AmongstUs A Siemens Southern African newsletter Vol 22 • September 2007 Our place in the global organisation Celebrating Work-life Balance A whole new world Mining at Lumwana Pg 5 Pg 9 Pg 14 Pg 15 Continued on page 4 Our colleagues at Power Generation (PG) have successfully and timeously completed the Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) project at Eskom's new Ankerlig power plant in Atlantis and Gourikwa power plant in Mossel Bay. This involved engineering, procurement, manufacturing, delivery, erection commissioning and client training for the components and systems. Ordered by Eskom in mid 2005, the two new power plants were built in order to meet additional electricity demands during peak load periods. The R1.8 billion contract to supply seven Siemens SGT5-2000E gas turbines, including the ancillary systems and the associated transformers, for these power plants were awarded to our Power Generation colleagues, making them both the first new gas turbine power plants in South Africa and the first new power plants in South Africa in nearly two decades. Says, Peter Bennett, Divisional Director for Projects at our Power Generation division, "The OCGT project is the first of its kind in our country. The turbines are purpose built industrial design gas turbines specifically for the purpose of power generation, compared to other smaller gas turbines in South Africa which are typically based on aero engines - basically an aircraft engine derivative". Although these machines are the first in South Africa, the gas turbines, capable of generating 150 MW power each, are tried and tested machines with approximately 160 units of this type manufactured worldwide to date. Comprising of four units at the plant in Atlantis and three units at the plant in Mossel Bay, both sites have a combined capacity of 1000 MW which supports the peak network demand in our Cape Region as well as network support in the event of normal generation capacity not being available. Another distinction of the gas turbines, besides its low emissions and rapid start-up capability of just 8 minutes, is the capability to convert the machines to run on natural gas for future planning. At present the turbines are powered by diesel, and while not cost effective for base load generation, is a suitable equation for peak load operation. Furthermore, provision has been made to enable the machines to be Power for the Rainbow Nation Up and running at Ankerlig and Gourikwa converted from open cycle - its current application - to combined cycle, depending on Eskom's future requirements. Speaking of the success of the project, Peter explains that the project was completed under tremendous time pressure, to the A landscape view of the Ankerlig power plant at Atlantis, 20 kilometres north of Cape Town. Continued on page 5 AmongstUs is printed on environmental friendly, chlorine free paper "Siemens is an extraordinary company - with exceptional employees, a great technological basis, impressive products, systems and solutions, and a unique history. Siemens can be even more successful in the future. To accomplish this, we must all work together", says Peter Löscher, our new global President and CEO. In the previous edition of AmongstUs we were pleased to mention the appointment of Peter Löscher to the helm of our organisation in July. At 49 and with an academic record in the studies of economics at the Vienna University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Harvard Business School in the USA, Peter Löscher brings much more to the Siemens table than just his academic record. Peter Löscher, our new global President and CEO. Maximum speed ahead
Transcript
AmongstUsA Siemens Southern African newsletterVol 22 • September 2007
Our place in
the global
organisation
Celebrating
Work-life
Balance
A whole
new world
Mining at
Lumwana
Pg 5 Pg 9 Pg 14 Pg 15
Continued on page 4
Our colleagues at Power Generation (PG)have successfully and timeously completedthe Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) projectat Eskom's new Ankerlig power plant inAtlantis and Gourikwa power plant inMossel Bay. This involved engineering,procurement, manufacturing, delivery,erection commissioning and client trainingfor the components and systems.
Ordered by Eskom in mid 2005, the twonew power plants were built in order tomeet additional electricity demands duringpeak load periods. The R1.8 billion contractto supply seven Siemens SGT5-2000E gasturbines, including the ancillary systemsand the associated transformers, for thesepower plants were awarded to our PowerGeneration colleagues, making them boththe first new gas turbine power plants inSouth Africa and the first new power plantsin South Africa in nearly two decades.
