The programme was first launched at the company’s Trinidad Headquarters and having recognized the importance to its “corporate DNA”, ANSA saw the need to re-launch in each of the territories, Gerry Brooks – the Group’s Chief Operations Officer said. The programme and awards are aimed at creating, encouraging and rewarding excellence and was launched last Friday at the Georgetown Club.
The thrust of the initiative focuses on customer excellence, being employee centred, creativity and innovation, social responsibility and respect and trust. According to Brooks, the values define the company and demonstrate ANSA McAl’s passion for excellence, purpose in driving out-of the-box thinking, and commitment to and recognition of employees and their personal endeavors.
Brooks said that the context for the award and the core values include the fact that if the company makes a public commitment, it must deliver. He stressed that they have done so in the past and must do so in the future.
The official said that the Awards are just one mechanism to unlock the company’s human capital and spirit. “It offers an opportunity to inspire employees throughout the organization to excel. It will recognize them and hold them up as exemplars among their peers. It provides that powerful inducer – recognition – some financial benefit”, he declared. “The Awards programme also must be linked to the performance appraisal system to facilitate and underpin career development”, he added.
Speaking of developments within the company, the Chief Operations Officer pointed out that a site for the Group Learning Resource Centre has been selected. The facility, to be located in the Carib Compound in Trinidad, should be commissioned by the second quarter of 2010. Video conferencing facilities have also been set up in several countries and Guyana will soon be included. Brooks said that performance of the Group in the first half of this year was good noting that many third party companies showed a decline with ANSA McAl slipping by one percent as compared to several other regional conglomerates including one which deteriorated by 66%. He, however, noted that the last quarter has traditionally been “our better half”.
“At our current trajectory we should not demonstrate any declines on our 2008 outlook but we in ANSA McAl must remain focused on local and regional opportunities”, he asserted. Noting that Guyana’s GDP remains on track, he said that this provides real opportunity and the company is tremendously optimistic about the Guyana market place.
Brooks stated that at the company level, ANSA McAl Guyana is on the right track and coming off a robust 2008, 2009 is poised to be a year of record performance. But, he noted, as V10 (next year when the company aims to double its entire profit) approaches, they must deliver. “We must shift gears and up our game. Let’s take a look at our new lines and new products that we’ve launched. Let’s take a look at the divisions that could yield more value. Let’s find new ways to delight our customers. To be number one we must leverage technology”, Brooks declared.
He pointed to another initiative; ‘Technology One’ which is a project designed to provide a unification of business processes into one IT platform for information sharing, reporting and analysis. Brooks said that this provides a strengthened platform for performance and ANSA McAl Guyana is scheduled to transition into Technology One in the first quarter of next year. “Let’s use it to make a quantum leap in business process and excellence”, he urged.
He asked Team Guyana to take a lead role in meeting and engaging key customers. Brooks also spoke on penetrating new markets and turning marketing “on its head”– reexamining the viability and profitability of certain channels. He also urged the carving out of new arrangements such as the franchising of shops and relooking at the company’s product portfolio. “Where we have capacity, let’s leverage it”, he said.
Particularly, the Group’s Chief Operations Officer asked the Guyana operations not to fall into the “trap” of thinking that they’re doing well and to become hungrier through the organization. “Cut costs and protect those savings in an environment where costs are likely to rise. Let’s focus on the last quarter which traditionally has been our strongest and deliver. Let’s take pre-emptive action to avoid hits, surprises and provisions”, Brooks exhorted.
Meantime, also on Friday, ANSA McAl launched its new product, Riunite wines from Italy. Riunite wine is sold in over 70 countries and Guyana has now joined this group. “We are launching this brand in time for the festive season so that wine lovers and prospective wine tasters will have an additional choice of quality, international wine on the local shores”, Marketing Director of ANSA McAL Trading Limited, Troy Cadogan said.
