Page 29 - Logistics News July 2019

News

Growing skills so that

everyone benefi ts

CHEP, RECOGNISED for two years running
as a Top Employer in South Africa by the Top
Employers Institute, has a skills-development
pillar that includes programmes in graduate
development, management development,
leadership, adult education and coaching.
CHEP also provides study assistance,
disabled learnerships,
apprenticeships and
internship initiatives.
During 2018/19,
CHEP successfully
implemented 23
learnership programmes, Dachser perfects the art
attended by 379
learners, including of picking and packing
unemployed youth
graduates, matriculants
and CHEP employees. AS A fundamental part of the supply chain, picking
An example is Nezaro and packing is fast growing into a sophisticated,
Novela, whose intelligent process. Managing Director of Dachser
relationship with CHEP South Africa, Detlev Duve, says: “Logistics
started with the help of companies have become an extension of the
the Enactus (a global client’s operations in terms of having specialist
non-profi t organisation) knowledge of the product and ensuring that
entrepreneurial delivery capabilities meet the client’s supply chain
programme, of which requirements. Many times, clients need tailor-made
CHEP is a major solutions.”
As an example, Duve points to one of Dachser
Nezaro Novela, supporter and board South Africa’s long-standing clients, a supplier of
business analyst at member. medical equipment. Rigorous logistics management
CHEP. Novela joined must ensure that its products reach medical rooms,
the Enactus
entrepreneurship programme during his fi rst hospitals and clinics in the perfect condition, and
year at the University of Johannesburg. During at the right time, in both urban centres and rural
his university years, he was involved in projects areas. This includes products from basic syringes to
to empower community members. One of specialist cardiopulmonary equipment and patient
these initiatives built networks of spaza shops monitoring systems.
to leverage economies through bulk buying Dachser South Africa provides expert onsite
– benefi ting the business owners and their knowledge at its warehouse where certain medical
customers. Novela is currently employed as a products must be correctly calibrated while in
business analyst at CHEP, where he works with storage. “Our picking and packing is supported by a
business managers to enhance effi ciencies for sophisticated IT system that enables the transparent
customers. coordination of complex activities as they are being
Whilst CHEP’s skills-development coordinated on the ground,” says Duve.
programmes help to empower unemployed Duve says that the picking and packing forms
youth and to close the skills gap, fi nding more part of a continuous process that only concludes
permanent employment solutions remains a once the product reaches its fi nal destination.
challenge. An industry-wide approach is essential “The products are picked and packed to particular
in order to make a dent in the country’s vast specifi cations. Our responsibility is to ensure that
unemployment problem. CHEP has appealed to this must remain consistent in transit until the
other multinational organisations to partner with product has been handed over at the fi nal point.” •
the company in absorbing newly trained learners
into their organisations. •

July 2019 | Logistics News 27