South Africa is expected to climb up the global manufacturing competitiveness ladder from 22nd to 19th place over the next five years, according to the 2010 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index. The report, from Deloitte’s Global Manufacturing Industry group and the US Council on Competitiveness, is based on responses of more than 400 chief executive officers and senior manufacturing executives worldwide to a survey conducted in late 2009 and early 2010, as well as personal interviews. The executives identified having a pool of talented workers capable of supporting innovation as the key factor driving global competitiveness at manufacturing companies. Logistics featured in both the second and fifth-most important factors. Second on the executives’ list was the cost of labour and materials - including all costs of development, along with the total cost of materials, which include logistics costs and material availability.
