|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Dalkeith Engineering has established a footprint as a pacesetter in the automotive industry that caters to the needs of individuals, and small and big companies alike.
Below, Spiked Online Media shares a comprehensive account of the automotive giant as shared by the CEO, Dr. Adam Gavaza:
Dalkeith aspires to be the best partner of choice and a market leader in the engineering sector offering standard products and amicable services.
The mission statement is to ensure customer satisfaction through the delivery of reliable, cost-effective and innovative engineering experience. At the centre of our mission statement is quality and quick turnaround. We are therefore working with key strategic partners who are quality-conscious. We have introduced the night shift to enhance turnaround.
Our core values are passion, humility, customer centricity, integrity, innovation and accountability. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R Covey also guides us in moulding a progressive culture critical for the achievement of our vision and mission.
Innovation is the driver of our growth
Dalkeith Engineering set a goal to grow 10-fold in 10 years by 2030 from 2021 figures. From a staff complement of 30 just after COVID-19 to over 100 currently, the company is proud to be among the leading manufacturers, suppliers and repairers of suspension and servicing components for various kinds of vehicles in Zimbabwe including big trucks. We have a cold-blooded and ruthless desire to achieve the 10-fold growth by 2030. We would rather die than fail to meet this goal.
From a space of about 1000 square metres at the place we used to rent, Dalkeith has acquired its own premises with over 9000 square metres in line with our 10-fold growth trajectory. The company has a branch in Bulawayo and will be opening branches in Gweru, Kwekwe, Mutare and Victoria Falls in the foreseeable future in line with its 10-fold growth trajectory.
Growth Strategy
The company has recently been segmented into 3 categories and these are
Dalkeith Toyota where we service and repair Toyota vehicles using original genuine Toyota spares. We are going to launch this category in March 2025.
Today we have invited you as we launch the second category which is the manufacturing and repairing of vehicle components.
Dalkeith vehicle repairs section which covers different brands including Japanese vehicles. Here we have gone into strategic partnerships with reputable brands i.e. KYB, Gabriel, PartQuip, AutoChamp just to mention but a few.
Dalkeith Manufacturing and Repairs Section
Dalkeith launches Indian springs and a wider range of products that many of our customers did not know as shown outside on the wide range we now offer that is product innovation. A big percentage of our growth trajectory will come from product innovation as we dive deep into identifying the key needs of our esteemed customers supplying them with good quality at affordable prices.
We manufacture springs from the material we import from India. The material has already been tested by big organisations and they are happy with the quality. We do coil and leaf springs including parabolic springs as you noticed on our samples. We give a guarantee of up to a year on our springs.
We are the leading manufacturers and repairs of springs in Zimbabwe. The kings of the springs. The next 2 years will see us going nationwide in line with our 10-fold growth and the next 5 years will see us going regional. We want to add better value to the region hence bringing foreign currency into the country through exports. Value addition is in line with the president`s 2030 vision.
Polyurethane bushes
Dalkeith manufactures polyurethane bushes with shore hardness that suits the demanding conditions on our roads. Google and see that polyurethane if done properly is 10 times stronger than rubber.
The material has high compression, shear and tear strengths. When you press it down it goes back to its original position when released. It does that for a long time. Very good replacement of rubber and it is highly durable. Given a sample, we can make anything out of polyurethane. We give up to 6 months guarantee on all our polyurethane bushes.
Drag links ball joints and tie rod ends
On drag links, track rods ball joints and tie rod ends we were members of the ball joint committee of the Standards Association of Zimbabwe that came up with a standard for repairing ball joints.
This is an import substitution drive that restores ball joints to their original state at a minimum of a third of the cost of a new one. A guarantee of 6 months is given on all our ball joint repairs. We are adding more value to the customer in that regard. We also supply new Freightliner suspension spares and trailer spares as well. We repair fifth wheels as well.
Dalkeith is also machining brake drums and relining and bonding all small shoes and brake pads for all vehicles. The material for the shoes is imported from Brazil and India. The material is strong and can last longer than other materials available in the market.
The company does general engineering covering agriculture and mining equipment manufacturing shafts and gears as per sample.
Hydraulic rams, racks, and boxes
We also repair hydraulic rams and hydraulic steering systems including STG racks and steering boxes. We use original seals we import from Dubai and we supply new steering racks for different types of vehicles as well.
We also repair and supply recently imported engines and gearboxes, diffs and axles for various kinds of Japanese and locally manufactured vehicles.
We manufacture and repair prop shafts and we use high-quality brands like Sprinter and Toyo on centre bearings, universal joints, flanges and sliding yorks. We import these spares from South Africa at affordable prices.
The company does cooling system repairs and manufacturing covering radiators, oil coolers, heat exchangers etc for both small and heavy trucks, equipment and buses at affordable prices.
Dalkeith vehicle suspension repairs specialist covering corporates and individuals
For the past 30 years, we have gathered huge experience in diagnosing a vehicle suspension challenge and will address the challenges at an affordable cost. We will not replace everything but we diagnose and stick to addressing the challenge. This has led to some significant savings for the customer. Specialists mean we have become the best in diagnosis with the experience we have gathered of over 30 years.
It’s easier to save a dollar than to make one hence the prices on suspension are competitive due to our uniqueness in diagnosis as well as full control of our value chain as we manufacture and repair components like springs, bushes, radiators, prop shafts, gearboxes, steering boxes and racks.
