Abstract:
The establishment and continuing success of a fonn of government based on the principles of democracy is
critically dependent on a growing economy and a continuing increase in the standard of living of the
respective populrJJion. The long tenn success of present initiatives in the political arena is therefore
dependent on similar industrial and technological developments.
The Industrial Engineering profession, and therefore the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
at the University of Pretoria, is in this respect in a unique position and has a special task. responsibility,
opportunity and challenge to make a significant contribution to the future prosperity of South Africa. This
task is multi-faceted but one of the most important challenges consists of the identification, adaptation and
implementation of those aspects of so called high technology which may be expected to make the greatest
contribution to improved productivity. At the same time, the Industrial Engineer will have to acknowledge
and handle effectively the constraints and problems caused by the special character of the South African
labour force.
At present the Department produces more than fifty percent of the annual graduate Industrial Engineers in
South Africa and the most important present responsibility is to provide an appropriate education for the
Industrial Engineer of the future. This task is very difficult but also challenging in the light of the present
and expected accelerated rate of change and development in the political, socioeconomic and technological
areas.
