LETLHABILE COACHES (PTY) LTD
| Business Location: | Urban |
| Province | Northern Cape |
| Branch: | Frances Baard |
| Business Start Date: | 2024-07-20 |
| Busniess Type: | Company |
Business Dynamics and Challenges
Business Activities:
The business provides two types of public transport services, which are,
i. Shift services in Kimberley and the surrounding suburbs.
ii. Long-distance coach services (to anywhere inside the borders of the Republic of South Africa).
The clients of the shift services are the Sol Plaatjies Municipality, the Sol Plaatjies University, and the Department of Health.
The operations at Letlhabile Coaches can be divided into three separate functions. These are:
i. Fleet Management Operations,
ii. Fleet Maintenance and
iii. Fleet, Yard, and Facility Cleaning Services.
Challenges/Needs:
The company applied for assistance through Productivity SA’s BT&R program on 23 May 2023. The nurturing application was done by Global Marketing (a service provider) in collaboration with SEDA’s branch in Kimberley. In-depth assessments were conducted.
The assessments indicated that the business was not generating sufficient cash to increase
employment, and that financial viability and sustainability were at stake.
Visible Marketing: The business required assistance with the development of signage and promotional material to access local markets. The business doesn’t have conspicuous signage and branding on its vehicles and around Kimberley to properly market their bus services. An E-Commerce website is also needed to assist with an online booking system.
Productivity Improvement Challenges:
➢ The Fleet Operations Management Challenges
➢ Fleet Maintenance operation Challenges
Intervention Insights and Results
Intervention Details:
BUSINESS TURNAROUND & RECOVERY (BT & R) INVOLVEMENT
The activities that were undertaken to improve the management of the Fleet Operations
Management are indicated below.
- Documented fleet maintenance procedure with roles, responsibilities, maintenance
schedules (for each type of vehicle), and compliance reports plus electronic preventative
maintenance schedule for the fleet
- Improved workplace organisation (i.e. housekeeping) in the maintenance workshop
- Documented recommendations for improved tools and equipment in the workshop (with cost
vs. benefit analysis)
Procurement of improved tools and equipment
- Improvement in energy efficiency - Tinting of Bus Windows
The activities that were undertaken to improve the management of the Fleet Maintenance
operation are indicated below.
- Documented procedure for route planning and optimisation
- Establishment of an Operations and Maintenance Meeting / Forum
- Documented procedures and controls for managing the Drivers' performance (including Key
Performance Indicators).
The activities that were undertaken to Improve Employee Engagement
- Management and employees coached on how to implement and manage regular team
meetings.
- Regular mini business meetings (with visual management), implemented and functional (one
for Fleet Operations and one for Maintenance)
- Monthly management review meetings (with financial and operational KPIs), implemented
and functional.
- Monthly multi-level and multi-disciplinary communication forums implemented and
functional
Seda is further engaged in the process of assisting the client with an E-Commerce website, Signage
and re-branding of the their fleet of vehicles as recommended in the diagnostic assessments
conducted.
The activities that were undertaken to improve the management of the Fleet Operations
Management are indicated below.
- Documented fleet maintenance procedure with roles, responsibilities, maintenance
schedules (for each type of vehicle), and compliance reports plus electronic preventative
maintenance schedule for the fleet
- Improved workplace organisation (i.e. housekeeping) in the maintenance workshop
- Documented recommendations for improved tools and equipment in the workshop (with cost
vs. benefit analysis)
Procurement of improved tools and equipment
- Improvement in energy efficiency - Tinting of Bus Windows
The activities that were undertaken to improve the management of the Fleet Maintenance
operation are indicated below.
- Documented procedure for route planning and optimisation
- Establishment of an Operations and Maintenance Meeting / Forum
- Documented procedures and controls for managing the Drivers' performance (including Key
Performance Indicators).
The activities that were undertaken to Improve Employee Engagement
- Management and employees coached on how to implement and manage regular team
meetings.
- Regular mini business meetings (with visual management), implemented and functional (one
for Fleet Operations and one for Maintenance)
- Monthly management review meetings (with financial and operational KPIs), implemented
and functional.
- Monthly multi-level and multi-disciplinary communication forums implemented and
functional
Seda is further engaged in the process of assisting the client with an E-Commerce website, Signage
and re-branding of the their fleet of vehicles as recommended in the diagnostic assessments
conducted.
Outcome Details:
Impact of Improved Fleet Operations Management intervention
- Improved route planning, optimisation, and compliance (10% Improvement in Fuel
consumption on planned kilometres. Route compliance (Actual vs. planned kilometres). From
2022/23 baseline.
- Improved work/life balance and quality of life for drivers.
- Improved accountability and performance of drivers.
- Improved overall efficiency of fleet.
Impact of Improved Fleet Maintenance intervention
- Improved preventative maintenance program for the fleet (10% reduction in outsourced
maintenance costs from 2022/23 baseline).
- Improved adherence to planned maintenance schedule.
- Improved vehicle statutory and safety compliance
Impact of Improved Employee Engagement
- Improvement effectiveness of leadership.
- Improved employee engagement, communication, and teamwork (25% to 95% improvement
in employee satisfaction (based on before and after surveys).10% reduction in labour turnover
from 2022/23 baseline).
- Improved employee recognition and morale.
- Improved compliance with company policies and procedures.
- Improved route planning, optimisation, and compliance (10% Improvement in Fuel
consumption on planned kilometres. Route compliance (Actual vs. planned kilometres). From
2022/23 baseline.
- Improved work/life balance and quality of life for drivers.
- Improved accountability and performance of drivers.
- Improved overall efficiency of fleet.
Impact of Improved Fleet Maintenance intervention
- Improved preventative maintenance program for the fleet (10% reduction in outsourced
maintenance costs from 2022/23 baseline).
- Improved adherence to planned maintenance schedule.
- Improved vehicle statutory and safety compliance
Impact of Improved Employee Engagement
- Improvement effectiveness of leadership.
- Improved employee engagement, communication, and teamwork (25% to 95% improvement
in employee satisfaction (based on before and after surveys).10% reduction in labour turnover
from 2022/23 baseline).
- Improved employee recognition and morale.
- Improved compliance with company policies and procedures.
Client Feedback
Client Comments:
‘Through Seda’s expert advice and hand holding support, our business has experienced a paradigm shift. Seda’s support has made us not to fear scalability and has put us on an exponential growthpath’
