CD Research

Making Steel Matter

Where

infrastructure

meets insight

Meet The Director

Charles Dednam, owner of CD Research and Business Strategy Consulting and longtime voice of the SA Steel Synopsis, has spent 20 years making the steel industry understandable. As a keynote speaker and commentator, he challenges jargon, critiques shifting debates, and highlights generational differences in priorities. His core question, “Why should anyone care about steel?,” pushes people to reimagine its value. While steel may seem unglamorous, he argues it is a vital foundation for South Africa’s inclusive and sustainable future. Through his work, he strives to make complex industry issues engaging, relevant, and accessible to a wider audience.

SERVICES

Strategic Advisory

Business Model Design: Tailored models for integrated mills, mini-mills, or speciality producers.

Growth Strategy: Market entry, product diversification, and geographic expansion.

Market Intelligence

Industry Trends: Global and regional steel demand, pricing, and trade flows.

Competitive Benchmarking: Positioning against peers and global leaders.

Financial Planning & Analysis

Custom Financial Models: Revenue forecasting, cost structures, and profitability analysis.

Investment Planning: Capex budgeting, ROI analysis, and funding strategy.

Operational Optimisation

Capacity Planning: Production scaling and efficiency improvements.

Technology Roadmaps: Automation, digitalisation, and process upgrades, mapping out phased improvements

ESG & Sustainability Strategy

Carbon Footprint Analysis: Emissions tracking and reduction planning.

Green Steel Transition: Pathways to low-carbon production and certification.

Implementation & Monitoring

Execution Roadmaps: Milestone-based plans with timelines and KPIs.

Performance Dashboards: Real-time tracking of financial and operational metrics.

Steel Synopsis