Pretoria - A production simulator facility has been opened in Pretoria by the Ford Motor Company to train not only its own employees but engineering students.
The facility, which is attached to the motor company's assembly plant in Silverton, is expected to provide practical training for mechanical and industrial engineering students from tertiary institutions like the Tshwane University of Technology.
"We're excited about the opportunities this training facility will afford students in the engineering field. We see this facility as an enabler to grow and develop more engineering candidates not only for Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, but for the industry," said Jeff Nemeth, president and CEO of the Ford Motor Company SA (FMCSA).
The facility, which was officially opened on Tuesday, follows the announcement by the company invest R3.4 billion to produce its All-new Ford Ranger pick-up truck in South Africa.
This world-class production simulator facility is focused on improving the assembly process capabilities of current and future FMCSA employees, in preparation for the production of the All-new Ford Ranger. The facility will enable FMCSA to train employees through simulating production processes off the line, long before they start building the new vehicle.
"While the facility will allow us to develop the assembly sequence and processes for our new product without disrupting the production of current models, it will allow us to improve the skills of our employees dramatically, enabling them to build world class vehicles, with best in class quality, and compete with the best in the world," said Nemeth.
MEC for Economic Development in Gauteng, Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu said the provincial government was committed to growth in the automotive industry and had included the sector in its industrial policies and future strategies.
She said an amount of R32 million had been allocated for training and development programmes at the assembly plant, giving a much-needed boost to skills development in this sector.
