sassda news
Skills Development Central to Stainless Steel Industry Growth Stainless Steel Course, Selling of Stainless Steel Course and a specialised Multi-Module Shopfloor Course.
Education and training remain among the most important strategic tools available to strengthen the long-term competitiveness, quality standards and growth potential of South Africa’s stainless steel industry. As the custodian of stainless steel industry development in Southern Africa, Sassda believes structured training plays a critical role in supporting not only individual companies, but also the broader sustainability and advancement of the local manufacturing sector. Sassda Training Manager Mankabe More says the industry increasingly requires a stronger focus on technical capability, practical skills development and knowledge transfer across the value chain. “Training is not simply about compliance or education. It is about building a more competitive and sustainable stainless steel industry in South Africa. When companies improve technical capability, reduce errors and strengthen quality standards, the entire value chain benefits,” says More. Building Technical Capability Across the Value Chain Sassda’s current education and training structure has been developed to support multiple levels of industry participation, ranging from entry-level awareness through to advanced technical and metallurgical expertise. The organisation currently offers programmes including the Introduction to Stainless Steel Course, Fundamentals of Stainless Steel Course, Advanced
The introductory online programmes are designed to provide newcomers and non-technical personnel with a foundational understanding of stainless steel, including material grades, applications and handling requirements. At a more advanced level, the Fundamentals of Stainless Steel Course offers ECSA-accredited training covering corrosion, stainless steel applications, mechanical properties, production methods and handling practices over a structured three-week programme. Meanwhile, the Advanced Stainless Steel Course focuses on areas such as metallurgy, thermodynamics, corrosion mechanisms, welding microstructures and manufacturing processes for professionals requiring deeper technical knowledge. According to Sassda, improved technical competence in areas such as fabrication, welding, corrosion resistance and finishing can deliver direct operational and commercial value to member companies. Better understanding of stainless steel grades and applications can help reduce defects, minimise material wastage and improve product quality and customer satisfaction. The association also believes training contributes directly to improved productivity and manufacturing efficiency by helping companies optimise fabrication processes, improve throughput and reduce downtime. Importantly, many of Sassda’s programmes are aligned with ISO, SANS and export standards, helping position companies for participation in regulated markets including Europe, the Middle East and food-grade manufacturing sectors. Sassda has also seen growing demand for customised on-site shopfloor training tailored to the operational
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Issue 2 – 2026
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