Says, Peter Bennett, Divisional Director forProjects at our Power Generation division,"The OCGT project is the first of its kind inour country. The turbines are purpose builtindustrial design gas turbines specifically forthe purpose of power generation,compared to other smaller gas turbines inSouth Africa which are typically based onaero engines - basically an aircraft enginederivative". Although these machines arethe first in South Africa, the gas turbines,capable of generating 150 MW power each,are tried and tested machines withapproximately 160 units of this type
manufactured worldwide to date.Comprising of four units at the plant inAtlantis and three units at the plant inMossel Bay, both sites have a combinedcapacity of 1000 MW which supports thepeak network demand in our Cape Regionas well as network support in the event ofnormal generation capacity not beingavailable. Another distinction of the gasturbines, besides its low emissions and
rapid start-up capability of just 8 minutes, isthe capability to convert the machines torun on natural gas for future planning. Atpresent the turbines are powered by diesel,and while not cost effective for base loadgeneration, is a suitable equation for peakload operation. Furthermore, provision hasbeen made to enable the machines to be
Power for the Rainbow NationUp and running at Ankerlig and Gourikwa
converted from open cycle - its currentapplication - to combined cycle, dependingon Eskom's future requirements.Speaking of the success of the project, Peterexplains that the project was completedunder tremendous time pressure, to the
A landscape view of the Ankerlig power plant at Atlantis, 20 kilometres north of Cape Town.
Continued on page 5
AmongstUs is printed on environmental friendly, chlorine free paper
"Siemens is an extraordinary company - withexceptional employees, a great technologicalbasis, impressive products, systems andsolutions, and a unique history. Siemens canbe even more successful in the future. Toaccomplish this, we must all work together",says Peter Löscher, our new global Presidentand CEO.
In the previous edition of AmongstUs wewere pleased to mention the appointment ofPeter Löscher to the helm of our organisationin July. At 49 and with an academic record inthe studies of economics at the ViennaUniversity, the Chinese University of HongKong and the Harvard Business School in theUSA, Peter Löscher brings much more to theSiemens table than just his academic record.
Peter Löscher, our new global President and CEO.
Maximumspeed ahead
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:24 PM Page 1
Our vision
A world of proven talent,
delivering breakthroughinnovations,
giving our customers aunique competitive edge,
enabling societies to mastertheir most vital challenges
and creatingsustainable value
Dear colleagues,
In my previous messages inAmongstUs, I shared withyou information about ourbusiness environment,assets, issues aroundcompliance, our financialstatus, matters relating tohuman resources and otherstrategic areas thatinfluence our general well-being. Financially we are onthe right track but,unfortunately I cannot shareyet with you projections ofour annual results as theinternational position ofSiemens as a publiccompany demands a so-called "quiet period" untilthe shareholder's meeting inOctober. Our figures will be consolidated into the global performance,which I will be able to communicate with you in due course.
I am well aware of the challenges placed on all of us to deliver businessexcellence. These challenges are further fuelled by our economic,political and social environment, and we need to be well informed andwell read, in order to conduct ourselves in an entrepreneurial manner.Top of mind for me in this edition of our newsletter is our customers.While, on the one hand, we have to ensure that the correct businessprocesses - including administration - are in place to ensure that ourcompany is run professionally, we must not lose sight that ourtechnology solutions are created to serve our customers.
We participate in training programmes to further improve on the valuethat we cascade into the market place and into our customer sites. Wewant them to outperform their competitors with best-in-classtechnologies. Consequently, we have to become more focussed in ourcustomer relationship initiatives, especially since traditional measuresmay not serve the best interest of our customers or our ownorganisation. In this respect everyone - not only those with a sales title -must embrace customer values and understand that, whatever we doduring our day at the office, we need to support the sales process andachieve customer satisfaction beyond reproach.
Once we have all accepted the fact that our customers determine ourfuture, we can jointly introduce a new spirit of success which will leadto celebration after celebration.
In closing, I would also like to remind all employees that Siemens willnot compromise on our drive to be recognised as an ethical organisationand our actions must support this. Although I have said it before, it isworth repeating: compliance with law, statutory provisions and ethicalprinciples, coupled with complete transparency in all commercialtransactions strengthen the trust of our partners, customers andshareholders and in so doing, underpin our success.
Our compliance programme has been significantly strengthened in thelast few months in order to support a corporate culture of conduct thatis beyond reproach - both ethically and legally. The launch of the newglobally-applicable Compliance Helpdesk is one such example of this.
With immediate effect it provides a worldwide, round-the-clock outletfor complaints relating to violations of the Business Conduct Guidelines.It can be accessed via our Intranet. For now, it is strictly a 'tell us'function, but in the next few weeks this will be expanded to include an'ask us' function which will give all employees the opportunity to askquestions on day-to-day business compliance topics on a round-the-clock basis.
Thank you for your on-going contribution.
With kind regards,
Sigi Proebstl,Chief Executive, Siemens Limited
2 Amongst
AmongstUs chatted with Andrew Gray,Compliance Officer, to gain anunderstanding of the role that he fulfills inour company.
