The Toyota Wessels Institute for Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS) is a specialist business school located in Kloof, Durban. Established in 2018, TWIMS is dedicated to advancing Africa’s manufacturing competitiveness through world-class education, applied research and industry collaboration. 

To realise its vision, TWIMS has partnered with South Africa’s foremost business schools the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) to deliver the GIBS MBA with a manufacturing focus. This prestigious qualification is offered solely at the TWIMS campus and integrates international business education with deep sector-specific expertise. Complementing the MBA is the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Business Administration (manufacturing focus), which provides an academic pathway into the MBA programme.

Beyond degree offerings, TWIMS provides a diverse suite of executive short courses and masterclasses that equip industry professionals with critical skills in areas such as lean operations and supply chain management, sustainable manufacturing, future manufacturing technologies, African trade and industrialisation, and inclusive manufacturing leadership. These programmes are designed to be practical, relevant and immediately applicable in the complex operating environments faced by African manufacturers.

TWIMS is also deeply committed to widening access to education opportunities. Through its Manufacturing Ambassador Scholarship (MAS), TWIMS supports outstanding GIBS MBA and PGDip (manufacturing focus) candidates who demonstrate leadership and academic potential but who face financial barriers. The MAS covers a substantial portion of tuition, residency and global module costs.

In honour of its founding chairperson, Dr Johan van Zyl, TWIMS continues to strengthen its role as a catalyst for African manufacturing excellence. By blending academic rigour, industry relevance and a strong developmental ethos, the institute equips leaders not only to excel in their careers but also to drive sustainable and inclusive industrial growth across the continent.