The Manufacturing, Engineer- ing and Related Services Educa- tion and Training Authority (Merseta) has given diversified engineering company Atlas Copco R9,6-million for use in the development of the Atlas Copco academy.

The donation was given to Atlas Copco at the launch of the Johannesburg-based academy and the CMT Centre of Excellence, in November.

Speaking at the launch, Merseta CEO Dr Raymond Patel said government acknowledged that there was a need for skills development, noting that an additional R1,1-billion was set aside for skills development in Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, in October.

Atlas Copco established the academy to deal with the company’s needs for skilled personnel.

While mechanisation in indus- try has allowed for increased productivity and cost efficiency, the equipment involved requires ever-increasing levels of technical skills to maintain and repair it. However, globally, there is a shortage of appropriately trained people.

Atlas Copco South Africa chairperson Bengt Kvarnback reports that the academy is to develop a tool to make the rollout of training to all Atlas Copco employees effective. This will involve the development of a database that will make it easier for managers to research and gain access to training courses best suited to the needs of their staff. These courses have been modified to suit Atlas Copco’s specific needs.

The courses are presented in short modules, so trainees can study when it suits them.

The Academy runs a learnership and apprenticeship programme, which was launched at the beginning of 2007.

Currently, Atlas Copco has 68 technical apprentices training to be fitters, electricians and diesel mechanics, besides other trades.

Once the apprentices have completed their training, they will be filtered into Atlas Copco’s technical support structures.

Approval has also been given for an apprenticeship mentorship programme, whereby current Atlas Copco artisans coach and mentor technical trainees, so that skills transfer takes place quickly and efficiently.

The Academy also runs is the Training in Africa Project.

Atlas Copco is developing its own centre of excellence in Johannesburg, where the focus will be on Atlas Copco-specific training. The intention is to train technicians to maintain and repair Atlas Copco machinery. Trainees will travel to the centre from other countries within the Southern African Develop-ment Community region to acquire the necessary skills.