27 Aug 2013

Manufacturing

Wishful thinking?

You can't blame the government for trying, but let's face it, unless there is some sort of radical change in the mindset of the unions, the government call to them to keep those strikes peaceful is going to fall on incredibly deaf ears.

Our so-called 'strike season' has been marked for years by wanton acts of mindless violence, which of course have never been on the part of 'our members'. It's always the other union, or a 'third force' or whatever that has trashed businesses, looted shops, beaten, murdered, etc. Well, perhaps this year it will be different - but don't hold your breath.

Still on the subject of trashing, Douglas Kruger has a step-by-step process for those bosses out there (and yes, there are such morons) on how to trash a great team.

Do we live in a classroom or the real world, asks Courtney Bentley. As we all know, our education system is ... well... you know ... but apart from the basics that any decent education system should inculcate into its pupils, Bentley reckons there's a need to teach some basic life skills as well.

For all you petrol heads out there, our tame motoring editor Henrie Geyser reckons the new Volvos are as smooth as Irish coffee, and as a man noted for his cheery, chiselled features, he also reckons the baby Merc gets A for looks. Well, come on... he knows... wouldn't he?

To end... don't forget to vote in the Times' Creative Press Ad Challenge and stand a chance to win yourself a Samsung tablet.

Rod Baker, Content Director

Comment online in our ed's column archive. Go mobile with apps and m.bizcommunity.com. Engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+. Subscribe to YouTube and via RSS. Send all your industry-specific news and event invitations to manufacturingnews@bizcommunity.com, exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-manufacturing@bizcommunity.com and international news to internationalnews@bizcommunity.com. Read "How to contribute to Biz, from op-ed pieces to news".



Weekly top stories

Manufacturing Indaba launched
The Manufacturing Circle, which promotes the business interests of South Africa's manufacturers, in association with Siyenza - an events and marketing firm with decades of experience in the African eventing sector - has announced the launch of the annual Manufacturing Indaba. Read more >>

Manufacturing
Hino performs well in export market
Hino, the Japanese truck and bus manufacturer, has performed particularly strongly in export markets with a 3.8% increase in sales for the first quarter of the company's 2014 financial year, from April to June 2013, compared to the corresponding quarter a year previously. Read more >>

Risk-based Inspection Accreditation Programme launched by SANAS
The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) and the Department of Labour (DoL) have launched a new programme to accredit certification bodies to conduct risk-based inspection at manufacturing plants. Read more >>


Manufacturing
FAW invests R600m in South Africa
FAW‚ one of China's leading global manufacturers of passenger cars‚ trucks and buses is building a plant at Coega Industrial Development Zone near Port Elizabeth. Read more >>

Grain prices fall as rand firms
[Helmo Preuss] The combination of lower Chicago grains futures due to good US rains‚ farmer selling to repay debt due before the end of the month and a stronger rand saw grain futures prices fall on Friday (23 August). Read more >>

Grocery costs increasing over inflation
South African consumers' grocery costs are increasing at three times the rate of inflation according to debt management company DebtBusters. Read more >>

BAT's R1bn expansion is a 'vote of confidence' in SA
[Bekezela Phakathi] British American Tobacco (BAT) said last week that its South African subsidiary is entering the final phase of a R1bn expansion to enhance sales‚ marketing and distribution. Read more >>

Evraz Highveld reduces interim headline loss
Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium on Thursday (22 August) reported a reduced headline loss for the six months to June‚ from a shortfall of R455m in the first half of last year to a R10m loss for the first half of this year. Read more >>

HP swings to profit, but PC woes hit revenues
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Hewlett-Packard saw profits return in the third quarter, but slumping PC sales took a bite out of revenues of the troubled US technology company. Read more >>

Transpaco says selective deals will boost growth
[Alistair Anderson] Packaging group Transpaco believes that paper and other companies moving into its industry are creating new competition. However‚ selective acquisitions will help the group to grow earnings. Read more >>

Distell aims to push exports to 35% of total sales
[Marc Hasenfuss] Stellenbosch-based liquor group Distell aims to push its international sales to 35% of total sales in the medium-term‚ underlining this ambition by appointing a top SABMiller executive with global market experience to replace retiring managing director Jan Scannell. Read more >>

No progress on strike says Numsa
Employers in the motor vehicle industry have not made any concrete offer to striking workers, the National Union of Metalworkers of SA said on Wednesday (21 August). Read more >>

Counterfeit medicine trade targets Africa's poor
YAOUNDE, CAMEROON: From Cameroon to Ivory Coast, Kenya to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), traders in counterfeit drugs do a thriving business with the utmost cynicism and sometimes at the cost of human lives. Read more >>

Customs goes digital
The SA Revenue Service (SARS) has introduced a new digital customs management system at border posts, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Thursday, 22 August). Read more >>

