Interview with Nina van Rooyen

I am currently working on an AIV project with a manufacturing company and filling in for another colleague at a major oil and gas company.

I am in the projects team, which means that I do a lot of implementation related work for our clients. On average our projects last between three and six months. Every day is different, which makes it exciting. My experience thus far includes, asset identification and verification, Facilities Management, optimising invoicing processes, Asset Management Improvement Planning and developing a standards manual.

I have a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering.

Graduating my master’s cum laude and being invited to present my thesis at the annual SAIIE conference. Also, being voted Top Student at the Pragma STP in 2014.

I enjoy problem-solving, especially if it makes life more enjoyable and systems more effective for others.

My hobbies include dancing (I love it). I love my family and friends so I spend most of my free time with them. I also enjoy reading, painting and listening to classical music. Bit of an old soul, I guess.

Figuring out how to deal with and complete overwhelming projects, Boot Camp and attending mentor sessions with the wise elders at Pragma.

Stay positive, don’t give up quickly, follow your instinct, always act with integrity and fix your mind on working hard and learning as much as you can.

IoT and machine learning are both very powerful, and in the future, it will help us manage assets more intelligently. But before that, there are still a lot of systems, which IoT and machine learning will form part of, that must be managed effectively. Technology is one element that forms part of a bigger system and is not the answer to all challenges. Things such as communication, change management, teamwork and engagement should be in place for IIoT to live up to its potential.