EP Media and Isuzu held its second online career webinar on June 17, with experts giving high school learners a lot of advice and food for thought on choosing a career in mechatronics.
So what is mechatronics? In a nutshell – mechatronics focuses on the engineering of electronic, electrical and mechanical engineering systems.
The panellists selected for this first webinar are experts and students in the field of mechantronics.
First up on our team of panellists was Professor Igor Gorlach, the Isuzu chair of mechatronics, responsible for a strategic university-industry partnership. In 2004, Prof Gorlach moved to Nelson Mandela University (NMU), where, as the head of department, was responsible for establishing the bachelor degree in mechatronics.
Also on the panel was Etienne Venter from Isuzu. Etienne has been working in the automotive industry for the past 24 years. He is currently working at Isuzu Motors South Africa and is responsible for manufacturing engineering at Isuzu’s manufacturing operations in Gqeberha. He is responsible for all manufacturing projects in the assembly plant. This includes the planning, design and implementation of projects to support change in the manufacturing environment. These projects include structural engineering projects, mechanical engineering and controls and automation and is often a combination of all of these elements.
To tell us more about mechatronics from a current student’s perspective we had Akhanya Qokweni on the panel. He is currently a final-year student in mechatronics engineering at Nelson Mandela University, working on his final year project under the Chair of mechatronics, with the support of Isuzu. Akhanya, who is 23 years old, was born and raised in Dutywa, a small town in the Eastern Cape. He currently holds a National Senior Certificate (matric) and is pursuing his bachelor of engineering degree in mechatronics (honours).
Nyameko Mlonzi, who is a student recruitment specialist in marketing and communications at NMU, told learners more about the application and admission requirements as well as the bursary options.
The Isuzu chair of mechatronics at NMU allows mechatronics students to design special projects and gain workplace experience at Isuzu. Engineers at Isuzu identify projects and then students come up with solutions.
The chair also facilitates applied research and knowledge transfer between industry and academia. It also provides support for junior students, especially from the previously disadvantaged communities, to bridge the gap between school and university.
Tell us more about the Isuzu chair of mechatronics and its purpose in a nutshell. What is the most important aspect of this chair for you?
Prof. Gorlach: The South African government identified a shortage of technical and engineering skills in the country a long time ago. The focus of this chair is to help develop young engineers, equip them with certain skills that enable them when they enter the industry to contribute from day one. By having students involved in real industrial projects we allow them to gain the required skills. Working with factory engineers on projects, they also quickly gain an understanding of the work environment and that’s what is important for us. We are kind of building the bridge between academia and the industry. That’s the most important thing our chair is contributing in this regard.
Coming from a small town in the Eastern Cape, where did you learn about mechatronics and what made you decide to become a Mechatronics student at NMU?
Akhanya: Coming from a small town with poor network coverage, I also didn’t know about the course. But then during my matric year, agents from the university came and presented different courses, including mechatronics. I just fell in love with the course. Looking at the current market and the fact that we as a generation are moving forward, we are automating, so I thought it was a great idea to take the course. Looking at the current crisis of the country where there is a huge unemployment rate, I thought it would be a good idea to pick one of the courses that are scarce because it means that there’s a larger availability of employment.
How is Mechatronics applied in the work place at Isuzu Motors South Africa?
Etienne: Isuzu, in its manufacturing operations use people with mechatronic skills that are applied in the design and installation, the upkeep of all manufacturing processes. These include mechanical and electrical applications in our body shop, paint shop and also our assembly shop. About 90% of our manufacturing solutions in our factory have some level of intelligence to ensure consistent and repeatable operation. So these applications include, and is often a combination of, various systems and these systems could be anything from a transfer system to move the unit through the production process, to a welding system which could consist of geometry tooling, robotics, welding equipment, a transfer system and even things like ventilation is interlinked with that system. It could be a paint application or a production monitoring system, even a system to measure a unit. Thus the resources to design, implement and maintain these systems are experts in control and automation systems and software application. In a nutshell, mechatronics is a key enabler for technological advancement in the manufacturing environment here at Isuzu.
How do the chair activities benefit mechatronics students and Isuzu?
Prof Gorlach: For students, I think the big advantage is that they are getting real industrial projects to work on. They need to demonstrate their problem solving skills in the design of various systems, from the basic one to very complex ones, and they are all real industrial systems. They also communicate with engineers about their designs and get feedback which also helps them learn quicker and improve their knowledge. Moving from the theory to real practice is their real advantage. For Isuzu, besides contributing to the academia, they are also benefiting by gaining some basic conceptual designs for some new problems that might come into the factory with new vehicles. For Isuzu, the benefit is supporting young engineers who will come into the industry in a short period of time. I think it’s mutually beneficial collaboration for industry and for university students – and for the community at large.
What would you say is the hardest aspect of mechatronics engineering so far, for you?
