Complex KPIs improve service delivery - MSC

With its roots in Africa, MSC now plays an integral role in the economies and development of Africa, according to marketing director, Glenn Delve. “We are operating in all sectors of African industry and commerce,” he told FTW, “but predominantly in the mining sector. There is an abundance of resources which need the import of infrastructure, equipment and commodities for their extraction, and then the export of the raw materials.” But, Delve added, the challenge is the landside capacity to move these resources, a role that is played by the line’s sister company, MSC Logistics, with its rail transport network connecting the mining areas to the seaports and MSC’s global web of maritime services. “Shipping is an intricate key role player in this economy,” he said, “and provides an inexpensive option of transport. “MSC is there to meet these challenges, with complex key performance indicators (KPIs) designed to increasingly improve on service level delivery. We are also flexible in our operational planning, and are always prepared to include change to meet our clients’ requirements.” One such change, he added, was the decision to create a direct pendulum service, connecting Asia, South Africa and the East Coast of South America (ECSA). Flexibility is also part of MSC’s representation in northern neighbouring nations and is another vital part of the line’s operation in southern Africa. As David Bertram, Swaziland branch manager, MSC Logistics, told FTW: “MSC Swaziland can provide quotations for the logistics legs as well as for the sea freight. Printing of original bills of lading (BOL) is done in our office in Matsapha. And, with a service providing for through bills to-or-from Matsapha, MSC Swaziland provides a seamless service for all of its clients.” Also, from an MSC shipping point of view, MSC Zambia continues to grow its market share of exports to Europe and the Far East,” said Mesele Seyuba, director of MSC Zambia. “These two destinations absorb the bulk of this country’s main export – copper. “We were pleased to note earlier this year (May) that MSC had established its representation in Walvis Bay, Namibia. This represents a potentially lucrative route for import and export cargo on the Zambia-Europe trade.” “This port provides a reasonable inland transit time,” Seyuba added, “and presents a fourth option to the ports that Zambia currently accesses. Botswana has shown steady growth over the past decade in shipping imports into the country, according to Dean McIntyre, branch manager of MSC Logistics Botswana. “The major imports are used vehicles and low cost Chinese goods,” he told FTW.