Our Expertise
Consulting
Programmes
Training
Engineering & Technology
What we do
VWG Consulting assists manufacturing and industrial organisations of all sizes to reduce costs, improve productivity and reduce their environmental footprint. Our business has three primary areas of focus: Operational Excellence, Resource Efficiency and Process Engineering.
Operational Excellence refers to the sustainable achievement of goals with respect to cost, product quality, safety, plant reliability , plant flexibility and throughput.
Resource Efficiency refers to the achievement of goals with respect to energy efficiency, water use efficiency, material usage and waste management.
Our Process Engineering work involves optimisation and supporting clients across the full life cycle of capital projects, from concept to commissioning.
Our philosophy is to consider these three areas in an integrated way, incorporating best practice. VWG delivers value through consulting services, training and technology supply.
Our Team
Craig van Wyk
Manojkumar Gosai
John Wittstock
Jenilee Ferreira
Alex Mathew
Verona van Wyk
Testimonials
Latest On Our Blog
AN OVERVIEW OF VWG’s STEAM SYSTEM SERVICES
Steam system operating costs are typically significant, and it makes sense for factories using steam to ensure that steam systems operate as efficiently as possible. Doing so does not have to be difficult if the issue is tackled in a structured way, and the costs of delivering this efficiency are typically dwarfed by the savings Read more about AN OVERVIEW OF VWG’s STEAM SYSTEM SERVICES[…]
How Quick Fix Routines Support Continuous Improvement
Standard work is the foundation for continuous improvement. It is important for tasks to be completed in the same way by all involved in the manufacturing process, and for this standard method be improved over time. The approach can be applied to various manufacturing job functions, from plant operation through to maintenance tasks, and ultimately Read more about How Quick Fix Routines Support Continuous Improvement[…]
Inside VWG’s Manufacturing Cost Reduction Programme
Cost leaders enjoy competitive advantage. That is always true. But if ever there was a time to focus on cost reduction, it is now. A conflagration of negative economic factors, exacerbated by the recent ratings downgrade, is going to place extreme pressure on disposable income, dampening demand. The simultaneous upward pressure on input costs is Read more about Inside VWG’s Manufacturing Cost Reduction Programme[…]
An Innovative Service Guaranteed to deliver Sustainable Energy Cost Reductions
Energy costs are significant in most manufacturing facilities and large commercial undertakings, but tend to take a back seat to other operational priorities such as plant reliability, product quality, safety, throughput and cost management. Most organisations do not have dedicated energy management personnel, and also cannot be sure of the returns achievable through investment in Read more about An Innovative Service Guaranteed to deliver Sustainable Energy Cost Reductions[…]
Why Only Teaching Shop Floor Staff “How” Things Are Done is Not Enough
Where manufacturing processes require manual intervention, it is vital that the operators of those processes do so consistently. This means that all operators should follow the same procedure. It is also important that the procedures being followed lead to the best results, and are hence reflective of “best operating practice”. Achieving best practice requires subject Read more about Why Only Teaching Shop Floor Staff “How” Things Are Done is Not Enough[…]
Why High-Performance Manufacturers Create Their Own Problems
Organisations that have got continuous improvement right encourage every employee to challenge themselves in improving performance, as individuals and in teams. Using the basic tools of PDCA, these organisations are constantly learning at every level, disseminating and exchanging these learnings and incorporating them into standardised work practices. All of these efforts are in pursuit of Read more about Why High-Performance Manufacturers Create Their Own Problems[…]
Common Barriers to Low-Cost Manufacturing
Becoming a cost leader is a natural source of competitive advantage for manufacturers. Lower costs assist commodity producers to undercut their competition on price, while for branded product manufacturers with leverage over price, lower costs can significantly increase margins. Low-cost producers enjoy better cash flows than their more wasteful competitors. Assuming that a business is Read more about Common Barriers to Low-Cost Manufacturing[…]
Problem Solving: Simple Route to World Beating Performance
Continuous improvement is only possible within a framework comprising the systematic measurement of performance and the establishment and facilitation of structured processes to close the gaps between achieved performance and performance targets. Problem solving offers this to any organisation willing to make the necessary investments in competence acquisition and resolute enough to drive required changes Read more about Problem Solving: Simple Route to World Beating Performance[…]
Two Non-Negotiable Steam System Performance Indicators
Managing the energy efficiency performance of any system is not possible without measurement. With the plethora of possible performance measures available, and the fact that measurement requires resources, it is important to be selective. A “shotgun” approach to performance indicators with no clear measurement strategy can be expensive to implement and also ineffective in terms Read more about Two Non-Negotiable Steam System Performance Indicators[…]
Reduce Your Electricity Costs with Power Factor Correction
I was in the office of a successful textiles entrepreneur while on business in Durban a few years ago. He wanted my advice on a proposal he had received for a power factor correction system. “Show me your bills for the last 12 months”, I asked. He had them readily on hand, and after about 20 Read more about Reduce Your Electricity Costs with Power Factor Correction[…]