23Contact mag | n°7

in practice

22 Contact mag | Dassault Systèmes

REGIME CHANGE UNDERWAYSince the change of regime in South Africa the country has been seen massive foreign investment, which has lead to an engineeringboom. In response the Nelson Mandela Metro-politan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth wasformed as a result of a merger between threetertiary educational institutions and has initiated a specific degree course devoted to training students to fill the growing skills gap for qualifiedautomotive industry engineers.

One of the universities’ most successful coursesis a 4-year degree in Mechatronics - the disci-pline that integrates mechanical, electrical engineering and information technology intoone degree. This course, which was partly inspired by the developments and trends in the German tertiary educational system and therequirements of the auto industry, has proved aboon to graduates, many of whom have foundemployment at VW, Mercedes Benz, GM or otherSouth Africa located automotive companies.

The University currently has 30 seats of CATIAV5 and DELMIA. Karl Du Preez the University’sHead of Mechanical Engineering, in the Schoolof Engineering explained why. “Dassault Systèmes V5 PLM software was selected asthe main design-to-manufacture tool for theMechatronic Degree because it is one of the industry standards among car manufacturersand their suppliers. The need for native filesthrough the supply chain to the OEM is paramount and DS is the only completely acceptable automotive solution in this country.”

FREEDOM THROUGH TECHNOLOGYKarl continued, “We are rolling out an increasingnumber of CATIA options for our students touse as part of their Mechatronics degree. Weteach design concepts rather than software sowe let the students learn CATIA with academicsupport but largely allow students to learn byexperience. They can learn as much as they like and of course they love to learn on such acomprehensive system that includes software

to handle all aspects of the design to manufactureprocess. Giving students access to this level of software produces very high levels ofknowledge across the production chain.”

The University has very strong links with localindustry and evolved training courses andconsultancy to provide for its needs. By workingso closely with industry, courses are designedto accord with local manufacturers’ needs, producing students who are qualified to appropriate as well as current standards.

The South African Dassault Systèmes BusinessPartner, CDC, supplied and installed the NMMUsystem and keeps the software up to date.

ONE FROM THE HEARTThe story of NMMU is heartening because in a country where many children are unable to receive a complete education through lack oflocal teaching provision, the Mechatronics Degree is a shining beacon of advanced technicaleducation. Through this degree young peoplewho would formerly have been excluded frommanagement positions are able to excel as managers and engineers both at home andabroad. Karl added, “We have an active exchange programme for our students whichallows them to go to Stuttgart, Germany to

A Mechatronics degree featuring

Dassault Systèmes V5 PLM

software is bringing positive

social and advanced

educational benefits along with

OEM level engineering

development to South Africa.

]By Nick Lerner

Dassault Systèmes

is the only completely

acceptable automotive

solution in this country.

«

work in laboratories on industry related projects.Additionally, VWSA is sponsoring a professorialchair at our university and currently automotivecompanies are providing more than 30 bursariesto fund promising students.”

A NEW CAR At present students are working on a numberof industry related projects including the devel -opment of robotic manufacturing and intelligentwelding cells. A group of students is developinga complete new car and all the while honingtheir skills on the software that is set to remainthe industry standard among OEMs and theirsupply chains.

For more information:www.3ds.comwww.cdza.co.za

Students at NMMU use V5 PLM on practical automotive projects.

Social Engineering

Strong links with potential employers throughjoint advisory committees and other links, as well as day-to-day contact and meetingshave ensured that NMMU graduates can makea valuable contribution not just to industry, but to the social fabric of the country by bringing money from their employment, oftento some of the most impoverished parts of South Africa •)

in practice

CNC programs are developed using V5 PLM.

DS V5 PLM in use at the University. Students collaborate using V5 technology.

9282-CM7 North:Mise en page 1 22/11/07 16:57 Page 22