Abstract
M.Phil. (Engineering Management)
had a negative impact on the number of graduates who are offered an opportunity to
complete practical training and consequently graduate. This also leads to a shortage
of skilled foundrymen and foundry-women who are capable of taking the industry
forward and helping South Africa compete with big producers of cast products such
as China and India. Universities and foundries need partnership to establish ways in
which foundry skills are taught to young technicians while they are nurtured for a
brighter future.
To achieve this, a quantitative study was conducted and data were collected and
analysed to investigate the participants’ understanding of lack of in-service training
and its effect on the number of metallurgical students graduating each year. Expert
review of the data collected was conducted, to complete triangulation of information.
The data were aimed to answer all questions from 52 foundries using the minimum
sample size formula. The statistical analysis was based on actual data collected from
all foundries which were randomly selected. Using this information, three types of
questions (yes/no questions, five-point Likert scale, most to least contributing
factors) were adopted during interviews and document review.
Frequency and percentage distribution graphs were employed to display the results
for easy interpretation of trends. Based on the data collected and analysed, three
main factors (financial support and budget, lack of government support, and lack of
training awareness) were found to contribute 71% of the problem and
recommendations were made, based on these findings. It is also noteworthy that
foundries were willing to assist wherever they could, if there was value that could be
extracted from the training process.