--- title: "Pragmas Academy to improve standard of physical asset management in South Africa and abroad" description: "The Pragma Academy, which has been in existence for the last ten years,currently offers a range of training courses aimed at improving physical asset" image: https://www.pragmaworld.net/wp-content/uploads/pragma-social-placeholder-blue.jpg canonical: https://www.pragmaworld.net/pragmas-academy-to-improve-standard-of-physical-asset-management-in-south-africa-and-abroad/ url: https://pragma-world.getmd.ai/pragmas-academy-to-improve-standard-of-physical-asset-management-in-south-africa-and-abroad/.md last_converted: 2026-10-06T20:50:56.867Z --- # Pragmas Academy to improve standard of physical asset management in South Africa and abroad November 11, 2013The Pragma Academy, which has been in existence for the last ten years,currently offers a range of training courses aimed at improving physical asset management practices at clients in need of the service throughout South Africa as well as parts of the African continent. With industry experiencing a shortage of competent artisans, planners and engineers, the onus has fallen on companies to create internal capacity through training. Says Billy Wilson, Academy Manager of Pragma Africa: “While many companies are currently investing in apprenticeship programmes, these apprentices, as well as staff being promoted to more senior roles, often lack a basic theoretical understanding of what physical asset management entails. The Pragma Academy aims to rectify this imbalance through theoretically sound, yet practically applicable learning interventions.” Clients are invited to either attend one of the regularly scheduled public courses running in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, PE, Nairobi and Lagos, or have an on-site course arranged for a minimum of twelve delegates..All courses are presented by seasoned industry experts with an average of 25 years experience. Says Wilson: “Courses include the Fundamentals of Physical Asset Management, Maintenance Planning and Scheduling, Maintenance Plan Development (OMM), Root Cause Analysis, Project Management and PAS55 Boot Camp. All courses are developed in line with PAS 55 principles and are accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa(ECSA)through the South African Asset Management Association (SAAMA). Training is open to all companies. “Of course we present a lot of training in support of our services to existing clients of Pragma, but also present courses to companies that aren’t clients but need to improve their physical asset management practices. Clients include some top names such as the Transnet Group, Fresenius Group, Goldfields, Botswana Breweries, Sasol Group, Nampak Group, Debswana, Parmalat, Murray &Roberts, all major Utilities Rainbow Farms, Eskom, Rotek, Nkomati Mine, Tiger Brands, Aveng Group, Bravo Group, BHP Billiton, Sun City Resort, Clover SA, Rand Water, Arcelor Mittal SA, Pioneer Foods, DBSA, Engen, Exxaro, Aspen Pharmaceuticals, Mercedes, IDC, Powertech Transformers, Umgeni Water, De Beers, Paarl Media, and MTN, to name but a few. “Furthermore, the Pragma Brasil Academy presents a two-phased MBA in Physical Asset Management. The focus in the MBA is on Maintenance Engineering, Lean Maintenance and Shutdown Administration and Management.” Locally, Pragma, in association with the University of Stellenbosch, also presented a very successfulphysical asset management course earlier this month with eight attendees. Wilson comments: “The course exceeded the expectations of the attendees.Most students were experienced in that they were either working or had worked previously and had some knowledge of the practical aspects of asset management. Thiscourseprovides an overview of the fundamental aspects of modern physical asset management and is delivered at a postgraduate pace and level. Attendees were introduced to the most recent internationally accepted definitions, standards and schools of thought on the subject. The course is further fully aligned with the international PAS 55: 2008 and includes the PAS 55/ISO 55000 overview and contextualisation, the PAS 55 focus areas for physical asset management including strategic planning, enablers and controls, execution and assessment as well as improvement, key performance areas for each PAS 55 focus area, and case studies on the latest developments in physical asset management. Due to its enormous success, we’ll definitely present it again in the near future.” With regards to PAS 55, there was a direct need to provide a consistent framework for asset management systems, which organisations could use to try and ensure sustainable risk-mitigated operations. Wilson continues: “This resulted in the Publicly Available Specification 55, or PAS 55 (PAS 55-2008 parts 1&2). It is applicable to any organisation that depends on its physical assets for the performance and continuance of its business operations. Companies that have implemented the standard have benefited on two fronts. The first is improved, more reliable and sustainable operations. The second is reduced insurance premiums. PAS 55-2008 is currently undergoing conversion into an International Standard (ISO 55 000).” Pragma currently boasts an academy in both South Africa and Brasil. “The two work very differently and we’re tasked with the process to take the best from both these business models, mash them together and come up with a model that can work worldwide. Ultimately, we’d like to partner with universities around the globe and establish an exchange programme with Europe, Asia, Australia and North and South America,” concludes Wilson. For more information visit www.pragmaworld.net or contact Billy Wilson at [[email protected]](https://www.pragmaworld.net/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99fbf0f5f5e0b7eef0f5eaf6f7d9e9ebf8fef4f8eef6ebf5fdb7f7fced) or on 011 848 6940. ##### Subscribe to our newsletter ##### More content ##### AI in maintenance: from CMMS records to better