Setting the standard for earthmoving proficiency

Barloworld Equipment’s PJB Learning Academy in Isando, Ekurhuleni, is a well-established and reputable learning institution. It focuses on the delivery of various competencies in engineering, mining and construction through OEM-certified, competent and experienced facilitators using the latest technologies. IMIESA speaks to Dumisani Kala, Head: Academy, about current programmes.

Covering a key portion of Southern Africa, Barloworld Equipment is Caterpillar Inc.’s sole dealer for Cat earthmoving machines and related mining and construction equipment in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia, as well as the DRC’s Katanga province (in a joint venture with Bartrac).

Parts and services are provided within the regions and supported via Barloworld Equipment’s and Caterpillar’s logistics centres in Johannesburg, which are also home to Barloworld Equipment's PJB Learning Academy and its Technical Operator School of Excellence. The latter play a crucial role in ensuring a pipeline of newly qualified technicians and operators.

The Academy was established in 2009 and offers a variety of courses. These range from semi-skilled workforce competencies to courses for apprentices, artisans, engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists, right through to supervisory and leadership development competencies.

However, the Academy has a primary responsibility to develop and enhance key technical, maintenance and engineering competencies that are critical to sustain both Barloworld Equipment’s and its clients’ capabilities. The Academy boasts an impressive external/private client base in South Africa, as well as across its Southern African dealer footprint.

Certification and accreditation

The Academy is quality and safety compliant in terms of ISO 9001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007, and has Five Star Monitoring Condition Certification. The PJB Learning Academy is also the third Academy in the Caterpillar world to achieve the highest level of excellence in terms of Caterpillar Technician Career Development Process Accreditation.

The Academy is accredited with MerSETA, the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA), and the Transport SETA (TETA) for all applicable trades and occupations, and with the Qualifications Council for Trades and Occupations for Earthmoving Equipment.

In addition to apprenticeship programmes, advanced and expert-level training is provided via Caterpillar’s Technician Career Development Programmes across all Caterpillar OEM brands, which include Perkins engines and SEM earthmoving machines.

Thanks to the multifaceted nature of the courses offered at the Academy, training is provided at every point along the value chain. For example, learners can qualify as earthmoving technicians, auto electricians, machinists, technology specialists, or operators.

“All the material in use by Barloworld Equipment for all the mining/construction machines is vetted by Caterpillar and, where supplied, the material is adapted by the Academy to suit the needs of Barloworld employees and customers,” Kala explains.

Apprenticeship training is based on the three legs of occupational training, namely institutional (theoretical and practical training),

experience building (on the job, logbooks to cover all the modules, etc.) and support (availability of resources, coaching, machines, tooling and components, and opportunities to apply what was learnt).

Optimum machine health

At all levels, Academy instructors underscore the vital importance of predictive and preventative maintenance to yield the legendary durability of Cat machines and components. Courses include condition monitoring, as well as parts reusability training.

“Academy learners gain an in-depth understanding on how diagnostic tools can be used to prevent premature failures and unplanned breakdowns,” Kala continues, adding that training also includes familiarisation on the services provided by Barloworld Equipment’s S•O•S Laboratory – a high-tech oil analysis and condition monitoring facility – as well as its Rebuild Centre. Both are housed on Barloworld Equipment’s Boksburg campus.

As Kala points out, these facilities form a core component of Barloworld Equipment’s commitment to helping customers maximise their machine investments at the lowest cost per tonne. The services provided by the Rebuild Centre enable customers to exchange cores – like engines, gearboxes, and transmissions – for certified Reman (remanufactured) components, which helps to drive down costs and maximise machine uptime. A complete machine rebuild service is also offered.

Leveraging the benefits of AR and AI

“We are also leveraging the benefits of artificial intelligence and augmented reality to enhance the learning and practical infield experience for technical personnel,” says Kala. "Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Academy was already using these and other IT tools to remotely coach and support in-field or workshop based technicians with any diagnostic or troubleshooting exercises."

Why operator training is important

From the time a customer takes delivery of a machine, two of the most important factors in its future life and performance are the client’s operators and service personnel. For this reason, Barloworld Equipment’s Academy has a dedicated Operator Training Centre for all machine classes. This is accredited by MQA, SETA and TETA.

Operator training courses offered to employees and customers include: • full training for novices • recognition of prior learning for experienced operators that are not certified • new licence competency training to relicense operators already licensed by a SETA • handover training where new machines are delivered to customer sites • stop, start and driving training for technicians and apprentices – this enables service personnel to move machines from the parking yard to the workshop and back for repairs • remote control operation.

Technology Department

The Technology Department has two Caterpillar Technology Optimisation Specialists certified by Caterpillar to deliver Cat MineStar and Vision Link Technology. Cat MineStar assists in enhancing safety, reducing costs, improving productivity and boosting efficiency in mining operations.

The MineStar team provides a comprehensive suite of training opportunities that allows users to build skills from foundational to expert through web-based, instructor-led and on-the-job courses.

The Academy’s Technology Department supports a range of intuitive programs to further optimise machine utilisation and operator proficiency. These include: • Terrain for Dozing, Loading and Grading:

With onboard guidance tools and realtime feedback, this program provides dozer and motor grader operators with the information to maximise machine efficiency by monitoring key elements like ore bodies, bench heights, cycle times and volume of material cut and filled. Inputs from the control centre tell operators where to dig or cut, how much material to move, when they’ve moved enough and even if they’ve moved too much. • Terrain for Drilling uses state-of-the-art guidance technologies to help operators drill holes in the exact location and to the exact depth specified by the plan, resulting in smoother, safer and more efficient blasting. • Command for Dozing enables the remote control of a dozer from a control room that can be as far away as 2 000 km from the machine’s location. “By providing integrated solutions, the Academy empowers customers to deliver the best solutions for their clients. It’s a highly effective model that continues to evolve in new and exciting ways,” Kala concludes.

Dumisani Kala, Head: PJB Learning Academy, Barloworld Equipment

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATES