Robotics is a growing industry, and South African manufacturers are increasingly adopting automation into their production processes to remain competitive. Yaskawa’s longstanding training academy offers its customers, as well as individuals looking to enter the industry, the opportunity to learn and upskill in various in-demand skills areas, including programming, operations, maintenance, safety, and robot troubleshooting.
Yaskawa Southern Africa offers training in robotics and related skills at its in-house Training Academy.
“At the Yaskawa Southern Africa Training Academy, we offer a range of courses and training programmes designed to meet the needs of different skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners,” says Leon Coetzer, Training Officer at Yaskawa. He adds that the staff of the training academy includes experienced engineers who are experts in their respective fields. Since the academy’s inception in 2002, it has provided training for about 2 200 students.
For training on Yaskawa’s robots, all students can expect a hands-on approach. In-person classes ensure the trainees gain the required knowledge and skills to operate and maintain the robots effectively. Coetzer highlights that with South Africa’s skills shortage, fewer barriers to entry mean more opportunities to strengthen the country’s workforce and reduce unemployment.
“We recommend that students who would like to participate in our training programmes should have a matric qualification, a good understanding of mathematics, or at least some mechanical or electrical background knowledge,” Coetzer adds. “However, we welcome anyone willing to learn and participate in our training programmes, regardless of their educational background or previous experience. We believe anyone with the right attitude and willingness to learn can benefit from our training programmes and develop the skills needed to succeed in the industry.”
Yaskawa’s approach to training goes beyond initial skills acquisition and the company also recognises the importance of ongoing professional development for its employees. “We provide continuous mentoring and coaching to our employees to help them set and achieve their career goals,” says Coetzer. “Our managers work closely with employees to identify improvement areas and develop personalised development plans that align with their career aspirations and our company's needs.”
Coetzer joined Yaskawa earlier this year and is enthusiastic about the impact the academy could have for South Africans keen to learn and the robotics industry as a whole. “I joined Yaskawa Academy with the goal of growing the industry of robotics and automation as I believe this is the future for younger generations. I'd like to help and be a part of that progress,” he says.
For more information visit: www.yaskawa.com
