The North-West University (NWU) is constantly striving towards academic excellence and producing graduates who are fit and ready to create groundbreaking moves within their respective industries.
Two NWU industrial engineering graduates, Josua Olivier Wesch and Eduan Hugo, recently received recognition at the Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering’s (SAIIE’s) annual awards ceremony.
The SAIIE Awards honour and celebrate outstanding contributions to industrial engineering in Southern Africa.
Award-winning research
Josua, who obtained his qualification from the NWU in 2018, walked away with the SAIIE Award for Best Industrial Engineering Work conducted in Industry.
Currently working at Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), Josua received this award based on his research work titled “Procuring and implementing discrete-event simulation software at Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) with no formal simulation team or infrastructure in place”.
“Firstly, it was really an honor to be nominated and recognised by my fellow industrial engineering colleagues for the initial work and research I've been doing at RDM,” says Joshua.
“Secondly, I'm privileged to be in a position where I'm given the freedom to innovate and implement my ideas at RDM with backing from my management, and with the support from the NWU and Siemens SA. I'm truly humbled by the experience and it has encouraged me to continue with this work, which I believe is only a stepping-stone for the real value-adding work that can follow,” he adds.
Young graduate recognised
Eduan, who graduated from the NWU in 2020, was nominated in the category Best Industrial Engineering Practitioner: Employer's Choice. He currently works at Maluti X, an organisation that combines their in-depth supply chain knowledge with a data revolution approach.
“For me this nomination shows that the quality of education at the NWU is on par with other top institutions, and that the university knows what the industry needs,” says Eduan.
“It also shows that the work I have done to positively impact the environment does not go unnoticed, and is not influenced by factors such as years of experience,” he adds.
Dr Teresa Hattingh, acting director at the School of Industrial Engineering, says she is extremely proud that her graduates have been recognized at the SAIIE Awards. “It is encouraging to see how young industrial engineers from the NWU are making a tangible impact in South Africa.”
The NWU applauds Josua and Eduan on flying the NWU flag high. We look forward to witnessing more of their innovation and research.
Josua Olivier Wesch walked away with the SAIIE Award for Best Industrial Engineering Work conducted in Industry.
Eduan Hugo was nominated in the SAIIE’s category Best Industrial Engineering Practitioner: Employer's Choice.
