It’s all about creative solutions, says Komatsu’s shipping manager

Time is money, says Meshack Kgare, shipping manager of global manufacturer and provider of mining and construction equipment Komatsu South Africa – which is why one has to constantly strive for creative solutions to keep clients satisfied. Based in Isando, Kgare deals with parent company in Japan and clients in the United States or Europe on a daily basis. “In the mining sector, if a piece of equipment costing R80 million has been ordered and is in transit, when it does not arrive on schedule, the client is not concerned with what caused the delay – the client is upset because the machine is losing millions standing idle,” he says. Komatsu South Africa imports machinery, including bulldozers and hydraulic equipment, for use in mining or construction in southern Africa and parts of the Continent. Customers are spread across Africa, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Zambia while the company also has a distribution agent at Port Louis in Mauritius. “We bring the equipment first to Isando and ship it to wherever it is required,” he says. Given the global nature of his job, Kgare says it is a far cry from growing up in Sekhukhune in Limpopo. “Growing up in a landlocked province you don’t think of coastal places like Durban or Cape Town as much,” he adds. “I got into this industry by chance via a learnership in the freight forwarding and gearing sector and have been loving it for over ten years,” he says. “A career in shipping is really under-publicised. It is not seen in the same breath as a career in engineering, finance or IT – but since getting involved in this profession, I have come to grips with the challenges and am really enjoying it,” he says. What makes it exciting, says Kgare, is the fact that one transaction involves many individuals, often across continents. “In order to achieve results, we really have to apply our thinking caps.” Kgare says in every business deal he stresses the need for being on time, ensuring quality, communications throughout the process, excellent service levels and competitive rates. “I believe in the art of communicating and ensuring that all players are kept informed of goings-on so that we achieve results as a team,” he says.