Separate packages for individuals and corporates have been set depending on their various needs.
The company has a mobile workshop that attends to breakdowns outside Harare as we prepare for branch openings in other cities.
Cost advantages that increase value to the customers
In summary, our differentiator/unique selling proposition is quality emanating from the Toyota original brands, effectively high quality Indian material on springs, polyurethane bushes 10 times stronger than ordinary rubber, brake drums and shoes manufactured and repaired using Brazilian and Indian material, prop shafts repairs using sprinter or Toyo brands, ball joints reconditioning to the standard set by Standards Association Zimbabwe, hydraulic seals imported from Dubai hence the 6 months to a year warranty.
The cost of materials is low also due to attractive negotiations we have done with our strategic partners in South Africa, India, Dubai and Brazil. Thanks to the government, we buy our foreign currency through willing buyer-willing-sellers and that has reduced our landing costs on materials significantly. That has also allowed us to import high-tech machinery and our value chain has become highly competitive in terms of costs hence increasing value to the customer.
Quick turnaround as we have started the night shift as a way to improve turnaround because of the urgency in the transport industry.
Other cost advantages emanate from economies of scale as we have imported high-tech equipment that produces for Harare and Bulawayo’s needs on springs and bushes.
Economies of scope are caused by the wide range of quality products that we manufacture.
Learning and experience effects caused by the 30 years of experience in the field.
High capacity utilisation as our equipment can accommodate production for other new branches yet to be opened.
Integration as we do both backwards and forward integration to reduce outsourcing and undercutting the middleman in the value chain. This is a value-addition drive that gives value to the customer at the lowest possible cost.
Linkages with suppliers where we have managed to get the goods on a consignment basis from major suppliers in other countries and get local suppliers to deliver some materials we need on consignment.
Interrelationships within the value chain where we have specialists from the marketing, finance, audit, sales, and HR departments supporting all the value activities for the group covering Shalom Elite and Dalkeith Engineering.
The best skills at affordable costs hence again increasing value to our customers.
Customer Experience Referral Programme
Refer a client to us and get 10 to 15% cash from the invoice side. We are also running loyalty programmes which when you score certain points you will redeem them for a discount.
Our Management
The CEO, Dr Adam Gavaza
Doctor of Human Letters from the International Institute of Philanthropy. Is a certified chartered accountant (ACCA member), has a post-graduate diploma in marketing (chartered marketer) and a Diploma in marketing with the Chartered Institute of Marketing(CIM).
An MBA and a BBA degree from Azarliah University (USA), a marketing degree and diploma from the Institute of Marketing Management South Africa (IMM), a higher national diploma in purchasing and supply with Harare Polytechnic, a diploma in purchasing and supply with Harare Polytechnic. Has over 30 years of experience in the engineering and mechanics field.
Business Development Manager (Tanaka Gavaza)
He is a chartered marketer (CIM) with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and has 3 years of experience in the business development management post.
Group internal auditor (Mr Muchoza)
He is fellow chartered governance and accountancy with Chartered Governance and Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe formerly CIS, a master in professional accounting and corporate governance Great Zimbabwe University (Nov 2023), B.Com in accounting from Great Zimbabwe University, and a higher national diploma in accountancy from Masvingo polytechnic, national diploma in accounting Masvingo polytechnic, a national certificate in accountancy Masvingo polytechnic.
Has vast experience in the auditing department of over 15 years. The organisation needs people like these who will highlight the downside risks in the process to achieve the 10-fold growth trajectory.
Group Marketing Manager Rejoice Mujuru is a chartered marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) United Kingdom.
She holds a degree in marketing from the Midlands State University. Has vast experience in sales and marketing.
Sales Manager (Beauty Perai)
Highly passionate in sales and has a degree in marketing from the University of Zimbabwe.
Human resources officer (Mr Maponga)
Holds a degree in human resources management from the Zimbabwe Open University, and a diploma in human resources management from the Harare Polytechnic. More than 15 years experience in the company.
Group accountant (Mrs Chishowere)
Holds a degree in accounting from the University of Zimbabwe, currently studying ACCA. Over 10 years experience in the finance and accounting field.
Workshop manager (garage section) Mr Magaso
A qualified class one journeyman with over 20 years of experience in the field. A very loyal cadre who has stayed with the company for over 20 years now.
Quality controller (garage section Mr Mangwiro)
A class 1 journeyman in motor mechanics with over 14 years of experience in the automotive industry.
Workshop Manager Engineering and Manufacturing division – Mr Machawira
He is a qualified class 1 journeyman in fitting and turning and has over 20 years of experience in the engineering field.
Quality controller engineering (Leroy Manyozo)
class 1 journeyman in fitting and turning with over 15 years of experience in the field.
- customer experience officer.
- a chartered marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). holds a bachelor of technology degree in electronic commerce from Harare Institute of Technology with over 10 years of experience dedicated to delivering outstanding customer experience.
Procurement officer (Mr Bhasera)
- A diploma in accountancy (SAAA)
- Diploma in purchasing and materials management (IAC)
- Currently studying CIPS level 4
- Has over 20 years of experience in procurement and store management, 12 years supervisory and management and 8 years in the engineering sector.
Stores controller (Mr Fonte)
- A chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT)
- Postgraduate master of Science in purchasing and supply chain management. Over 10 years experience in running the stores department.
