Abstract
{ "background": "The adoption of advanced process-control systems (PCS) is critical for enhancing productivity and safety in engineering sectors. In the South African context, a comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of adoption drivers and rates has been lacking, hindering evidence-based industrial policy and investment.", "purpose and objectives": "This study aims to methodologically evaluate factors influencing PCS adoption and to estimate robust, longitudinal adoption rates within the nation's major engineering industries.", "methodology": "A panel-data econometric model was employed, using an unbalanced panel of firm-level data from national surveys and industry reports. The core specification was a fixed-effects model: $Adoption{it} = \\alphai + \\beta1TechCap{it} + \\beta2RegPress{it} + \\beta3Size{it} + \\epsilon{it}$, where $\\alphai$ denotes entity-specific effects. Estimation used robust standard errors clustered at the firm level.", "findings": "Technological capability within a firm was the strongest predictor of adoption, with a one-standard-deviation increase associated with a 17.4 percentage point rise in the probability of adoption (95% CI: 14.2, 20.6). Regulatory pressure showed a significant but smaller effect, while firm size was not a statistically significant driver after controlling for capability.", "conclusion": "The diffusion of PCS is primarily driven by internal technological competencies rather than external firm characteristics or regulatory nudges alone. This suggests that adoption barriers are fundamentally technical and skill-based.", "recommendations": "Industry and government initiatives should prioritise building foundational technological capabilities and specialised workforce skills to accelerate PCS integration. Policy should move beyond generic incentives towards targeted technical support programmes.", "key words": "process-control systems, technology adoption, panel data, econometric analysis, industrial engineering, South Africa", "contribution statement": "This paper provides the first longitudinal, firm-level econometric analysis of PCS adoption in the region, introducing a novel methodological framework