Chairman urges business to join PAPA

The Chairman of the government entity tasked with promoting productivity and job creation, Productivity SA, has called on more African countries to join the Pan-African Productivity Association (PAPA).

Speaking at the Productivity Promotion Seminar held at the Hilton Hotel in Sandton, Productivity SA board Chairman Mthunzi Mdwaba, urged more African countries to join PAPA. Mdwaba highlighted benefits such as the Technical Cooperation with the Japan Productivity Centre(JPC) and Kaizen initiatives as a key incentive for membership.

The Kaizen initiatives will be implemented by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Agreement.

The TICAD V1 agreement is aimed at capacity building of National Productivity Organisations and Constituents in Africa to drive the productivity and working conditions agenda. Mdwaba further elaborated further on the need for support from JPC more than ever as South Africa embarks on a journey to intensify the transformation of the economy and to set it on a path to navigate the challenges and opportunities advanced by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Chairman said the Fourth Industrial Revolution is already shifting boundaries of conventional standards of work in shaping the future of work.

The Chairman pledged the continued commitment of Productivity SA’s to the Technical Co-operation and the relationship with The Japan Productivity Center saying that it is driven largely by Productivity SA’s desire to reposition itself to effectively lead a productivity driven growth and development agenda, including promoting and integrating the productivity and competitiveness mindset and culture in everything we do as a country.

The chairman pointed out that as much as the event was about celebrating Productivity SA ‘s partnership with the JPC and the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) which spans over 10 years and hosting a seminar on Productivity Promotion Seminar and application of Japanese 5S and KAIZEN Concept for Productivity Improvement in South Africa, the narrative that remains is common economic growth.

The chairman drew attention to the reality that in South Africa we have progressive policies and programmes, which include but are not limited to the National Development Plan, Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) The New Growth Path (NGP). Mdwaba highlighted that all these policies do not have the place necessary emphasis on productivity and Productivity SA. He said there is a shortage of urgency and action, which we require more than ever before.

The Chairman encouraged guests to take seriously the lessons to be shared by the companies that have implemented Japanese management philosophy and the management philosophy and productivity improvement activities via the Kaizen methods, particularly as they relate to the manufacturing sector.