Capital Equipment News October 2015

TRANSPORT

Sipho Sandla (General manager KANU/ACT) and Craig Uren (COO Isuzu Truck SA)

The economic pressures currently faced by the country

require bold moves by industries in general.

holders had ambitions of keeping pace with changing times by entering a programme of diversification. This they did, embarking on new business ventures that allowed them to enter other sectors where synergies permitted them to realise these ambitions. KANU’s core strengths are its expertise and confidence in its products, not forgetting the innovative ca- pabilities that make it a market leader. The strategic objective of both KANU Body Construction and Automotive Chassis Technologies is to grow as a force in the manufacturing industry by expanding their customer bases in order to better utilise available infrastructures, thereby maxi- mising efficiencies to the mutual benefit of themselves and Isuzu Truck South Africa. The manufacturing facility at KANU/ACT consists of various departments, each spe- cialising in a different aspect of manufac- turing. The design office is the pulse of the company, which extends to Quality Control, Press Shop, Paint Shop, Fabrication Shop, ACT Truck Conversion and Customising Shop, Assembly Shop and Final Buy-off.

KANU and ACT have both been ISO9001 accredited for a number of years. Howev- er, this current industry standard will be enhanced with the implementation of the Japanese philosophy of the Kaizen princi- ples; the greatest impact is led by senior management as transformational projects, or by cross-functional teams. One of the most notable features of Kaizen is that big results come from many small changes ac- cumulated over time. These changes will be developed into the current Standard Operat- ing Procedures (SOP), with further efficien- cies and productivity improvements to be made. This is not an event, but a continuous process. The current workforce at KANU/ACT num- bers 75 personnel of which approximate- ly half are employed on a contract basis. Sipho Sandla, until recently the production plant manager, has been appointed General Manager, with overall responsibility for the KANU/ACT operation in Port Elizabeth. Sipho is no stranger to the automotive industry and comes with vast experience, span- ning 23 years, in all aspects of automotive

engineering and assembly line operations. Having graduated with a Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (B.Tech) in 1991, Sipho Sandla has been instrumental in en- suring that the high standards of assembly as required by Isuzu Trucks, Japan, have been maintained in the local product. The economic pressures which the country currently faces require bold moves by indus- tries in general. Isuzu Truck South Africa remains a dominant player and will continue to progressively gain market by being innovative in its ap- proach to customer centricity. b

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CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS OCTOBER 2015