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Mission Directed Work TeamsEmpangeni's Pockets of ExcellenceMini-business leaders and their teams in the Empangeni Region have embraced the drive for service excellence and are demonstrating best practices that can be compared to the best in the world. In particular the maintenance team led by Dan Nyawo from Ntabayengwe have applied the principles of the MDWT program to establish an outstanding business area. The team is one that is probably situated the furtherest in the whole Province and is no less than 50 kilometres past Jozini Dam, forming part of the Hluhluwe Cost Centre. An interesting concept that this team has applied is that they have installed a green board on the outside of the business area which, primarily tells the team what they have to do for the day, and secondly, if visitors come to the camp, they will know exactly where to find the team if they need to do so. Their tools are also properly stored and team members are able to find or return their tools with ease. The team has implemented numerous MODAPTS projects making their work safer.
MDWT Charts Another outstanding team is that of the Road Traffic Inspectorate in Eshowe. Ably led by Dave Horsfield and Charl Beukes teamwork, professionalism and a commitment to focused traffic policing would best describe the behaviour of these men and women who spend their day saving lives. Their Station is immaculate and one is immediately faced by an inner sense of pride being demonstrated by every member of the team whether they are at the front line or from the support function. They use their performance measures to help them to identify areas for focused traffic policing.
In the mechanical division, an exceptional champion of the process is Deon Meiring, who is helping these teams to rise head and shoulders above others. Both the Vryheid and Pongola workshop teams have made a concerted effort, with very little resources, to establish workshops that are spotless. Within the business areas, they have set up problem solving focus areas and are using these tools to help them improve the overall efficiencies of the plant. In order to do this, there has to be good communication and close working relationships between the mechanical and civils teams. So watch this space for further developments as the team strives to meet the challenge of doubling their 'Overall Equipment Effectiveness' of major plant items which will have a direct result on radical improvements to service delivery.
Proper storage of tools makes work safer and easier. The first module of the Mission Directed Work Team program is helping teams to achieve goal alignment so that they can measure and manage their performance whilst realising their contribution to the overall success of the Department. The second module helps teams to make their work easier and safer. These principles have been well entrenched with some teams enjoying the benefits of their efforts. Leaders and their teams are implementing two new modules, the first being "Service Excellence – the Batho Pele Way" and the second being "Process Improvement – identifying and eliminating waste". The mechanical workshops are rolling out another module being "Asset Care – improving the overall efficiency of plant and machinery". All these modules have been customized to cater for the specific needs of the Department and will help teams to improve their service delivery. (Story and photographs courtesy of Sue Hall.)
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