Industry organisation the Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) is implementing a strategic overhaul, focusing on leadership restructuring and process optimisation in response to recent challenges, including delays in the release of examination results.

SAIW president Joseph Zinyana says that, with South Africa’s economy increasingly dependent on a skilled workforce to drive industrial growth and infrastructure development, institutions such as the SAIW play a crucial role in equipping professionals with the expertise needed to support key sectors such as manufacturing, energy and construction.

“The SAIW is, therefore, committed to providing world-class training and certification to ensure local industries remain competitive and that skilled professionals have access to quality career opportunities.

“Now more than ever, we must prioritise efficiency, accountability and industry-aligned training to meet the country’s growing technical demands,” he explains.

As part of its restructuring efforts, the SAIW has undergone an internal evaluation to strengthen leadership and improve overall operational effectiveness.

This has led to key leadership appointments, including Confidence Lekoane as acting executive director, with the executive director position currently open for recruitment.

In addition, Shelton Zichawo has been appointed GM to ensure business continuity.

Particular attention has been given to the certification arm of the SAIW, with a new team of experienced personnel.

“The SAIW is focused on operational excellence and efficiency across all processes. We understand the importance of timely examination results, quality certification audits and a seamless training experience for our candidates and these leadership changes are part of our commitment to delivering on these priorities,” Zinyana says.

Looking ahead, the SAIW’s key focus for this year is digital transformation, with plans to automate and streamline core processes to improve service delivery.

The institute is integrating AI into exam marking and learning material development, aligning training with the latest higher education standards.

Further to enhancing efficiency, the institute says it is also committed to making training and certification more affordable for students, ensuring access to quality education despite economic pressures.

Notably, the SAIW will not be outsourcing company and personnel certification, as it believes in maintaining the integrity and quality of its services in-house.