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Clustering
 Introduction
B&M Analysts provides cluster development and facilitation services that support the competitiveness of regional industry sectors.
The principle of clustering is in essence one of enhancing the competitiveness of a regional industry or sector through collective interventions which are more likely to deliver far better success than the attempts of each firm’s isolated efforts. Clustering activities are therefore based on undertaking rigorous research followed up by the facilitation of joint activities or interventions through securing firm-level input into the specific opportunities identified.
 Value Proposition
The successes achieved and the organisational foundations laid by B&M Analysts in this type of initiative are extremely encouraging, with participating firms and the public sector both reaping the benefits of collaboration.
Examples of outcomes that can potentially be expected from this type of initiative are as follows:
| Participating firms |
Public sector funder |
- Enhanced market knowledge
- Enhanced operational competitiveness
- Reduced operational risk
- Rapid Learning
- Positive transformation
- Enhanced skills development
- Reduced input costs
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- Enhanced industry relations
- Economic stabilisation and/or growth
- Employment stabilisation and/or creation
- Positive transformation
- Collective efficiencies created
- Increased investment in both capital and people
- Industry upgrading
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Methodology
The successful clustering model employed by B&M Analysts is dependent on a range of key principles, the most fundamental of which are:
- Public Private Partnership: A balance between private sector and public sector objectives needs to be maintained, with this applicable to goals, commitment and funding.
- Industry ownership: Industry determines and endorses the content of each of the business plans and implementation plans of the cluster to ensure that the industry's short and long term development needs are met.
- Industry leadership: Industry members advise and participate in the implementation of plans, thereby ensuring commitment from industry.
- Commitment and reliability: A high level of trust, transparency and credibility needs to be maintained in respect of the relationship between firms, between the PPP partners, and between the PPP partners and the appointed cluster facilitator.
We therefore strongly advocate the separation of facilitation from service provision, with B&M Analysts facilitating the cluster process and industry itself identifying the need and scope of consulting service providers on specific technical issues. This ensures the ongoing integrity of the cluster initiative, as there is a separation of responsibility between facilitation services and consulting services.
Sectors
Well established initiatives are currently being facilitated by B & M Analysts in the following industries:
- Automotive
- Chemicals
- Clothing and textile
In addition to these cluster programmes, B & M Analysts has recently become involved with the KZN Furniture Industry Cluster.
Examples
B & M Analysts' three most well established clustering initiatives are as follows: (see also our Links page)
| Name |
Industry Participants |
Public Sector Partner |
Sector |
Region |
Year of Establishment |
|
Durban Automotive Cluster |
43 |
eThekwini Municipality |
Automotive |
Durban and surrounding areas |
2002 |
| Cape Clothing and Textile Cluster |
45 |
Western Cape Provincial Government |
Clothing and Textile |
Western Cape |
2005 |
| KwaZulu-Natal Clothing and Textile Cluster |
35 |
eThekwini Municipality and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government |
Clothing and Textile |
KwaZulu-Natal |
2006 |
joining existing sector programmes To enquire about joining one of the above programmes please contact the appropriate sector contact.
Enquire about opportunities to establish new sector programmesTo enquire about the possibility of establishing a programme in a sector, please contact the appropriate sector contact.
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