Construction World April 2017

CEMENT AND CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY

TRIMMING COST of PRODUCTION Sharing its expertise to help customers build their businesses is a vital part of the way AfriSam works, and now the company has developed a special value-added service to boost efficiency among concrete product manufacturers (CPMs).

by a team of AfriSam experts, who are invited into the customer’s production facility to collect information on a range of operational areas, from raw materials and testing systems, to production processes and quality controls. “Taking on the role of a technical consultant, some of the industry’s most experienced professionals are made available to the customer, so they can engage on how best to drive down unit costs and improve business sustainability,” he says. Experts in materials He emphasises that while CPMs have experienced production managers and staff, it is seldom affordable to have their own materials experts. This is where AfriSam’s Efficiency Audit teams can play a valuable role. Implementing the initiative is AfriSam’s Centre of Product Excellence and according to manager, Mike McDonald, the Efficiency Audit team focuses on improving the overall cost of production, which may require changes to any of a wide range of variables. “We are specialists in the materials that make up concrete, so most of our value is added on this side of the business, which also makes up a large part of a customer’s operating cost,” says McDonald. “We can ensure that their material quality and mix is optimal at the lowest possible cost to the business.” Strategic partner For various reasons including down- scaling and retrenchments during the current downturn, many companies do not have a concrete technology specialist in-house. This is a role that AfriSam is well- placed to provide, as a strategic partner, says Dawneerangen. “Conditions are tough with low growth in the demand for cement and cement products since 2010,” say McDonald. “The focus on cost efficiency has led to a lot of rationalisation, where inefficient plants were closed down and industry had to find ways to consolidate production.” Dawneerangen highlights the fact that the current industry mindset often focuses only on the cost of materials in terms of Rand-per-ton, leading many businesses to buy the cheapest available materials without carefully considering the impact of this decision on other important business objectives. “For example, admixtures can be a vitally important ingredient in the success

“Times have been tough for most sectors in recent years, and AfriSam is extending its partnership with customers to offer an Efficiency Audit that highlights areas where CPMs can streamline their operating processes making them more profitable,” says Amit Dawneerangen, AfriSam national sales manager.

“We have a close relationship with our customers and this partnership is based on always striving to do things better,” says Dawneerangen. “So the conversations we have with them often touch on a range of technical and commercial challenges that we work to resolve together.” The Efficiency Audit is conducted

Amit Dawneerangen, AfriSam national sales manager.

Sharing its expertise to help customers build their businesses is a vital part of the way AfriSam works.

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD APRIL 2017