Industrial warehousing equipment and materials handling solutions provider Goscor Lift Truck Company (GLTC) – part of Goscor Group – launched its new R250 000 training centre, in Edenvale, Gauteng, last month.

The company is also applying for Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Merseta) accreditation, in line with its long-term aim of offering trade tests and apprenticeships to local youth.

“The training centre represents not only a significant investment on the part of GLTC but will also boost the presence of the Goscor brand in the industry, affirming its position as the leading warehousing equipment solutions provider,” GLTC director Anthony Fouché highlights.

The training centre’s establishment was overseen by recently appointed service manager Lex Winson, who has 19 years’ experience in the local forklift industry.

The centre – which is soundproofed, furnished and equipped with toolkits and an interactive SmartBoard – aims to provide for skills improvement, refresher training and continuous product upgrade training for Goscor staff.

“Changes in technology often require new programming and we aim to familiarise our technicians with these changes in the workshop before a forklift is delivered. This means that they know how to diagnose and programme the equipment before being sent into the field on a service response call,” Winson explains.

He adds that GTLC needs to ensure that its staff’s skill levels are “top-class” at all times. This not only means offering refresher courses but also training new technicians. Such training encompasses an introduction to GLTC and its full internal combustion and electric machine product range. “This will give us a good understanding of a technician’s capability and in which areas their skills need further development.”

The administration and sales departments will also be exposed to basic forklift overview courses at the centre. “This ensures that, during job costing or after a technical report has been submitted, the administrative and sales staff will be able to ask general questions to identify the problem and the required solution.” Management will also be undergoing training to grow their skills.

The training centre will accommodate GLTC personnel from around the country on a yearly roster basis. Winson notes that technicians will be classified into A, B and C categories according to their skill levels and training requirements. The training will be provided by a factory-certified trainer who is well-versed in the latest trends and developments.

Training classes will be limited to six individuals at a time and training will be conducted in weekly intervals, says Winson. “A programme that requires four weeks to complete will be broken into weekly segments, with breaks in between.”

He says the small class size is meant to ensure an optimal learning environment, while the fairly short training sessions are aimed at enhancing information retention. “About a week’s worth of training can be easily absorbed and retained by the trainee. The intervals will also enable a technician to implement what they have learned before returning for additional training.”

He notes that, as a result of the training centre, customers, including fast-moving consumer goods companies, retailers, mining and manufacturing companies, will have peace of mind that GLTC technicians have the most up-to-date and relevant training to attend to their specific requirements and applications. “This will not only ensure that we offer a world-class aftermarket and product support service, but it will allow our customers to benefit from the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO),” Winson comments.

The Merseta assessment will be conducted next month and plans surrounding possible apprenticeship will be investigated once the assessment has been finalised.

The training centre is one of several initiatives undertaken by GLTC over the course of this year to improve its service offering. Other developments include the launch of its call centre and the re-organisation of the service department to include new features such as a predelivery inspection area in its workshop facility.

Fouché comments that the focus on service has served GLTC well, adding that the company’s continuous expansion has been built on its superior after-sales service. “The integration of the sales and service departments has been paramount in ensuring that we deliver on our promise of the lowest TCO. The training centre is testament to this and will certainly continue to differentiate us from our competitors,” he concludes.