AmongstUs:How do you view the task of ComplianceOfficer?
Andrew:The challenge is to stay informed on allissues relating to compliance and toensure that the Siemens community isalways adequately informed on all mattersrelating to the area of compliance.
The compliance guidelines are global innature, and therefore provide general,overarching principles. The interesting partis to 'localise' these to apply to specificsituations.
So, to conclude on the question, the roleof compliance officer is always evolvingbut I must say the guidance received fromour parent company is becomingincreasingly specific and particular. Thiswill make our lives a lot easier.
AmongsUs:Harry Hollier, our Executive Director, wasyour predecessor in this role. Have youconcluded the handover and transitionperiod?
Andrew: I am very grateful to Harry for a verycomprehensive handover. As our longestserving Exco member, he has a lot ofknowledge and experience on this topic.He takes a lively interest and providescontinuous guidance and perspective.
AmongstUs:What do you foresee as the immediatechallenges moving forward?
Andrew:The immediate priority is to put in placepractical, realistic and achievableprocedures that will take care of as manyas possible compliance issues by 'default'.If compliance can be made part of thebusiness process, much of it canautomatically be taken care of.
AmongstUs:Are you planning Compliance trainingprogrammes?
Andrew:Yes, a lot of information sharing hasalready taken place at our SeniorManagement Workshops and on individualBU levels. There have also been a numberof articles in AmongstUs. We also have avery comprehensive compliance space onthe Intranet.
Apart from this, a mandatory trainingprogramme for all managers and salesstaff, developed in Germany, will soon berolled out. The training is done online andindividuals will be given a timeline withinwhich to complete this. It will involve twomodules, of about 45 minutes each. Staffwill be able to complete this at their ownconvenience.
We also have our country specific trainingactivities, which deal with local laws andguidelines, competition and corruption.This is an ongoing programme, andinformation is shared as and whenneeded.
In conclusion Andrew explained that hisposition holds responsibility for SiemensLimited, the Associated Companies as wellas companies where we havemanagement responsibilities for exampleSiemens Angola and Siemens Kenya.
Our CEO’s corner
Greg Gibbons,Corporate Communications
For further information contact Andrew Grayelectronically at [email protected] or visithttps://intranetsa.siemens.co.za/home.asp?pid=51985
Compliance isa way of life
Our new visionOur new company vision, which replaces ourVision 2010, accurately illustrates the key focusareas that will enable us to be more successful.
As people are Siemens' most important assets,People Excellence is the leading pillar; whilesimilarly, the other focus areas of innovation,customer focus, delivering sustainable valueand empowering communities and societiesare also vital cornerstones of our companystrategy.
The attached card is printed with our newvision statement and can be removed and keptin a convenient place such as your pocket,wallet or business card holder as a reminder ofthe importance of the Siemens' brand and theimportant role that we all play as brandambassadors.
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:24 PM Page 2
3Amongst
The launch of the new Siemensinternational compliance helpdesk inAugust is renewed evidence that ourcompany is taking proactive steps tosolidify and improve our complianceorientation. The helpdesk, which replacesour existing local ethics hotlineadministered by Tipp-Offs Anonymous, isavailable 24/7, week-in, week-out andprovides a reliable, worldwide outlet forcomplaints relating to violations of theSiemens Business Conduct Guidelines.
Operated by an external providerspecialised in the secure and confidentialtreatment of sensitive content, thetelephone and web-based system that liesbehind the Intranet service enablescomplaints to be made online in tenlanguages, while the call centre and itsstaff can accommodate a total of 150languages. For now, this new Compliance
Helpdesk is only a "tell us" function, but injust a few weeks, the helpdesk will beextended by the addition of an "ask us"function. This will give all employees theopportunity to ask questions on day-to-daybusiness compliance topics on a round-the-clock basis.
Important to note is that the helpdesk isan extension of already existing contactchannels and is not a replacement for ourlocal Compliance Officer, Andrew Gray.Andrew is still available as a contact forcompliance related matters. All reportsand messages coming into the Compliance
Helpdesk - whether by telephone oronline - are treated with the strictestconfidentiality and are not traced backto the source, nor is the senderautomatically registered.
Web-based reports are forwarded via asecure Internet portal where the identityof the sender is unknown. Thus, thesender alone decides whether the caseshould be handled anonymously. Onlythe contents of the message will bepassed on by the service provider toSiemens, where a decision as to furtheraction on the report is taken.