Akanya: Mechatronics involves various systems – mechanical, electrical and control systems – and even a little bit of computer science. Having it all is nice, but it might get overwhelming and cause time management problems. For me it’s balancing the workload and your social life and being a young adult. I would say it’s basically balancing everything out.
Is this qualification recognised overseas? If they study mechatronics at NMU, is it accredited in other parts of the country and the world?
Prof Gorlach: Yes, our programme is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa according to specific standards and those standards are recognised by a group of countries around the world. That means that our graduates can go to countries around the world and their degree is recognised as valid in their particular field.
What is the career scope for mechatronic engineers now and in the future in the manufacturing industry?
Etienne: The field of mechatronics is very promising when it comes to job opportunities. Mechatronics is a combination of various fields of engineering. You are essentially combing a broad range of skills in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and also computer science and control systems. Due to this very fact the field of mechatronics has a wide area of application, not only in the manufacturing industry but also in mining, agricultural, telecommunications, and even FMC (fast moving consumable goods) in the pharmaceutical and beverage industries. In medical advancement, people are also moving towards automation, like robotics. We also see it in finance and business fields. The multidisciplinary skills and knowledge in the field of mechatronics engineering give a solid base that you need to solve complex engineering problems. It will also give you a big picture perspective, flexibility and adaptability, and these are all key components of career success.
You mentioned that you are working on a final year project for Isuzu, what does that project entail?
Akanya: For the requirement of the degree each student has to complete a project. You have to design it and manufacture it. The requirements for the project is that it should demonstrate mechanical engineering and also electrical control systems. It’s a mechatronics device. My project is a durability test machine. It’s for a tailgate car door handle.A common practice in engineering is engineers designing a part and then adding some requirements or specifications to it. During manufacturing, they test it to see if it conforms to the specifications. This machine isolates the handle and then it does what we call a durability test for fatigue testing. It goes through 50 000 cycles, opening and closing the handle to see how it performs.
Would you consider the job of mechatronics engineers as high impact and if so, why?
Etienne: Yes, I would definitely agree with that statement. The jobs in mechatronics are expected to grow rapidly in the next ten years. The Department of Labour and Industry has identified mechatronics as an emerging field that will be both high priority and high impact. As civilisation makes great strides in technological advancement, the manufacturing industry has experienced a big boost with the introduction of new automation concepts. Mechatronics is fast becoming a popular way for companies to produce goods with the quality and speed modern consumers have come to expect. What mechatronics does for us is save time in the manufacturing operation. An integrated production line is much faster in operation compared to a system where different engineering departments are detached from one another. It enables increase in output. Mechatronics has made it easy to manufacture mass amounts of products. It also improves quality and is more cost effective.
For learners wanting to study for a BEng: Mechatronics
When are applications open and when do they close?
When are applications open and when do they close?
Nyameko: Applications opened on May 3. They are closing on August 5 for early applications. Late applications will only close on September 30.
Can learners apply with March results?
Nyameko: You need your Grade 11 final results. If you apply with Grade 12 results, then you will need your June results. It is advisable for them to use their Grade 11 final results, because June results are not out yet, to avoid losing out on a space.
What is the application fee?
Nyameko: For all applications at NMU, it is free to apply. We don’t charge an application fee.
Can I apply for a course and change later?
Nyameko: Yes, you can, provided you meet the minimum requirements. With the application process, you are only allowed to change your second choice. If you want to change your first choice, then you would need to inform the admissions department in writing. They will respond. Provided you meet the minimum requirements, they will look into your application.
Funding opportunities? How does NSFAS work?
Nyameko: It is centralised at the university now. You apply yourself. The minute you have your NMU student number you can apply without actually having to accept; you can reserve your space at NSFAS using your student number. This is because NSFAS has a different closing date than the university and you might lose out if you wait for the outcome. So ask them to reserve funding for you. They have their own requirements, but once you’ve been accepted they will notify us in writing and then we’ll administer those funds on their behalf. Additionally, there are a lot of other funding opportunities out there. There are bursaries, and other options, depending on what you want to study. I always encourage students to not leave all their eggs in one basket. Widen your net, send applications for different bursaries.
- Visit https://myfuture.mandela.ac.za/ to obtain career guidance, funding information, and more from NMU.
Using these webinars in class
These webinars are recorded and can be used by life orientation teachers in class for learners who could not attend the live webinars.
The benefit of attending the free live webinar is that learners have the opportunity to ask questions to the expert panellists.
And they can win a prize for their school – an advert in either PE Express, UD Express or Komani-Karoo Express to the value of R6 000.
The next career webinars presented by Isuzu and Express will focus on:
- Artificial intelligence on July 22 at 17:00
- Education on August 19 at 17:00
- Journalism on September 23 at 17:00
- Logistics on October 21 at 17:00
