Overview
The pilot site of the Learning Factory (LF) was established in March 2021 on the CSIR campus. This initiative, a partnership between the CSIR and the Sector Education and Training Authority for Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services (merSETA), is geared towards promoting skills development and innovation, applied to digital technologies underpinning the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). In addition to the LF at the CSIR, a target of 18 LFs are to be established at South African technical and vocational education and training (TVETs) institutes around the country. The first of these are already contracted with the EastCape Midlands TVET College.
Come and see
The pilot site includes demonstrations of the following:
- Skills development of 4IR technologies as well as use of 4IR technologies to support skills development;
- Theoretical training introducing candidates to generic 4IR applications from a South African perspective
- Practical training on 4IR technologies such as Robotics, the Internet of Things; cyber-security, simulation and additive manufacturing to name a few
- Application of theoretical and practical training to specific industry related areas such as a modular and flexible, configurable manufacturing cell, assembly station using collaborative robots, smart home and energy optimization cell
- Research Labs that support research and innovation activities in the 4IR space with respect to design, incubation, and prototyping
- Experience Centres that support experiential learning by exposing students to working environments in which 4IR technologies have been employed
Online training modules have already been designed for roll-out in 2022. Training is currently free of charge and offered in different modalities whereby attendees can take advantage of full online training, virtual training, or hybrid training that is virtually linked to real physical equipment, as well as practical experiential training on the physical equipment that is located at the CSIR Campus in Pretoria.
