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About 120 school children have learned about the exciting and multi-faceted world of automotive manufacturing as part of the annual Careers Day hosted by Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA).
The students consisted of 80 Grade 11 learners from Nellmapius High School who attended the Careers Day expo at FMCSA’s headquarters, which is also home to Ford’s Silverton Assembly Plant that produces the Ranger for domestic sales and export to 148 markets in Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Another 40 students from Otto du Plessis High School, Ithembelihle Comprehensive School and Gelvandale High School were hosted at the Struandale Engine Plant in Port Elizabeth, which machines components and assembles engines for the Ranger and Everest.
All the students gained valuable insight into the variety of careers available within the global Ford network, from manufacturing operations to finance and information technology as the automotive industry requires an extensive range of skills.
Speaking on the Career Expo, FMCSA President and CEO, Jeff Nemeth, said in a statement issued in Pretoria: “The automotive sector is one of the world’s most dynamic and exciting industries, and is among South Africa’s largest employers. Accordingly, it’s essential that we invest in our future, and that of the country, by providing high school learners with insight and guidance into career opportunities at this crucial juncture as they prepare to make decisions on their future studies after completing Matric.”
According to Nemeth, “This forms part of Ford’s Better World initiative that aims to empower and uplift communities, while promoting job creation and economic development across the African continent.”
The Careers Day programme, according to the statement, included informative presentations by key Ford personnel, outlining the types of careers available, the qualifications required as well as the character traits associated with each field.
It disclosed that thereafter, the Grade 11 learners, which also included employees’ children, were given the opportunity to visit departmental stalls and interact with Ford’s experienced personnel in the various fields, including Manufacturing, Human Resources, Finance, Sales and Marketing, Customer Services, Product Development, Information Technology, as well as Material Planning and Logistics.
It listed the highlight of the day to include the opportunity given to the groups to witness Ford’s world-class manufacturing operations in action, watching how the trend-setting Ford Ranger comes together with over 3 500 individual components, while the powerful Duratorq TDCi engines are assembled from almost 700 parts.
The programme also featured presentations by selected tertiary institutions, including Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, along with Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and PE College, which set out the relevant application processes, subject guidelines and qualifying criteria for future studies.