Dear readers,
Our revamped AmongstUs has elicited verypositive comments from our readers. Thankyou to all who phoned, sent e-mails or justchatted to the AmongstUs committeemembers about the new look and feel. Wehope you will find this September issuepacked with further interesting information,both relating to our business and to ourpeople.
From the feedback received, our readersenjoyed the new format and we specificallygot positive feedback regarding the newAmongstUs "Roundabout" section featuring aselection of sport, healthy living andentertainment items as well as otherinteresting bits of information.
Try your hand at the 'word search puzzle'competition and you could win fantasticprizes from the Bosch Siemens small kitchenappliances range. Also, remember to send uspictures of yourself visiting any unique orinteresting places. Again, there is a great giftvoucher up for grabs if your photo is chosen.
Do let us know what you think of this editionand submit your comments or suggestionseither by e-mailing us or by visiting theonline AmongstUs portal, which can beaccessed from the Corporate Communi-cations landing page on our Intranet. Withspring in the air, take your copy ofAmongstUs outdoors and enjoy the warmerweather whilst reading your latest companynewsletter. Happy reading!
To phone the Compliance Helpdesk from South Africa, please dial 080-09-92604.
You can also contact the helpdesk online by following the link that has been placed on theright hand side of our Intranet's landing page. Alternatively, the direct link is:https://cpps.eps.siemens.com/irj/portal/ep/public/en/compliance/compl-helpdesk
Further telephone contact details for other countries are listed on this secure site.
To phone the helpdesk from South Africa, please dial 080-09-92604.You can also contact the helpdesk online by following the link that has been placedon the right hand side of our Intranet's landing page. Alternatively, the direct link is:https://cpps.eps.siemens.com/irj/portal/ep/public/en/compliance/compl-helpdeskFurther telephone contact details for other countries are listed on this secure site.
A new way for reporting non-compliance
Our pick of the comments received fromAmongstUS readers:
Working for Siemens, a technology company, I
never thought that learning how to dress would
be something that I would learn at Siemens.
Thank you very much for the enlightening
article on Page 12 of your July 2007 edition
titled "Dressing for success". It has certainly
informed me of the different aspects of dress
codes. I have taken the liberty of cutting this
article out and keeping it for reference so that I
Rajen Moodley, I&SBraam Meij, Corporate Development
4 Amongst
extent that even delays in the initial civilconstruction period were compensated forby the project team. Regardless, Peter saysthat the OCGT Eskom project was positivewith well-balanced execution and theguaranteed output of the machines beingexceeded through various optimisations.
He continues, "One of the major criticalsuccess factors was the very close co-operation between the Siemens and Eskomproject teams - both sides adhered to thecontract and worked very hard in theinterest of getting the project finished ontime". So much so, that the first five units
were put on load before the end of Marchthis year and the final two before thecontractual completion date in June.
In addition to the OCGT project, our PowerGeneration colleagues received a follow-uporder from Eskom valued at R2.3 billion inOctober last year for another seven gasturbines - an additional five units at theAnkerlig plant and two at the Gourikwaplant.
This second project, termed the "Gas 1"project, is due for completion by the end of2008, pending successful environmental
approvals. With the turbines, generatorsand transformers already manufactured andthe first units due to arrive in South Africain January next year, the project is well ontrack.
Peter concludes, "As a result of the OCGTand the Gas 1 project, Eskom will have atotal of fourteen machines with the abilityto generate over 2000 MW power - this willmost certainly have a positive impact inmeeting South Africa's growing peakingpower consumption".
The new three year global strategy forSiemens, Fit4 2010 was introduced earlierthis year and Siemens Southern Africa isfirmly committed to growing and aligningour business according to this strategy.
The Fit4 2010 strategy is a naturalprogression from the Fit4more strategywhich successfully concluded at the end ofour second quarter this year.
To build on the foundations of Fit4More, thenew Fit4 2010 strategy, while focussing onthe same four areas - Operational Excellence,People Excellence, Corporate Responsibilityand Portfolio, now place strong emphasis onProfitability. Importantly, the Code of Ethicsand Conduct runs through every aspect ofthe strategy and commits the business tobecoming a benchmark for transparency andcompliance.
Under Fit4 2010, Siemens will pursuegrowth in the most attractive markets,particularly in the fields of energy andenvironment, automation and control,industrial and public infrastructure, andhealthcare.
