CAREER - My SA Career Guide

Careers in Automotive Industry
South Africa has a large automotive industry,
and since 2000, the total domestic
production has grown by 41%. Vehicle
exports, according to the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI), account for
approximately 7% of the country’s total
exports.
It is one of the largest sectors in the
country, generating just under a tenth of
the country’s GDP. The automotive industry
includes the manufacturing, distribution
and servicing of vehicles and
components.
South Africa is regarded as a low-cost
option for vehicle manufacturers – electricity
and raw materials remain cheaper
than in most developed countries – while
the transportation and telecommunication
infrastructure is stable and reliable
enough to successfully run operation.
The vehicle components industry, parts
that make up the car, such as tyres,
seats, exhaust pipes and catalytic converters,
has also experienced rapid
growth – approximately 40% of the
components manufactured locally are
exported annually.
The demand for new vehicles during the
last fi ve years has resulted in increased
production at local plants. Many vehicle
manufacturing operations are centred in
an around the Eastern Cape.
The automotive industry in SA offers
various opportunities to both males and
females wanting to pursue a career in
this exciting fi eld. According to the National
Association of Automobile Manufacturers
of SA (NAAMSA), the automobile
manufacturing industry continues to
employ more people, despite the threat
of retrenchment in most other sectors.
As the industry expands and cars and
components become more technologically
advanced, jobs become more specialised.
Whilst there is a great demand
for engineers and other highly technical
careers by industry
skills, as well as semi-skilled individuals
such a trimmers, assembly line operators
and spray painters, the industry
also requires specialists in areas of Finance,
Marketing, Information Services
and Human Resource.
Careers spanning across various fi elds
are required within the automotive manufacturing
sector, however the focus for
this insert is on engineers and the integral
role they play in our business from
Product Engineering to Manufacturing,
Planning, Production and even Marketing,
Logistics and Finance.
If you want to pursue a career in engineering,
you should primarily be a problem-solver,
be able to analyse or break
things down into logical steps and form
concepts and ideas from observation
and experience – with a fundamental
prerequisite for success.
Various fi elds with engineering are:
AUTO-ELECTRICIAN
A car has 2 electrical components,
namely the ignition and the starter motor.
As an auto-electrician, you would be
responsible for the manufacture, installation
and repair of these components
on cars. These components include the
lights, wipers, indicators, electric windows,
hooters, car radios and speakers.
Recommended Subjects
Motor Mechanics, Trade Theory
Qualifi cations
NCert Electrical Engineering
• Consult with your local FET College
National Technical Certifi cate
•
•
INTEC
Consult with your local FET College
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
Mechanical Engineering involves the
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