The Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has embarked on the implementation of a Maintenance turn-around strategy. The main aim of the turnaround strategy otherwise known as the 24/7/365 strategy is to enable the department to resolve minor breakdowns within a period of 24 hours, major breakdowns that require the appointment of an external service provider within a period of 7 days, and major refurbishments or replacements in a period not exceeding 365 days.
According to MEC Mahlangu, “One of critical elements of the 24/7/365 strategy is the provision of tools of trade to all DID artisans including cell phones, toolboxes and vehicles. Today DID has achieved a significant milestone, the first batch of 52 toolboxes for the artisans at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) has been delivered.
The rest of the toolboxes for all other regions shall be delivered during November 2013. DID has invested over R9,659,571 to ensure artisans are fully equipped to carry out maintenance services at health facilities”.
In line with the strategy, DID is currently reinstating materials stores to ensure that materials are available 24/7/365 which will enable artisans to conduct minor maintenance within 24 hours and we are signing service level agreements with a variety of maintenance contractors to ensure that contractors can be appointed to attend to breakdowns in hospitals speedily.
“The pilot study of the e-Maintenance system at CHBAH designed to capture, assign and track reported defects in a paperless environment with artisans accessing the system through their mobile devices is well underway and we are already reaping the benefits”, said the MEC.
DID has reinstated a ‘Boiler Action’ squad that will in future conduct all boiler maintenance activities in house. Qualified professionals have now been deployed as resident engineers responsible for all maintenance activities at CHBMH, Steve Biko, Dr George Mukhari and Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospitals.
Reports from hospital CEO’s have confirmed the success of this initiative. According to the CEO of CHBAH, Dr Sandile Mfenyana, “the e-Maintenance pilot together with the stationing of qualified experts is working exceptionally well at Bara, and has improved the turn-around times for maintenance activities significantly”.
For enquiries contact:
Ramona Baijnath
Cell: 071 670 5863
E-mail: ramona.baijnath@gauteng.gov.za