Our Exco and Corporate Development teamhave developed a localised version of theFit4 2010 model, which adheres to the maininternational strategy, but includes pointsthat are pertinent to our business inSouthern Africa.
In addition, to make the Fit4 2010 model aliving document, a dashboard is underdevelopment. With this dashboard the Fit42010 strategy becomes a way of life, andallows progress to be tested on an ongoingbasis.
Braam Meij, Director Corporate Developmentexplains: "We set the pace for localisationwith the previous Fit4More strategy, and weare continuing the trend with the localisationof the Fit4 2010 strategy. The localisation ofFit4 2010 is a seamless integration from theFit4More programme, the pillars are thesame. What has evolved is the introductionof the Code of Ethics and Conduct Valuesand the drive to be the benchmark inTransparency and Compliance. The localisedstrategy aligns to our business climate thusmaking the strategy perfectly relevant forour local conditions.
"For example in the Area of PeopleExcellence, we have our Siemens EmployeeSatisfaction Index (SESI) and development ofa Black talent pool as local targets.
"In the Operational Excellence area, the CRMarea is common to the international strategy.As most of our local business is projectbased, our strategy focuses on improving theProject Management@Siemens initiative,which we will actively manage.
"Under the Portfolio arm, we are focussingon a sector approach, which allows us toprovide comprehensive solutions to ourcustomers, thought our Siemens Oneapproach of cross selling. We also want toensure the seamless integration of SiemensInformation Solutions and Services intoSiemens Limited. "
Braam added that the area of CorporateResponsibility is of key focus as our localintention is to position Siemens as anorganisation respected for its contribution toCorporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Headded every employee at Siemens must beaware of the importance of this area andshould look for ways to become personallyinvolved in projects to make a difference toour communities we operate in.
Power for the Rainbow Nation
from page 1 A view of the Gourikwa power plant at Mossel Bay, some 400 kilometres east of Cape Town.
Fit42010
Rajen Moodley, Business DevelopmentManager for our Industrial Solutions andServices (I&S) Mining Technologies teamreceived an order from Impala Platinum for aKoepe Rock Winder to be initially utilised todevelop and sink Impala Platinum's #17 Shaftas a single drum "kibble" winder.
The winder, which is the first winder in SouthAfrica to use the latest Siemens WinderTechnology Control (WTC) in a Cylo-converterconfiguration, is due to go into operation inAugust 2008 and will be used during shaftsinking operations to lower and hoist rocks,materials and people. On completion of theshaft sinking and development, the unit willbe re-commissioned to its intended AutomaticRock Winding function.
The project is unique due to the history of theparticular motor to be used. This unit wascommissioned in 1997 by Siemens Germanyand installed at the Goettelborn coal mine inGermany. The winder was never put intoproduction and was subsequently mothballed.Due to the long delivery period for thespecific motor required, Impala Platinumpurchased the 100 ton motor. It was strippedout of the mine at Goettelborn, loaded ontoabnormal load transporters and driven toAntwerp in Belgium under police escort
where it was then shipped to Durban andloaded onto another three abnormal loadroad transporters and driven - under policeescort again - 850km to Impala Platinum inRustenberg. Once on site, special cranes wereused to unload the motor for storage untilrequired in May 2008. Our local I&S teamshare the engineering and designresponsibility on this project with ourcounterparts in Siemens Germany, who willbe responsible for the technology portions of
the project. Locally, the complete electricalinfrastructure segment of the project is beingexecuted under the management of I&SProject Manager, Andre Masson and the LeadSystem Engineer on the project, AlexBrakhoven. The next long lead item on theproject is the spare stator which is expected tobe delivered in August 2008 with anotherabnormal load delivery.
Keeping mining activitieson track at Impala
Rajen Moodley, Business Development Manager, I&S, next to the winder en route to Rustenburg
The GID or Global Identifier is the personal,unique and lifelong identifier for eachSiemens employee and is valid worldwide.The GID will be used in all HR systems andother IT applications that process personneldata and will in future replace the countryspecific personnel numbers/employee id's.
Without a GID it will not be possible to gainaccess to the Siemens Corporate Network,
so even temporary employees such ascontractors, consultants and auditors willbe assigned a GID.
