BMA

🌱In partnership with Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies, the automotive and chemicals clusters, we recently facilitated a Shared Learning session focused on Sustainability Disclosures and Reporting for manufacturers. Sustainability reporting is not just about compliance—it's about driving innovation, efficiency, and long-term success and relevance. Companies that embed sustainability into their strategies are better equipped to: ✅ Thrive in an eco-conscious market ✅ Meet regulatory requirements ✅ Build resilience and boost competitiveness Meghan King (BMA), Liesel Kassier (TWIMS / Meridan), Shamini Harrington (Sasol), Leon Buhr (Equator - The Belt Factory™), and Jimmy Christopher (ITL - Intelligent Label Solutions ), shared invaluable insights on how to stay ahead in today’s market by embracing sustainable practices. Here are the key learnings from the session: #SharedLearning #Sustainability #Innovation #Manufacturing #BusinessGrowth #SustainableFuture

Join BMA and drive impactful change in South Africa! At BMA, our mission is to build dignity and opportunity through sustainable production-led economies, turning Africa into a globally competitive manufacturing hub. We partner with leading companies, governments, and industrial clusters to facilitate innovative sector development programmes, focusing on areas like research, policy development, decarbonisation, and SME growth. What’s the role? We’re looking for early career to experienced consultants, based in Durban or Cape Town to join our team and help design, execute, and innovate on projects that have a measurable impact. This is an opportunity to learn, grow, and facilitate meaningful change in South Africa’s manufacturing sector. Why join us? Private sector drive with a social impact focus. Flexible work environment balancing remote, office, and client engagement. Opportunities for rapid growth and performance-based rewards. A collaborative and fun working culture with daily huddles and a cool induction program. Click the link to start your journey with BMA: https://zurl.co/gUo2 BMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Preference will be given to Previously Disadvantaged Individuals as per the Employment Equity Act. #JobOpportunity #SouthAfrica #Manufacturing #Industrialisation #CareerGrowth #ImpactfulChange

We had the privilege of hosting the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) delegation, led by CEO Ms. Nangula Nelulu Uaandja, during their mission to South Africa's automotive sector from August 12-16, 2024. This distinguished delegation, which included key industry leaders like Mr. Dave Coffey, CEO of AAAM, focused on partnership development and clustering within the industry. A highlight was the session at the Durban Automotive Cluster where we engaged in meaningful discussions that centered on strengthening partnerships between Namibia’s growing automotive sector and relevant South African stakeholders. The exchange of ideas and insights was invaluable, and we are excited about the potential for future collaboration between our regions. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead as a result of this visit, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with the NIPDB and the Namibian automotive sector. #AutomotiveIndustry #Namibia #SouthAfrica #Investment #PartnershipDevelopment #Clustering #DurbanAutomotiveCluster

Team spirit, healthy competition, and tons of fun! Recently, our Durban office spent the afternoon diving into "The Big Quiz" for a memorable team-building session! 🧠💡 A little bit of healthy competition, a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of fun made it an unforgettable experience. Special thanks to Beach and Bush Team Building for hosting and creating the perfect setting for us to come together as a team. A big shoutout to Bellevue Cafe for the amazing catering and providing the perfect location. #TeamBuilding #TheBigQuiz #FunAtWork #TeamSpirit

In the automotive sector, where customer requirements such as cost competitiveness, quality, and compliance are ‘non-negotiables’, many small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) struggle to align and communicate their business offerings with the expectations of large, national customers. To bridge this gap, the East Cape Automotive Industry Forum is inviting SMEs in the Eastern Cape, currently or interested in accessing large automotive customers, to participate in the Origin8 Programme. Interested SMMEs are encouraged to apply, and can find out more information here: https://zurl.co/dL02 Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Eastern Cape Department of Education. East Cape Automotive Industry Forum

🚗 Unlocking Insights from Thailand's Automotive Evolution At Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies, Prof. Kriengkrai Techakanont from Thammasat University and Prof. Justin Barnes shared invaluable lessons from Thailand’s transition from Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) to New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). Their insights sparked dynamic discussions on the future of automotive innovation in South Africa, with a deep dive into actionable strategies for the local sector. Here are our key takeaways from this impactful session:

Local sourcing offers the advantage of working closely with suppliers for faster and more flexible deliveries. However, if suppliers can’t deliver on-time and in-full (OTIF) then this benefit is eroded. We took a data-first approach to critical path management - identified bottlenecks, removed room for speculation and built this into a weekly operating rhythm between customer and supplier. This supported one of our retail clients in improving the OTIF scores for a strategic local supplier by 65 percentage points. Is your team using data to drive a reliable value chain?

We supported the facilitation of an event hosted by the East Cape Automotive Industry Forum (ECAIF), funded by the ECDC (Eastern Cape Development Corporation), and in partnership with TWIMS, co-hosted a seminar with Professor Kriengkrai Techakanont from Thammasat University and Professor Justin Barnes of Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies in Gqeberha this week. The seminar considered Thailand’s automotive value chain and their progression from focusing on Light Commercial Vehicle (LVCs) production to New Energy Vehicle (NEV) production. Prof. Kriengkrai Techakanont stated that Thailand’s success has been ‘intentional’ and that they have created a viable space for automotive production, focusing on the supply and demand side as well as promoting research and development. This has been achieved through the active and aligned involvement of the private and public sector, which has been crucial to the growth achieved in Thailand and the sector’s future success. The seminar provided several lessons and insights for South Africa with regards to developing and growing its automotive manufacturing sector, especially as the automotive industry is at the heart of manufacturing and crucial for the local economy.

Next week, Meghan King, one of our directors, will be presenting at the Manufacturing Indaba on Africa's path toward green economies. The focus will be on the critical role of energy security and sustainability for the continent's manufacturing sector.

Our Director, Meghan King, is speaking today at the naamsa | The Automotive Business Council South African Autoweek held at Cape Town ICC this week. As a supplier development expert, she will be on an insightful panel discussing the implications of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for suppliers in the South African automotive sector.