Preparing the workforce of the future
At Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions in South Africa, building future-ready talent isn’t just a vision, it’s a reality taking shape every day under the guidance of Human Resource Development Manager Vusi Mnguni. From mechatronics to data-driven decision-making, Mnguni is leading the charge in equipping Sandvik employees with the skills they need for today, tomorrow, and beyond.
“Our goal is to advance the world through engineering,” says Mnguni. “That means our people must evolve alongside our machines, developing capabilities in automation, robotics, and programming.”
One of the standout initiatives is the Mechatronics Program within the Sandvik Academy, a 12-month collaboration with a technical university. The program integrates mechanical, electrical, and software skills, allowing technicians to manage increasingly complex equipment. It’s a natural evolution from traditional trades and is shaping the Sandvik technician of the future: one who is agile, data-savvy, and environmentally conscious.
Beyond technical skills, the Sandvik Academy focuses on what Mnguni calls “power skills”: change leadership, adaptability, and sustainability awareness. The training is backed by South African accreditation and supports diversity with intentional gender inclusion. In South Africa alone, 48% of program participants are women.
“Our 94% absorption rate proves these programs are more than training, they’re strategic investments,” Mnguni notes. “They feed directly into our workforce and shape the future of Sandvik.”
By investing in both skills and people, Sandvik in South Africa ensures it remains not only competitive but also inclusive and forward-thinking, ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world.
Meet Sandvik Podcast
In each episode of the podcast Meet Sandvik you will meet different persons that give their perspective on Sandvik. Sometimes it´s an employee telling his or her story. Sometimes you will meet experts discussing how a hot topic can affect Sandvik.