TRAINING
Barloworld Equipment
Lynette Mentor is the head of Barloworld Equipment ’ s Learning Academy .
Mentor says of the programme , “ Technicians for Africa is an online programme comprising a range of basic courses that is intended to introduce the world of an artisan to anyone who may be interested , from school-going children to people who are already involved in the industry . I have even made completing the course a requirement for those looking to join our Barloworld ’ s apprenticeship programmes , because it provides a great overview of our industry , and gives people a good idea of whether this is an industry they would want to work in .”
Other training programmes
While the Academy ’ s operator and technical training are made available to the company ’ s customers , the remainder of its training is dedicated primarily to Barloworld Equipment staff . “ We even have field schools , where we send our trainers out to customer sites to train their technicians on the
Technicians for Africa
The Technicians for Africa project , launched in November 2015 , makes Caterpillar ’ s existing , state-of-the-art e-learning solutions available to anyone with an Internet connection and who wants to develop a career as a heavy equipment technician . The programme ’ s free curriculum is available in English , French , and Portuguese and , as of June 2017 , has expanded to 17 countries : Angola , Burkina Faso , the DRC , Ethiopia , Ghana , Côte d ’ Ivoire , Kenya , Liberia , Madagascar , Mozambique , Nigeria , Senegal , Sierra Leone , South Africa , Tanzania , Uganda , and Zambia . The eventual goal is to expand the programme to the whole of Africa .
Technicians for Africa modules Module 1 : The Caterpillar Story
Module 10 : Assembly – Seals Module 2 : The Cat Dealer Organization Module 11 : Assembly – Bearings ( Installation )
Module 3 : Cat Engines Product Line and Applications
Module 4 : The Cat Machine Product Line
Module 5 : Assembly – Contamination & Parts Handling
Module 6 : Assembly – Hand and Power Tools Module 7 : Assembly – Hand Tools Module 8 : Assembly – Fasteners ( Threaded ) Module 9 : Assembly – Lifting Devices
Module 12 : Assembly – Wiring Harness
Module 13 : Assembly – Couplings & Fittings
Module 14 : Personal Protective Equipment
Module 15 : Engine Fundamentals Module 16 : Hydraulic Fundamentals Module 17 : Power Train Overview Module 18 : Electrical Fundamentals
Source : Caterpillar Technicians for Africa To learn more , visit https :// techniciansforafrica . caterpillaruniversity . com / homepage equipment they have on site , and there ’ s a lot of demand for that type of training . We actually have to turn people away sometimes because our first priority in this area is our own apprentices , and we are able to sell our spare capacity once they have been taken care of ,” says Mentor .
The apprenticeship programme is a three- to four-year course called the Heavy Earthmoving Mechanic ( HEM ) qualification , culminating in the apprentices demonstrating , under supervision , their competence in defined tasks . Over the course of the programme , the apprentices spend eight weeks a year at Barloworld Equipment ’ s Isando facility undergoing intensive training , with the remainder of the time being spent completing on-the-job hours and tasks under supervision of a full-time qualified artisan .
Barloworld Equipment has been training engineering ( and other ) graduates since 1979 , and in addition to its Learning Academy programmes , Barloworld also has several other educationbased programmes . The 24-month Graduate Programme exposes the graduates to all of the company ’ s key operational areas , giving them an in-depth understanding of the workings of each business unit . The programme comprises work rotation , technical training , personal development , and mentorship . As part of the technical training , the graduates join the apprentices for the eight weeks of technical training to give them a better understanding of the company ’ s core business . The graduates are also given a brief introduction to machine operation using the simulators , although they do not complete the entire operator training programme .
According to Barloworld Equipment divisional executive director for HR , Frances Graham , the company ’ s commitment to reducing the massive skills shortage in the engineering , mining , and technical fields , particularly at the top leadership tier , is a main driver behind many of its staff training programmes . “ We invest millions annually in developing the skills of our employees so that we can continue to provide the quality support and exemplary service our clients have come to expect from us . Developing quality leaders who understand our business , can meet our customer needs , and provide service and solutions beyond their expectations is a big part of that success .” n
Increasing women ’ s representation
Diversity and inclusion , together with gender diversity , are key focus areas of Barloworld Equipment ’ s HR strategy . Its 40 / 20 strategy , for example , aims to boost women ’ s representation within Barloworld Equipment to 40 % by 2020 through initiatives such as the Women in Leadership Development Programme ( WLDP ) and the Graduate Development Programme .
Last year , eight of the 10 graduates in the Graduate Development Programme were women . This year , that number has increased to 14 of the 15 .
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AUGUST 2017