Die Druppel December 2013 | Page 9

Our town

9

Toyota officials visit Northam Toyota

Toyota Japan, Toyota South Africa and Toyota Central Africa operations visited Northam Toyota. The reason for the visit was to see how the Dealership has built and sustained good relationships with the Toyota Fleet owners in the Northam /Thabazimbi areas. Specifically the relationships forged with the mining operations in the district. The Central-African Toyota delegates were very interested in the service delivery to the mining companies in our area. Big mining operations in Kinshasa need good standard operating procedures between the Toyota Dealers and the Mining houses.

The size of the mining fleets in the Congo is much bigger than those of Northam. The idea was to formulate plans to deliver better service to these mining companies. Over the years Northam Toyota has built good business relations with the fleet owners operating in the district. The Central-African operations are very similar and the types of mining are the same.

The key to Northam Toyota’s success was the vision of senior management to keep training and developing the staff working in the Dealership. This training has enabled the Dealership to grow with the changing times and environments it operates in. The standard operating procedures applied to the business when dealing with the customers visiting the Dealership has added to the Dealerships success and sustainability.

The operating standards can be further enhanced by the advice and guidance from Toyota Japan and South Africa. During the visit these procedures were monitored and suggestions were made to further improve the Dealer operations and ultimately customer service.

As a rural Dealer environmental compliance is very difficult. The generation of hazardous waste is a major concern. Through Innovative and bold plans and decisions hazardous waste generated by the Northam Toyota dealership has been minimized. The Innovative recycling systems adopted and implemented in the Northam Toyota Dealership Include the following:

Water recycling – of the wash bay water

Composter stations to remediate oil spill product (In-house earthworm farms)

Coolant and Brake fluid remediation

On Site Florescent Tube crusher

Eco friendly soaps and cleaners

Oil filter remediation - all oil removed from used filters

Environmentally friendly gardens.

Oily rag remediation – no longer classified as a hazardous waste.

These projects have made the Dealerships foot print on the environment smaller.

With limited municipal services and environmental initiatives in a rural area the Northam Toyota Dealership has proved that an In house approach can be a feasible alternative.

They have made a difference in their community and using this example the Central African Toyota Dealerships can also make their environmental foot print smaller.

Through the commitment from Toyota, Northam Toyota will be able to offer our customers and fleet owners an even better service. Parts supply and delivery will be streamlined in future to better supply the major mining fleets and customers with all part orders. This will help to prevent parts orders from going on an abnormal demand.

The delegates visiting Northam Toyota were taken on tour to see one of the major mining fleets. Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore Mines was visited and the delegates got to see exactly how the mining takes place.

What the vehicles are subjected to and the service workshops for these vehicles

Northam Toyota would like to thank the team at Anglo American Kumba Iron Ore Mine for accommodating Northam Toyota, Toyota South Africa and the international Toyota delegates.

The visit was beneficial to all parties and we look forward to future visits.