Human Resources Development

Human resource development, people and their capability, remains the bedrock upon which manufacturing is built. Despite this, human resource development is often forgotten in budgets and the first element to be cut from a company’s budget in times of difficulty. Numerous challenges have been identified within the realm of human resources development (HRD) including: the lack of suitable trainers and training materials, inadequate supervisory/team leader knowledge and skills in the areas of conflict resolution, change management and world class manufacturing, and the need for enhanced tertiary education institutional alignment and support. The HRD programme has therefore evolved to cover the broader needs of the industry in a more comprehensive manner and will include the following:

• Supervisor/Team Leader Development Training;
• Games Workshop;
• Technical Skills Development;
• Shop Steward Training;
• Technical Expert Workshop;
• Development and accreditation of training materials

Each of the key focus areas of the HRD programme are unpacked below

Supervisor/Team Leader Development Training

The creation of a continuous improvement culture is vital to achieving world class competitiveness. A key proxy to achieving a true continuous improvement culture is the implementation of team based manufacturing. Involving workers in teams can result in improved problem solving and improved process performance. Teams create improved communication, mutual respect and shared responsibility for goal achievement, all of which directly affect productivity. In order to assist firms to develop teams, the KZN CTC will be conducting team leader training for KZN CTC members in both Durban and Northern KZN. These workshops will focus on an introduction to world-class manufacturing, 5S, and problem solving on the shop floor.

Game Workshops

The KZN CTC will conduct two games workshops, focusing specifically on SMED changeovers. The overall aim of this workshop is to enable cluster members to participate in practical games that facilitate the learning of specific tools of World Class Manufacturing. Following these workshops, participants are then encouraged to take acquired knowledge and implement within their firms.

Technical Skills Development

Technical training provision is a major weakness in the regional clothing and textiles industries, with the industry’s skills base having been severely degraded in recent years and there being a lack of new skills and expertise entering the industry. In order to address this challenge, the HRD programme will therefore continue to support technical training for operators, supervisors and mechanics in partnership with DUT or the best suitable service provider.

Shop Steward Training

The KZN CTC will conduct a World Class Manufacturing Shop Steward Training session. The aim of this session is to introduce World Class Manufacturing principles and techniques to the shop stewards and to allow them to understand and discuss the benefits of World Class Manufacturing with workers from other firms.

Technical Expert Workshops

These workshops call on the skills of experts in related fields to present to Cluster members. In 2010, two technical expert workshops were presented to the Clusters members. The content of these technically oriented workshops included: discussions based on the recent changes to the Consumer Protection Act and the implications it will have on suppliers in the retail value chain; ways to ‘Optimise Seam Performance’; a cost vs quality thread usage analysis; the different types of ‘Stitches and Seams’; and problem solving techniques to improve stitching and seam quality of garments produced. The intention for 2011 is to continue with these forms of technical expert workshops for both the clothing and textile industries.

Development and accreditation of training materials
 

The training materials that the Cluster facilitates and trains are in the process of being accredited at an NQF level 3.

 

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