Syspro awards bursaries to production trainees

Leading software developer Syspro awarded five bursaries to shop floor production trainees at the Gala Dinner Dance of the 20th International SAPICS Conference & Exhibition on Tuesday, July 7.

The bursary winners are: Ricky Worship, SA Road Tankers; Mark Brandt, Crown National; Shafiek Faure, Fine Chemicals; Vernon Williams, Tedelex; and Greg Helders, AMC Cookware Factory.

Syspro marketing director Meryl Malcomess says the bursaries are aimed at production trainees from formerly disadvantaged communities. "After 20 years in South Africa, Syspro is committed to the spirit of self-improvement," she says. "We believe people have a right to further education, and would like to present this year`s winners with an opportunity to pursue that right. It will also be good to see some young blood coming into the industry!"

The bursary winners may choose between two courses. The first, Basics of Production & Inventory Management (BPIM), is a recommended starting point. It covers forecast and demand, inventory, store-keeping, purchasing, master scheduling, material requirements planning, capacity planning and shop floor control.

The second course, Principles of Production and Inventory Management (PPIM), provides in-depth insight into P&IM systems and prepares the student for Certification review courses. Students attending this course should already have completed either the Effective Supply, Warehousing and Distribution or the BPIM course.

Both Syspro and SAPICS have contributed financially towards the bursaries, with Syspro also providing each trainee with a mentor to offer guidance.

Syspro provides flexible, integrated, cost-effective systems for the accounting, manufacturing and distribution activities of an organisation. Its flagship product, IMPACT Encore, enables companies to exercise complete control over the planning, forecasting, management and distribution facets of the business. It is a comprehensive solution which is simple to maintain, thereby maximising time for business management and profit generation.