decisions Author | Henk Wynjeterp - Regional Lead – Europe AI is giving maintenance teams new ways to extract, structure and interpret information. But the... ##### Asset Management Masterclass or Awareness Training? Start with the role, not the course Author | Karen Greyling - Business Development Manager, Pragma I get asked this question quite often: Should I do the Asset Management Masterclass, or... ##### The lonely learner problem: why self-paced learning still needs people Author | Karen Greyling - Business Development Manager, Pragma Self-paced learning has solved a very real problem for busy adults. It gives people more... ##### Pragma appoints Stephan Kornelius as Chief Executive Officer Author | Pragma Experienced Pragma executive takes the helm on 1 October as the business continues its next... ##### No time for training? Look at what is taking the time. Author | Karen Greyling - Business Development Manager, Pragma “Not now. The team is too busy.” It is one of the most understandable reasons... ##### When Finance and Operations agree on spares Author | Pragma MRO spares are often the source of a familiar business tension. Finance wants to reduce... ##### You don’t train for a marathon by running a marathon Author | Tim Beavon - Partner Consultant, Pragma Why shutdown readiness depends on applying lessons before the next major event A major shutdown... ##### Pragma announces leadership transition and continues strategic momentum Author | Pragma Pragma has announced an important leadership transition as the business continues to build on... ##### Are we solving the wrong training problem? Author | Karen Greyling - Academy Business Development Manager, Pragma When organisations say they need training, they may already be solving the wrong training problem:... ##### The art of balancing work order feedback with compliance, learning, and wrench time Author | Scheepers Schoeman - Senior Associate, Professional Services Most organisations don’t choose their work order feedback culture. They drift into it. A new... ##### Why a qualified maintenance planner changes more than maintenance Author | Karen Greyling - Academy Business Development Manager, Pragma In many plants, the same pattern repeats itself. Work arrives late. Materials are chased at... ##### Why MRO inventory is different from other inventory classes Author | Andre Jordaan - Partner Consultant, Pragma MRO inventory differs from other inventory classes because demand is irregular, the consequences of stockouts... ##### How failing water infrastructure is quietly reshaping South Africa’s cities Author | Nelson Broden – Business Lead Pragma Managed Services On the school run through... ##### From dead capital to operational certainty: Smarter spare parts management Author: André Jordaan, Partner Consultant, Pragma Most MRO stores aren’t short of parts; they’re short... ##### Asset Management Awareness Training that fits real work Author | Karen Greyling, Business Development Manager If you’ve ever thought, “We don’t need another... ##### Asset Management Masterclass: Strategic training for leaders driving performance, reliability and results Author | Karen Greyling – Business Development Manager In asset-intensive industries, leaders are under growing... ##### Beyond compliance: Why repeated maturity assessments define asset performance leadership Author | Stephan Kornelius – Pragma Professional Services Business Lead In asset-intensive industries, leaders face... ##### OEMs need a connected platform for services Author | Henk Wynjeterp – Regional Lead – Europe | Henk leads Pragma’s OEM after-sales... ##### When rivers cry out: How asset management can help heal South Africa’s waterways Author | Nelson Broden – Business Lead Pragma Managed Services The Hennops River, once part... ##### Ditch the buzzword: OEM after-sales leaders buy execution, not “servitization” Author | Henk Wynjeterp – Regional Lead – Europe | Henk leads Pragma’s OEM after-sales... ##### Beyond the software – embedding your EAMS into your organisation’s DNA for sustainable value The key to a successful EAMS (Enterprise Asset Management System) implementation lies in integrating the... ##### Pragma’s perspective on what the proposed South African budget means for infrastructure governance Author | Stephan Kornelius Author | Stephan Kornelius – Pragma Professional Services Business Lead Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025... ##### Government infrastructure investments must go beyond bricks and mortar – A global perspective Author | Bani Kgosana Author | Bani Kgosana Across the globe, ageing infrastructure threatens economic stability. In the US,... ##### Pragma partners with Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team to power maintenance excellence Author | Liza Schroeder Pragma is proud to announce its support of the Q36.5 Pro... ##### Revitalising South Africa – a better path to infrastructure renewal Author | Bani Kgosana, Pragma CRO South Africa faces an extraordinary opportunity to transform its... ##### Transforming maintenance from a grudge purchase to a strategic investment Author | Scott Gibson, Pragma CEO  With South Africans enjoying a break from load shedding... ##### Pragma 2.0 – CEO of Pragma, Scott Gibson’s vision is to compete with international giants through engineering excellence At Pragma, our roots are deeply embedded in engineering consulting. We are proud to be... ##### Are you proactively shaping your focused improvement process or is it evolving organically? Author | André Jordaan, Pragma Partner Consultant Focused improvement (FI) is the overarching process used... ##### Introducing Pragma’s Enhanced Asset Management Assessment Framework: AMIP Physical assets must be managed effectively for a business to grow and be competitive. Across... ##### Unlocking Asset Management Excellence: Pragma’s Spotlight at the SAAMA Conference, 5-6 June 2024 As anticipation builds for the upcoming South African Asset Management Association (SAAMA) Conference, Pragma is...