South African Institute of Electrical Engineers

The South African Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (SAIEE) at the Vaal University of Technology, once again embarked on an excursion to the Ford Motor Assembly Plant in Silverton, Pretoria. The aim of the plant tour was to expose students within the engineering field to various career opportunities in the motor industry.

The students who were mainly from VUT, were welcomed to the plant with a cup of coffee. Following the hot coffee was the lecture about Ford’s heritage, the values, and the impact that Ford seeks to make with the organization and its people. The Ford Motor Assembly Plant in Silverton mainly assembles the Ford Rangers, which are then distributed to various dealerships both in South Africa and internationally. Due to the plant being situated a stone throw away from Mamelodi township, most of Ford’s employees are from Mamelodi as required by policy makers.

The students were then given an opportunity to take a guided tour inside the plant to witness the physical assembling of the vehicles. The assembly line uses automated machines that keep the plant abreast of the fourth industrial revolution. “We are very delighted to witness the fact that machines now do most of the work in corporations. We understand better how machines are now doing most of people’s work.”