The Concrete Manufacturers Association is one of many South African industry associations which, besides promoting the interests of its members, plays a crucial role for the public at large, ensuring that its members abide by codes of conduct largely based on national and international best-practice standards. Like all business associations, CMA activities encompass interfacing with all levels of public governance, the promotion of the use of quality precast concrete, the creation and maintenance of industry and product specific literature, creation and maintenance of technical standards, and issuing certain certification as applicable.
Now in its 50th year, the CMA is the proud custodian of South Africa’s precast concrete industry.
Interviewed by Cape Business News, CMA general manager, Henry Cockcroft, says the precast concrete manufacturing industry is divided into two sectors – infrastructure development and all other forms of construction. With current government spending on infrastructure development at a low ebb, the precast concrete manufacturing market is placed under tremendous pressure, and construction activity is mainly centered on the private sector.
“Our overriding aim is to promote the use of a class of precast concrete products which meets local, and in many instances, international quality standards in both sectors,” says Cockcroft.
“This involves the creation, maintenance and updating of precast concrete standards in collaboration with industry leaders and the South African Bureau of Standards – Standards Division, as well as the distribution of industry-related information via social media platforms and the industrial press. Training and updating members and the construction industry at large with the latest developments in precast concrete technology, forms part of this process.
“Dealing with threats to our industry forms another string to our bow. A recent example is the influx of informal manufacturing companies, many of them from other countries, into the rural housing arena.
“More often than not these companies sell sub-standard building products with negative consequences for both the home dweller and the economy as a whole. In most instances houses built with sub-standard materials fail and must be rebuilt at great cost. No country, especially not South Africa, cannot afford buildings which fail. Not only do the rebuilds cost more than double the original price but they cause huge upheavals in the communities where they prevail. In cases like these the CMA engages with the stake holders and government to create awareness and, by so doing, encourage the use of properly certified building materials.”
The CMA has over 40 manufacturing members countrywide and in the region of 20 non-manufacturing members. This excludes contractors and professionals who carry CMA membership status.
“During our 50 year existence we have assembled a substantial library which covers all aspects precast concrete manufacture, standards, and installation. This data is constantly updated and is made available to the construction professional and individual alike.” The CMA form a curtail porthole to the industry in gaining information relating to the sourcing quality precast concrete and the installation thereof.
Cockcroft notes that the CMA vigorously promotes the use of top-quality precast concrete and CMA members are obliged to implement a quality management system or, at the very least, abide by a stated quality policy. And one of the services offered by the association is providing new members with assistance in developing quality management systems.
“The overriding benefit of CMA membership is the image it portrays to precast concrete customers. It is synonymous with quality, honesty and professionalism, all based on and abiding by a proper code of conduct. As a result, precast concrete specifiers know they can rely on CMA members’ products which are economical, easy to install, and designed for long-term use.
“We offer our members a basket of activities including involvement in exhibitions, seminars and workshops and we provide them with access to our library which includes brochures and other technical material, to assist them in the upskilling of staff and in achieving improvements in precast concrete quality, productivity and application.
“That said, the precast concrete industry operates as a niche market which involves offsite manufacture and transportation to site, and to date there is insufficient formal education on its application in the South African context.
“One of our activities is the staging of a biennial Awards for Excellence competition and we are currently in the midst of our 18th competition which was launched in May. More than winning an award for excellence in the use of precast concrete, the competition is about gaining exceptional visibility for its multiple applications. To this end all award entries are posted on social media platforms, thereby creating an informative resource for engineers, architects, property developers, and other professionals, encouraging them to tap into the many advantages of precast concrete.”
Cockcroft concluded the interview by observing that the maintenance of standards forms an essential element of orderly human societies.
“We cannot function effectively without the application and maintenance of standards. Be it in the production of precast concrete, food or pharmaceuticals, standards are the vital ingredient, the glue if you will, in achieving reliable and consistent quality levels. Simply put, a world without standards would be a world in chaos.”
