WORKERS LOVED INDIA!

 MASAKENG Mphahlele had never been on an aircraft before . . .
So he nervously stepped aboard the big aeroplane that was jetting off to India with his 199 colleagues.
When the big plane started revving its engine, he was glad he was buckled in, but he still couldn’t believe he was about to fly to a foreign land!
“I looked out the window and realised I was off the ground! Below me was the best view of Joburg I have ever seen.
“The city was getting smaller and smaller until it could be measured by the palm of my hand,” said Masakeng (29).
The seven hour-long flight left Masakeng and the others exhausted, so by the time they booked into their hotel in Chennai in India, all they wanted to do was sleep!
“I was tired, but the atmosphere in India was irresistible!” said Eleanor Kekana (54), who was also part of the group of Ford workers who went to India for six weeks’ training.
Production manager André Smuts said India is a perfect place for team-building.
“The Indians work as a team in whatever they do.
“They believe in serving the interests of a customer.”
He said the point of the training was to teach factory workers the Kaizen lean manufacturing process, which increases efficiency and motivates workers through team effort.
Masakeng and Themba Zulu (32), one of the master trainers on the trip, told Daily Sun they all learnt from their new motto: “Don’t attack a person – attack the problem.”
But it was not all hard work for the group.
They had the opportunity to discover Indian curries and dishes that made their mouths water and learnt quite a lot about Indian culture.
Eleanor found Indians to be noble and peace-loving, with lots of patience, especially with visitors.
The one thing everyone found a bit strange is that nothing is given a set price – you negotiate a price suitable for your pocket!
Themba bought himself an external hard-drive for his computer at a very good price after some serious negotiations with the seller.
When the group landed six weeks later, it was back to hard work.
What they learnt in India will be used to add value to the new Ranger that will be sold locally and across the world. http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dailysun/2011/06/15/DJ/35/indiatrip.html