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Diamonds win gold!
Diamonds win gold!
The gold winners of the 27th annual National Productivity Awards were revealed at a gala event at Gallagher Estates, in Midrand ON 29 November 2006. Diamond producer, De Beers Venetia Mine Pty Ltd received gold in the corporate sector category, while the Emerging Sector top honours went to Somerset-West based Invisible Card Company.
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De Beers Venetia Mine Pty Ltd received top accolades for their productivity approach, improvements and commitment to sharing of profits. By refining their management and operational process like a fine tuned instrument they have managed to reach close to 80% of the theoretically calculated maximum of ore extraction per year to the huge benefit of workers (who received a 94% of annual salary bonus in 2005!) and shareholders. This has also spilled over to the community as it is now receiving tangible benefits, especially in educational infrastructure. In addition, the company’s overall equipment effectiveness has improved from 54% to a forecast 77% for 2006 and drilling utilisation increased from a base of 34% to a current level of 60% in the space of 9 months. |
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Emerging Sector winner, Invisible Card Company, is a specialist manufacturer of secure, variable, data-enhanced printed paper products, such as prepaid phone cards and lottery scratch cards. The company started as recently as 2003 by its two shareholders with their own finances of R400 000; it was profitable in its first year with a turnover of R7 million, climbing to R28 million in 2005/06. With no experience in any manufacturing or production processes, the company has focused on stringent production, quality, financial and statistical control. Clear benchmarks and constant revisiting of productivity planning and measurement criteria have worked successfully for the company to achieve an error variance of 0.002%. In addition, the company has grown its employee base to 25 permanent staff and just over 200 contract staff. | The prestigious National Productivity Awards ceremony honours organisations and companies country-wide for their significant and sustainable productive improvements in their working environment.
The criteria for the annual rewards set global benchmarks ranging from the measurability of the impact achieved from productivity and its significance for the nation, communities, organisations, divisions or individuals.
This year’s finalists consisted of ten companies namely De Beers Venetia Mine Pty Ltd, Levi Strauss, Arvin Meritor Pty Ltd, Cadbury South Africa, Richards Bay Coal Terminal, National Razor Blades, Autocast Port Elizabeth, Comprehensive Breast Health Centre, South African Jewel Pty Ltd and Invisible Card Company.
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