WOMAN CRUSH WEDNESDAY - The beautiful Hlulani Mahlaule shares her experience in Japan and her life as an Industrial Engineer.

Get to know Hlulani Mahlaule  – A beautiful soul.

Calligraphy Classes.

Japan Night Life!!

Our Crushes Cheer Leaders - her Parents. 

At the Toyota Museum.

Certification.

Q: Your trip to Japan – How was that? The experience – everything!

Japan for me was a summary of everything I learned in varsity and more. It's the cleanest place I've ever seen. It seems like everybody, everywhere is taught to think in a productive way...in a nutshell "efficiently and effectively". It's so perfect in the most "disturbing" way.

Attention to detail, planning of visits and schedules... Punctuality there is life; from public services to social events.

Two of my highlights were;

• On arrival we went site seeing, a lot of the people who worked as bus conductors, hostesses, parking assistants...etc - were mainly people that we  call "disabled or handicapped", that for me was an indication that in Japan there's a place for everyone in the job market...in two of the auto production plants that we visited a group of deaf and blind operators was working.

• The heartwarming experience for me was when visiting auto Museums and car manufacturing plants...there would always be a group of young stars from ages  3 - 6 playing around looking at the cars, simulations of production and on their mission walls it was written "Today for tomorrow". You already see the human investment in the country's wealth (automotive).

What I didn't like was;

·         The food because it was not as spicy and tasty.

·         The way everybody, everywhere was so "professional" (for a lack of a better word) and carried themselves in a similar way, from the way they walk, talk and relate to everyone and each other, I felt like they don't get to be themselves like we are here in South Africa where people will laugh out loud, throw tantrums and “fight” publicly or even talk about God or pray in public spaces.

Q: What is it that you do as an Industrial Engineer?

It all depends on the role that one plays in the business e.g. Industrial Engineering, Project Management, Operations Management, Business Analysis, Process engineering - Up to Senior management.

As a Continuous Improvement Engineer in Supply Chain, my duties include:

·         Project Management and Execution of the key facility and engineering projects, process improvements (value stream mapping, error proofing, problem-solving, training, and coaching) of teams to implement Continuous Improvements (Quality of output, delivery and cost control).

·         It also includes management, design, and the introduction of new processes, systems, which also requires machine specifications, engineering for procurement, installations and commissioning. 

      It includes planning in terms of manpower and hours; Start-up of new business units, within the business.

It's a lot of work, that requires one to always be at their best, have great people's skills as we get to work with Top management as well as shop floor personnel.

As exciting as it is, It is challenging to some extent and requires some "divine intervention" in my case; God, I know what I am capable of but with everything that I've learned, experienced and done, I know I wouldn't have gone even a year in this...I see God's power in me.

Q: If a person needed to follow your path what would be expected from them - from acceptance at University to planting their feet in the industry.

 University expectations:

Remember I studied during the Higher Grade and Standard Grade era; I am not exactly sure about the current requirements but I know a "good" mark in Maths and Science is a requirement. Subjects that I wish I had done in high school and struggled with were Accounting and Technical drawing. I advise that if it's possible to get the basics in high school, aspiring students must grab the opportunity, it will really ease the pressure.

Regarding landing your feet in the industry...

Universities play a vital role in this. I remember during our times at the University of Johannesburg, we'd get visits from big companies like SAB, British Tobacco ... Just to name a few, to teach and show roles that Industrial Engineers play in a business. A lot of other companies would send out posts for graduates or interns. Once you set your feet in there, you are gone and can move from one job to the other to learn as much as you can and most importantly, build good relationships.

Q: Do you find yourself thinking about implementing what you learned (business wise) in Japan? Is it a feasible possibility?

A lot of people will not believe this but I'm generally a lazy person who demands  8 hours worth  of sleep with a fear of venturing into business as it requires a lot of time and financial risk, as long as I can work flexible hours, get my December leave and make good money...I'm happy. It is feasible to go into business as an Industrial Engineer mainly through consulting as every business needs cost savings and optimization hence as an IE, one can work anywhere where there's a process including in hospitals.

Advice to young girls, what every girl should know.

Navigating the industry - Engineering is still dominated by men. So as a woman or young girl, when you get into the industry work as hard as you can to prove a point and show that the business needs you.

Never show vulnerabilities in the workplace; either choose to be a happy or an angry woman with a thick skin because the moment you start throwing your toys and then hugging everybody after that… then you will always be that woman that no one wants to take seriously. I know it's not fair on so many levels but it's still a men's world in Engineering.

On a personal level - Know your happy place just so that you can be able to quit when you are no longer happy.  

Money!!!! The Japanese Yen.

Our Woman Crush Wednesday can be found on Facebook as  Hlulani Mahlaule Mercedes and is @hlulani_mahlaule on IG. 

Thank you sweetheart -You are an Inspiration.