Despite the ongoing global impact of the pandemic on various industries, including the African mining industry, power systems provider Cummins has prioritised measures to ensure that it meets client requirements.

Cummins mining GM and director Victor Masuku says that the company ensures that the critical parts and engines needed by mines are in supply. By keeping the support engines and spares in stock, Cummins can easily supply the mines, despite external challenges such as shipping constraints or delays.

An advantage of the company’s footprint, having various branches and sites, is that if a site does not have a specific product in stock, it can be sourced from another site and delivered to where it is needed.

Additionally, Cummins’ high horsepower engines are rebuilt in South Africa. Locally repowered products allow the company to bring resources closer to its clients, especially in the mining industry.

It also uses an engine population register and available hours over a period of 12 months to determine when clients will need to replace specific engines. This assists the company in planning ahead so that clients can access replacement engines when required.

Masuku acknowledges that it is impossible to ensure that Cummins has all the parts required at all times, which is why planning is important.

“We work closely with various mines in terms of planned maintenance and planned change-outs. By doing so, we have a good sense of what customers are going to need and when.”

Cummins also ensures that its Global Logistics Centre, in Woodmead Johannesburg can order parts in advance.

“We have field technicians over and above our contracted on-site technicians, who are readily available to support our clients to minimise prolonged downtime owing to the impact of Covid-19,” explains Masuku.

He

adds that, while many African countries, such as South Africa, have eased their lockdown levels, Cummins has not relaxed its efforts in ensuring a properly functioning supply chain, and forward planning because there is no guarantee that harsher restrictions will not return.

To ensure that the company can effectively manage any challenges going forward, the intention is to increase capacity for all its manufacturing sites and branches by hiring additional staff as required.

Further, Cummins aims to continue operating and prioritising client requirements in 2022.

“With the ongoing impact of this pandemic, we have learned a lot and will continue to provide opportunities for learning, and improve going forward,” Masuku concludes.