Brics leaders look to boost trade with Africa
Business leaders from the BRICS group of emerging economies met on Tuesday (20 August) to discuss trade with Africa, insisting that the bloc's planned development bank has not been abandoned. Read more >>

New contamination scare hits New Zealand dairy industry
A new contamination scare hit New Zealand's multi-billion dollar dairy industry on Monday (19 August) after it was revealed a milk product with excessive nitrate levels had been exported to China. Read more >>


International

Nokia says India 'least favourite market': report
Tax problems lead to Nokia criticism of India as its "least favourable market"in which to operate. Read more >>

Tata rebrands 'world's cheapest car' to boost sales
MUMBAI, INDIA: India's top vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors says it plans to reposition the Nano as a "smart city car" after its marketing pitch as the world's cheapest vehicle resulted in disappointing sales. Read more >>

Fletcher profits up from N.Z. construction
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand's largest listed company Fletcher Building posted a 76% rise in annual profit on Wednesday (21 August) as strong growth in the country's construction sector offset weakness in Australia. Read more >>

Experts debate the smarts of the 'smartwatch'
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: News that Samsung will unveil a "smartwatch" next month has sent rumour mills into overdrive within the technology community as it second guesses what the much-hyped gadget will offer. Read more >>

GM reopens its Egyptian operations
NEW YORK CITY, USA: US car company General Motors said on Monday (19 August) it had reopened its office and factory in Egypt after shutting both down last week as violence swept the country leaving hundreds dead. Read more >>

Singapore to double capacity of Changi Airport
SINGAPORE - Singapore will build a new terminal that will double the capacity of Changi Airport in a bid to retain its edge as a regional aviation hub, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said. Read more >>

Apple has two new iPhones coming
NEW YORK CITY, USA: Apple has asked its Taiwan-based supplier to begin shipping two new versions of the iPhone next month, including a lower-cost model, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday (19 August). Read more >>


More International


Partners

In the Zone with MWEB Entrepreneur: Bio-Oil - a well-oiled business machine
SA skin-care brand Bio-Oil is a worldwide success story, and the core product of Union Swiss, a multi-million dollar company that sells Bio-Oil in over 50 countries worldwide. Read more >>


Africa

Reports warn of trouble in Ghana's new oil sector
ACCRA: Ghana looked to defy the trends which have plagued other west African oil producers, replacing graft and waste with prudent spending, but two years after production began there is reason to worry, new reports said. Read more >>


More Africa


Government

Keep those strikes peaceful
As the strike season gets underway, government has called on striking workers to conduct themselves peacefully. Read more >>

SA businesses head for Moz trade fair
South African enterprises will get a chance to showcase their services at the Feira Internacional De Maputo (FACIM) in Mozambique. Read more >>

BRICS Business Council to boost inclusive growth
President Jacob Zuma says the leaders of the BRICS countries will use the bloc's Business Council as a platform to explore new models and approaches towards more equitable development and inclusive growth in the world. Read more >>


More Government news


Jobs offered



Upcoming events

Google Apps South Africa Tour - Johannesburg
Grove Group - 29 Aug 2013 Johannesburg


All industry news


Marketing & Media

Medical

Retail

Government

Mining

CSI

Finance & Insurance

Agriculture, Horticulture & Forestry

Arts & Entertainment

Building & Construction

Environment & Conservation

Human Resources & Recruitment

Legal

Property & Real Estate

Security & Military

Education & Training

Tourism, Travel & Hospitality

IT & Telecommunications

Maritime & Fishing

Sport

Logistics

Science & Technology

Lifestyle

Automotive
PrintPrint any item in this newsletter. EmailEmail any item in this newsletter. CommentComment on any item in this newsletter.


Today's weather
Cpt

16°C
9°C
Jhb

24°C
8°C
PE

23°C
9°C
Dur

31°C
19°C
Bloem

27°C
8°C

Customise weather

Industry sectors




Press releases: Distribute your news professionally to over 170 000 subscribers across various industries. Read more about our press offices.

Editorial: We welcome your news, views and comments! Email press releases, invitations, interview requests, and proposals to manufacturingnews@bizcommunity.com and exclusive opinion pieces to contributors-manufacturing@bizcommunity.com.

Advertising: We welcome your sales enquiries! Email sales@bizcommunity.com and read more about our advertising rates.

Location: Cape Town (head office): tel +27 (0)21 680 3500 | 24 On Main, Main Street, Rosebank, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa. Johannesburg: tel +27 (0)11 513 4172 | Nicol Grove Office Park, Design Quarter, Leslie Avenue, Fourways, Gauteng, 2055.

Subscribe/unsubscribe: Invite your friends, colleagues, suppliers, customers and partners to subscribe!


© 2013 Bizcommunity.com. All rights reserved.
Bizcommunity.com, its sponsors, contributors and advertisers disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense that might arise from the use of, or reliance upon, the services contained herein.

Unsubscribe, Manage subscriptions. Subscribe. Change email address. Change frequency to DAILY.