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Celebrating Excellence: AIDC-EC's Kaizen Certificate Handover Ceremony

AIDC Eastern Cape

On the 4th of February 2025, the Automotive Industry Development Centre Eastern Cape (AIDC-EC) hosted a certificate handover ceremony to mark the completion of the Basic Kaizen Training program to 3 suppliers and 3 AIDC-EC Consultants (engineering consultants). This milestone achievement is a testament to the AIDC-EC unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality and productivity of component suppliers in the Eastern Cape region.

These component suppliers received certificates, showcasing their dedication to the Kaizen philosophy which embodies a relentless pursuit of excellence, empowering organisations to achieve advanced productivity levels through collective effort. By embracing Kaizen principles, companies demonstrate an unwavering commitment to excellence, driving competitiveness and exponential growth. Launched in June 2022, the 5-year Kaizen project has reached its midpoint, yielding remarkable results.


Founded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by the AIDC-EC in this region, a vibrant network of component suppliers has emerged, playing a vital role in shaping the Eastern Cape's automotive landscape.

JICA representative Mr Kimiaki Jin delivered comprehensive feedback on project implementation trajectory at the ceremony by equally lauding the sterling commitment by all the participants under the National Quality and Productivity Network (NQPN).

‘’The response has been overwhelming as there are about 9 companies that have signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with JICA and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic). The AIDC-EC is one of those major key players entrusted to champion industry transformation in the automotive sector.’’, said Jin.


The certificate handover ceremony was a celebration not only of the interns’ achievements but also of the successful partnership between the AIDC-EC and the component suppliers. The AIDC-EC’s collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been instrumental in driving the Kaizen program forward in the province, and this ceremony marked a significant milestone in this journey.

In attendance were the following component suppliers, Finke Plastics, Yenza Manufacturing, Electrical Electronics Quality Solutions, Productivity SA.


The automotive sector is currently facing unprecedented challenges, with companies under immense pressure to reduce costs. The shift in the sector's landscape has resulted in slower contracting, creating uncertainty that makes it increasingly difficult to sustain an automotive business. In this context, our agency recognises the critical need to support companies in enhancing their efficiency. By doing so, we aim to mitigate the impact of these challenges on job security, ultimately helping to minimize job losses in the medium term.

Mr Rowan Govender, Executive Manager of the AIDC-EC’s Component Suppliers and Investors Support Unit noted the growing interest from the provincial government to gain a deeper understanding of the critical work being undertaken by component suppliers. This curiosity is shared by national government and the industry at large, as they seek to better comprehend the intricacies and contributions of this vital sector.


‘’It may not always be interventions like this Kaizen programme: it might be funding for business expansion, funding for sustaining jobs or for skills development. All these aspects that government must cater for, we need to give them spaces to put funding into.

AIDC-EC has positioned itself to become a credible institution of government to spearhead delivering credible projects, we are an organisation that is enabling support for the economy’’, added Govender.


Stay ahead of the curve as we continue to develop this story further. There are more updates and highlights from our certificate handover to keep you informed as we will be bringing you exclusive updates, interviews, and analysis.

 

 

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