Durban Automotive Cluster

In November 2024, senior South African executives joined the Manufacturing Excellence Study Tour in Thailand, hosted by Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies in collaboration with Thammasat University. From exploring Thailand's manufacturing cost competitiveness to identifying actionable strategies, the tour offered invaluable insights. 🗓️ Cluster member firms are encouraged to join our January 2025 Manufacturing Meetup Webinar with: Meghan King, Director at BMA Jake Morris, COO of BMA Gain insights on: 🔹 Thailand’s industrial expansion strategies 🔹 Productivity breakthroughs: machines, materials, human capital & more 🔹 Lessons South Africa can leverage for growth 💡 Don’t miss this opportunity to reimagine your approach to manufacturing competitiveness! 👉 Contact us to register: [email protected]

Over seven months, 14 Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster (CCTC) members achieved an 11% reduction in absenteeism – recovering an incredible 1.2 million production minutes through the Project Present initiative. Using lean methodology, the programme measured, analysed root causes, and developed a standard operating procedure to drive this reduction. Facilitated by Courtney Grant (BMA), the discussion featured invaluable insights from Johann Baard (South African Apparel Association), Bobby Fairlamb (K-Way), and Tiffany Venter (Imagemakers Corporate Fashion). Here are our key learnings from the session:

🚀 Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement: Lessons from The Toyota Way Our commitment is to assist our members in achieving new levels of success, and we have gained valuable insights from a pioneer in this methodology – Toyota SA. Mike Hoseus has imparted profound wisdom on cultivating personnel and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement, drawing inspiration from the principles of the "Toyota Way." #ContinuousImprovementCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #ToyotaWay

Tansel Ozimamoglu, Vice President of Toyota Boshoku South Africa, expressed his gratitude for being part of our Business Accelerator. He highlighted the importance of meeting new potential suppliers, calling it a valuable experience for Toyota Boshoku as they continue to source partners for future projects. “We encourage more Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs to join this initiative, as it will significantly contribute to the development of the automotive industry in Durban,” he shared. #AutomotiveIndustry #ToyotaBoshoku #SupplierDevelopment #BusinessGrowth #SMEs

🚀 Team Leader Development Programme 2025 - Registrations Open! Are you ready to elevate your team's performance? We are offering 3 complimentary spots for member firms to register for the 2025 TLDP Online-on-Demand Programme. This powerful blend of leadership techniques and lean manufacturing skills has already delivered proven results: Last year’s class collectively saved their companies R1.8 million, with each learner returning an average of R12 for every rand invested. 💡 Key Dates: 📅 Registrations Close: 13 December 2024 📅 Course onboarding and launch: January 2025 👥 Limited Free Spots Available — additional spaces offered at a preferential rate. Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your team’s capabilities with practical skills! Contact us to register and find out more: [email protected] #Leadership #Manufacturing #TLDP #TeamDevelopment #LeanManufacturing

We're excited to announce MAHLE Behr as the proud recipient of the Continuous Improvement Mastery Award at our DAC AGM event! 🏆 Their relentless pursuit of excellence in CI and problem-solving has truly set them apart. Through their dedication, they've not only achieved remarkable results but have also fostered a culture of knowledge sharing within the cluster.

🌱💡 In a manufacturing meet up session, we delved deep into the realm of renewable energy solutions within the manufacturing industry, showcasing a case study from Cape Town. Here are our top learnings from the manufacturer in the session:

The DAC was honored to host a government delegation from Côte d'Ivoire, providing an invaluable opportunity to exchange insights on how industry clustering can drive growth and support the development of the automotive sector in emerging economies.

🏭 Wondering if your factory is genuinely Lean? Traditional approaches to gauge manufacturing productivity involve sifting through data and compiling extensive reports, a process that can eat up days or even weeks. But what if there was a quicker, more hands-on way? We recommend the "Rapid Plant Assessment" – a rapid-fire method that skips the paperwork and dives straight into the heart of the operation. With just a short tour and a chat with employees, a trained team can uncover key insights within the first 30 minutes. Here's what they look for: 1️. Material Flow: A lean plant should have minimal inventory buildup. 2️. Worker Engagement: Engaged workers know their role and contribute to efficiency. 3️. Management Practices: Observers evaluate various aspects, from planning to workforce management. ✅ After the tour, observations are compiled into a matrix, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. This actionable feedback forms the basis of a management action plan aimed at boosting efficiency and quality. Here are the eleven different areas of focus that make up the Rapid Plant Assessment: #Manufacturing #LeanOperations #ProductivityBoost

Small businesses, big impact! 🚗 At our recent transformative Business Accelerator, automotive SMEs proved they’re ready to meet the demands of major industry players. We're thrilled to share this inspiring testimonial from Zimvo Mtolo, Enterprise & Supplier Development Manager at Toyota SA. She highlights the passion and preparation of the candidates—and the potential they’ve unlocked to supply leading companies. Check out what impressed her most about our talented participants! #SMEs #SupplierDevelopment #ToyotaSouthAfrica #AutomotiveIndustry #BusinessGrowth