digital industrial revolution. This industry-government partnership programme -- under the custodianship of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) -- will focus on key elements within the manufacturing sector to ensure South Africa’s readiness to compete in global markets with South African made manufacturing goods,” said Davies ahead of the launch.
The integrated end-to-end industry system solution provides a platform for industry to participate in enterprise competitiveness and technical skills training programmes.
The IFPTI Programme objectives will enable the execution of projects on a regional and national basis consisting of:
- Technical Skills Development Programme (TSDP) to push talent-driven innovation for advanced manufacturing supply chain needs; and
- Enterprise Competitiveness Development Programme (ECD) to facilitate access to competitive supplier networks.
The Intsimbi Future Production Technologies Initiative represents a flagship project in support of the department’s Digital Industrial Strategy, which aims to improve its institutional framework to effectively respond to change, offer a stable policy environment and direct innovation. – SAnews.gov.za
