Construction World October 2018

Many contractors rather outsource the design and manufacture aspects of concrete to specialists like AfriSam, who in turn assume an important part of the project risk.

By drawing on the expertise of larger members like AfriSam, SARMA helps members to keep up with the rapid and continual advancements in readymix and concrete technology.

legally compliant,” he says. “This includes extensive and detailed guidelines written by industry experts, and based on the various legislation that applies to readymix plants.” After implementing what they can, the prospective member is then subject to a ‘gap audit’ which helps them identify what still needs attention; SARMA also advises on the next steps required. This leads to a process in which the plant can be prepared for a final audit. “This makes it much easier for the applicant to pass the audit and achieve membership, while at the same time raising the bar in terms of how well their business operates,” says Van Wyk, who spends much of his time travelling the country providing training, conferences and workshops to share knowledge among members. “By drawing on the expertise of larger members like AfriSam, SARMA helps members to keep up with the rapid and continual advancements in readymix and concrete technology,” he says. “South Africa boasts some of the world’s best concrete technologists and projects in the world, and we need to make the most of these assets.” Customers need to rely on a high level of product knowledge from their readymix suppliers, he says, so that they supply not just what the customer orders but what they actually need for that specific job. He also stresses that readymix concrete is not more expensive than site-mixed concrete, if all the costs related to legal compliance, health and safety, testing and quality control are incorporated. “In fact, our research shows that – on a formal construction project – the use of readymix is actually cheaper where there is demand for more than eight cubic metres of concrete,” he says. “The main benefit is that concrete quality and consistency are ensured, and at the same time the pace of the project can be enhanced by speedy delivery of ready-to-use product – often a vital factor in today’s fast-track projects.” Another indicator of the value that SARMA’s audit and membership confers is the discount that insurers may offer to readymix producers, as various risks to the business and its customer base become miti- gated by adhering to higher standards. Dawneerangen also emphasises the equitable voice that SARMA gives to its members, while raising the profile of readymix as a reliable and quality product. “Irrespective of the size of SARMA’s member companies, we each have one vote, and subscription fees are scaled according to the member’s production output making membership both meaningful and affordable,” he says. 

The terms of the audit are also highly relevant to customer demands, says Van Wyk, as they are established by the key stakeholders in the construction industry, not just readymix producers. “The SARMA audit committee represents respected industry bodies from the markets to which readymix is supplied,” he says. “These include the SA Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) and Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) who advise on what they are looking for from readymix suppliers and make inputs through a formal audit review process each year.” To help members reach the required standards, the capacity-build- ing element of SARMA’s mandate must go hand-in-hand with its audits. “Before a readymix supplier can become an ‘accredited producer member’ of SARMA, they are provided with the means to becoming Readymix operators are subject to legal compliance in terms of safety and health, environmental issues and road transport regulations, even before dealing with the quality of the product itself. “We use the SARMA audit as a valuable measure – which is both external and independent – of the quality of our entire readymix value-chain which provides added reassurance to customers of the quality they will receive.” – Amit Dawneerangen, General Manager: Readymix at AfriSam

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CONSTRUCTION WORLD OCTOBER 2018