An Assessment of Reverse Engineering Capabilities among Artisanal Metal Fabricators in Selected States in Nigeria.

Abstract

Due to a lack of knowhow of scientific methods of enquiry and linkages with formalized research institutions to aid machine design, many local artisans have turned to reverse engineering or copying the designs of readymade machine and machine parts. The resulting fabricated machines are however generally crude and inefficient. This study developed the reverse engineering capabilities fabricators should possess to develop efficient machines through focus group discussions and evaluated the capabilities through a survey administered on 326 fabricators. The results from the focus group discussions revealed investment, production, linkages, marketing, innovation and resources capabilities with 7, 14, 4, 10, 9, and 8 constructs respectively. The respondents rated all the capabilities (on a scale of none to very high) high except capability to advertise and determine prices (3.25), capability to reach high technology demanding foreign markets (3.15); capacity to use R & D output to improve on machine design (3.39) and capability to source for imported material (3.17) which were all rated moderate. The study attributed these limitations to lack of marketing skills, low levels of education among the fabricators and absence of linkages with foreign markets and recommends policy initiatives to alleviate these limitations.

Suggested citation

Waheed Oladele, Olawale Adejuwon (2024). An Assessment of Reverse Engineering Capabilities among Artisanal Metal Fabricators in Selected States in Nigeria.African Journal of Science Policy and Innovation Management, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.69798/72656912

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