Page 28 - Engineering in Kenya Mag

A view of the Bamburi Cement Factory in Mombasa.
the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, also provide opportunities for technical students to gain hands-on skills through industrial internships. The internships provide experienced engineers with a platform to mentor and transfer knowledge to engineering and technology students, enhancing their technical students for work.
Wakiaga says even as Kenyan manufacturers strive to digitise their processes and join Industry 4.0, product competitiveness remains a key concern for the industry.
remain competitive by adopting sustainable manufacturing practices.
“For instance, we are promoting operational excellence through green growth initiatives such as energy, water and water management, all geared to enhance industry’s competitiveness against international brands,” says the KAM boss.
She called for increased focus on research, development and engineering innovation as a means for
rapid industrialisation in Kenya. Wakiaga calls for a collaboration between the national and county governments, industry and academia to fully unlock local manufacturers’
potential in the digital age.
The manufacturers’ association
also calls for support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to ensure they adapt to new technology, and at the same time, give them room to grow and scale up. Covid-19 has accelerated the uptake of digitisation in the country, with many non-essential employees working remotely, academic institutions utilising online platforms for learning purposes, automation of some manufacturing processes to manage the reduced number of shifts at factories and increase productivity, and the uptake of e-commerce by businesses to reach consumers, amongst others.
“Even so, a competitive manufacturing sector is paramount. As industry, we are looking at its ability to sustainably produce goods and services for which there is a market at a price and quality that the market is willing to pay for,” says Wakiaga.
10 sectors that are producing essential goods
Motor Vehicle Assemblers & Accessories
Chemical & Allied
Paper & Paperboard
Energy, Electrical & Electronics
Leather & Footwear Metal & Allied
Pharmaceutical & Medical Equipment
Textile & Apparel
Food & Beverage Plastic & Rubber
“This entails the nation’s ability to produce goods and services that
The disruption has created opportunities for meesotmienbtuesrineastsieosntoalinnsotvatnedthaeridr psrodwuchtilst
offerings. To respond to the heightened
simultaneously maintaining and
demand for Covid-19 related goods, 23% of manufacturers from 10 out of the 14 sectors
expanding the incomes of its people
have either shifted their focus or ramped up
over the long term,” she says.
production of essential goods such as personal, protective equipment (PPEs), bedding,
Some of the issues hindering
sanitizers, disinfectants, canned foods and
the competitiveness of Kenya’s
immunity boosting products, hospital beds, and ventilators.
manufacturing sector, she adds, are
regulatory overreach, high cost of
Other strategies will need to be adopted to
survive such as rearranging factory floor plans
energy, transport and logistics costs.
to accommodate social distancing, using remote monitoring mechanisms, reconsidering
“Unfortunately, the cost associated
major investments, analysing their supply chain withmotdhailsitiesisanaddbdeiengdmtore timhaeginpartivcewoithf a
their sales and marketing efforts.
final product, thereby hindering our competitiveness,” says Wakiaga.
She insists the sector will only
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Engineering in Kenya Magazine Issue 002