In this article, South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) fellow and deputy president Pascal Motsoasele writes that the institute is poised to lead the charge in championing industrial transformation within the engineering fraternity.

In response to a business thought leadership article published by Engineering News and written by the president of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), urging the SAIEE to embrace its role as a driving force for industrial transformation within the broader engineering community, it is with great enthusiasm that I affirm our commitment to championing this transformative agenda.  The convergence of digital technology and engineering has ushered in an era of unprecedented possibilities, and as an industrial automation engineer with 22 years of experience in the operational technology (OT) space, I would like to highlight some key strategic initiatives that fellow engineering companies can adopt to digitally revolutionise their operations.

EMBRACE THE DIGITAL MINDSET
In the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, embracing a digital mindset is paramount. Engineering companies must recognise that digital transformation is not a one-time project but an ongoing journey that requires constant adaptation. By fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning, organisations can ensure that their workforce remains equipped with the skills needed to navigate the evolving landscape.

INTEGRATION OF OT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
The integration of OT and IT is at the core of industrial transformation. Collaborating with the IT department is essential to seamlessly converge traditional engineering practices with cutting-edge technologies.  Joint efforts between engineering and IT professionals, if managed skilfully, can lead to the creation of connected systems, real-time data analytics, and predictive maintenance strategies, enhancing operational efficiency and reliability. 

To better leverage the specific strengths of the IT and OT teams requires a non-siloed approach towards the industrial transformation ideal, which necessitates visionary leadership rooted squarely on engineering norms, standards and practices.

CYBERSECURITY FOR OT
As we delve deeper into the digital realm, safeguarding critical infrastructure against cyber threats becomes paramount.  The recent article on cionews.co.in (citation: https://cionews.co.in/how-to-build-an-ot-cyber-security-program/) emphasises the significance of building robust OT cybersecurity programmes. Engineering companies should establish dedicated teams to monitor, assess, and fortify their cyber defences, ensuring the integrity and availability of their systems. 

This necessitates continuous training and development, as mandated by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) for professionally registered engineering practitioners, to amass the skills necessary for cyber resilience of critical engineering infrastructure.

DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING
The exponential growth of data provides a treasure trove of insights that can drive informed decision-making. By harnessing data analytics and machine learning, engineering companies can optimise processes, anticipate maintenance needs, and enhance overall performance.  This data-centric approach is pivotal for remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

EMBRACE INDUSTRY 4.0 PRINCIPLES
The principles of Industry 4.0 encompass interconnectedness, decentralisation, real-time insights, and autonomous decision-making.  Engineering companies should align their strategies with these principles to streamline operations, reduce downtime, and enhance resource utilisation.

SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING PRACTICES
Amid the drive for industrial transformation, let us not forget our responsibility towards sustainable practices.  Engineers play a vital role in developing solutions that not only advance technology but also contribute to a greener future. Integrating sustainable engineering practices into digital transformation initiatives is both ethical and forward-thinking.

COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS
No organisation is an island.  Engineering companies should seek collaborative partnerships with academic institutions, research organisations, and industry peers. These alliances can foster innovation, knowledge sharing, and the co-creation of solutions that tackle complex challenges.

In conclusion, the SAIEE is poised to lead the charge in championing industrial transformation within the engineering fraternity.  By adopting these strategic initiatives, engineering companies can harness the potential of digital transformation to elevate their operations, enhance competitiveness, and contribute to the nation's economic growth.  Let us heed the call from ECSA's president and unite in our pursuit of a technologically advanced, sustainable, and innovative future for South Africa's engineering landscape.  Together, we can embrace change and shape the destiny of our industry.

*Motsoasele has over 22 years’ experience as an OT engineer in the electric and water utilities space and is currently employed as a consultant automation engineer at Rand Water’s Strategic Asset Management division. Previously, he worked for Eskom’s Research business unit in the OT space, for 14 years. He is also involved in several technical standards committees of the South African Bureau of Standards and by extension, International Electrotechnical Commission and International Standards Organisation committees. His academic qualifications include a BSc(Eng) degree from University of Cape Town, MEng degree from Wits University, an Innovation Management Development Programme (IMDP) from the Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management, the Management Advancement Programme (MAP) from the Wits Business School (WBS), and an MBA from Unicaf University.