The MESA Africa 2023 Summit recently held at Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa at the Cradle of Humankind, northwest of Johannesburg, was by all accounts a great success. The summit brought together a number of well-respected thought leaders in the manufacturing and technology sectors who offered a view into the future of these industries.
Dr Ananth Seshan shared insights into the journey of small and medium manufacturers navigating smart manufacturing.
Sponsors of the event included Schneider Electric, Iritron Pty Ltd, Pragma Global, 4Sight, MESA International, SAIMC, Montgomery Group and Ki Leadership Institute Pty Ltd, and it is their support that enabled the summit to take place.
Dr Ananth Seshan, Board Member of MESA International, flew in from Canada to share insights into the journey of small and medium manufacturers (SMMs) navigating smart manufacturing. In his address he underlined the importance of garnering buy-in from management and employees, highlighting successful smart manufacturing pilots through industry-agnostic collaborations.
Seshan's hypothesis on the differing challenges in low-to-mid-income economies ignited discussions on a collaborative ‘SM Strategic Group for SMMs’. This is proposed to unite economies, share insights, and collectively address funding, digital transformation, secure value chains, and workforce development – a powerful call to reshape the global landscape of smart manufacturing for smaller enterprises.
Gerhard Greeff, Divisional Manager at Iritron, focused on ‘The impact of computer engineering as defined engineering work’, outlining the objectives of the Institute of Engineering Work (IoEW) to ensure accountability and regulate computer engineering activities.
In his presentation, ‘Don't get lost in the cloud; future proof your architecture and operations‘, Jaco Markwat shed light on Element 8's dedication to community and industry service. Focusing on collaborative learning, he set out scalable, intuitive solutions for a data-driven future, tackling challenges in data management evolution. Follow #Sparkplug8 and #MQTT for updates.
Pekka Pihlajasaari, described as a luminary in digital transformation, explored the evolving landscape where machine learning transcends expert domains, offering delegates insights into the dynamic intersection of machine learning and industry.
Charl Marais, OT Digital Transformation BU Manager at Blue SP/4Sight, led a dynamic session on ‘Pit-to-port value chain optimisation in the mining sector’, advocating for efficiency and unified approaches to ensure sustainable success.
Dr Mike Ntokozo Sishi, Information Technology Manager at Rand Refinery, shared insights on ‘Digital transformation of industrial organisations’, offering transformative approaches for businesses to optimise processes and enhance performance.
Dr Arthie Moore-Robberts, CEO and Director of Ki Leadership Institute, presented strategies to accelerate generational disruption in the manufacturing industry, emphasising digital transformation and proactive strategies for success.
Yanesh Naidoo, Innovations Director at Jendamark, challenged conventional thinking with ‘Why MES has to be changed/rethought for discrete manufacturing’, introducing a software-defined paradigm to foster adaptability, upgradability, and connectivity.
The MESA Africa Summit provided a platform for visionary leadership and the presentation of transformative solutions, illuminating the way forward for manufacturing and technology. The shared insights promise to shape a future of innovation, resilience, and success for industries globally.
For more information visit www.mesa-africa.org