Design team
Laser Junction has an experienced team of designers who are capable of turning an idea into a design that is ready for production using the latest design software (AutoCAD, Pro Engineer, and Autodesk Inventor).
The team often works closely with the design teams of large customers to assist with research and development, design issues and product realisation. The design team will actively review and analyse customer designs and specifications to ensure best manufacturing practice is applied and cost efficiencies are realised. For smaller customers, the team will complete the design working from verbal instructions, a sketch or a sample part.
Skills development
The business employs over 250 well trained and highly experienced people, many of whom have worked at Laser Junction for many years. The low staff turnover rate has ensured the retention of skills and knowledge, which often can only be acquired through years of on-the-job training and close, daily interaction with managers and directors.
Many of the staff at Laser Junction arrived with little or no skills and a robust skills development programme is an essential initiative of the board of directors. This programme ensures that staff are continually trained in various aspects, both relevant to their current roles or cross trained into other roles. The internal training has uplifted these individuals to now possess skills relevant to the metal manufacturing industry such as welders and machine operators. The company works in conjunction with the MERSTA (manufacturing, engineering and related services sector education and training authority) to offer learnerships.
Social responsibility
The company has initiated a plan to assist with the enterprise development of certain plating and component machining suppliers who fall within the definition of black owned exempted micro enterprises (EMEs).
As part of its socio economic plan, the company is continuously looking at development initiatives and currently supports a local orphanage, "Vukukhanye".
Benchmarking
In 2013 the business recently underwent a benchmarking exercise in conjunction with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). This benchmarking exercise compares the company to its peers, both locally and internationally, from the following perspectives:
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ƒƒ Financial
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ƒƒ Customer
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ƒƒ Process
The results of the benchmarking exercise were very favourable and the business was placed in the top quadrant of the global analysis.