Abstract
The paper reviews South Africa’s industrialization,
the basis of its formation and to establish whether it can be expanded
using technology transfer mechanisms principles. It also seek to draw
comparisons from other industrialized countries and as a baseline,
and take lessons on how these industrialized countries have achieved
their secondary industrialization; hence they are known as the
developed countries. It identifies the challenges faced by South
Africa’s current industrial base and recommend ways that could be
meaningful in assisting it to be expandable. It also seeks to contribute
to the existing body of knowledge on industrialization and
technology transfer in advancing industry formation. It is also the
intention of the paper to look at best principles outlined in operations
management theories on how they could be of value in strengthening
industrial formation and expansion. These principles include but not
limited to the application of lean manufacturing principles, however
they are not only applicable to the manufacturing sector but to any
business optimization strategy. There will be emphasize on the role
of the primary sector in South Africa’s industrialization and the
opportunities it ought to bring in strengthening and harnessing the
success of the secondary sector formation.