To view your GID number, visit the CentralData Store (CDS) by going to 'LocalApplications' on the Intranet homepage.The CDS enables employees to check andupdate their own contact information,using either the editable or non-editable
fields. The editable fields, once edited bythe employee, are updated in the SAP HRsystem, the Global Address List (GAL) andthe Siemens Corporate Directory (SCD). Thenon-editable fields can only be changed bycontacting the relevant Unit HR Manager.
Do you know your GID?
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 4
Awarding excellencein engineeringAndriaan Maarten Kamper, a student at the University of Johannesburg, was presented
with the Siemens Award for the most outstanding project research report in Electrical
and Electronic Engineering in 2006 at the University's Faculty Awards Ceremony in July.
Emily Molefe, Corporate Communications
5Amongst
He is a strategist, an experiencedexecutive with an outstandinginternational reputation; and he also hasa strong focus on ethical businessbehaviour.
Interesting to note is that Peter Löscheraspired to become a diplomat beforeembarking on his profession in businesswhen he joined the Germanmanagement consultants, Kienbaum &Partner in 1985. From 1998 to 2002, heheld a variety of posts at Hoechst AGand, following its merger with RhonePoulenc Rohrer, at Aventis - working inGermany, the USA, Spain, the UK andJapan.
He was subsequently appointedChairman, President and CEO of AventisPharma Ltd. In 2002, he moved to the UKlife sciences company, Amersham and,following its acquisition by GeneralElectric, joined the GE CorporateExecutive Council. Just over a year beforejoining Siemens, Peter Löscher became amember of the Executive Committee atMerck, one of the world's leadingpharmaceutical companies, and Presidentof Merck's Global Human Health divisionin 2006.
With his wide-ranging experience inbusiness development and strategy, thefinancial markets and technology related
Maximum speed ahead
issues, Siemens now finds itself in thehands of a well-grounded and globallyexperienced leader who is not afraid to getinvolved.
At his first official appearance as Presidentand CEO of Siemens, Peter Löscherannounced his "first 100 days in office"programme which sees a focus on five keyareas, leadership culture andorganisational structure, high-growthmarkets, innovation, business portfolioand compliance.
Siemens will be further developed in thesekey areas to reduce the complexity of itsstructure and to define unambiguous,
Nicolette BarnardGroup HR Services Manager
clear-cut responsibilities at every level.Becoming more transparent, less complex,faster and efficient is the name of thegame. Explains Peter Löscher, "TheCorporate Executive Committee will bescrutinising the organisation of theGroups, the Regional Companies and thetasks of the Corporate Units in detail.
In the fall, I will present our conclusions tothe Supervisory Board, with these goals inmind: clear lines of responsibility, a highlevel of transparency and maximumspeed".
He continues, "Siemens is a fantasticcompany and right now it is important for
"I am confident
that Siemens will
overcome the
challenges and
emerge from this
situation stronger
than ever before"
Great leadership is considered a centralfactor in the success or failure of nations,companies or any institution. To be a greatleader is open to individual opinion andperception. Some deem a great leader as aperson with a management qualification andyears of business management experience.Perhaps studies and experience make a greatleader of business, but what about a greatleader of people?
In a recent global study by the Ken BlanchardCompanies, effective people managementwas identified as the second most criticalskill set, only surpassed by communicationskills. Third on the list, was emotionalintelligence and empathy. Interestinglyenough, no reference was made to relevantqualifications or experience in this study.
According to Peter Drucker, a well-knownleadership guru, management is doingthings right, leadership is doing the rightthings. It is vital that today's managementtake a strong view of their own skills andabilities such as people management andemotional intelligence. Managers need tospend some time developing these critical
skills to develop into great leaders doing theright things - training interventions are notonly intended for their people.
The newly designed People ManagementCourse offered by our HR experts aims to
enhance and develop our managers'behavioural, emotional intelligence andgeneral people management skills. Today'sleaders need to put their people first bytranslating the company's vision andempowering their people to achieve this
vision by providing the knowledge, skillsand opportunity to perform. This courseprovides today's manager with thenecessary knowledge, understanding andtools to become a real leader of people.
Emotional intelligence, when managed andchanneled in the right direction, propels anindividual to a higher level of performanceby generating the commitment, happinessand passion required for success. Inaddition to the People ManagementCourse, it is recommended that managersenhance their emotional intelligence andthe practical application thereof, to improvetheir management techniques. Being anemotionally intelligent leader will ensureyou bring out the best in others, resulting inpositive behaviour, initiative andinnovation, improved performance andcorporate success. The course offered byHuman Resources Services supports ourleaders in acquiring this critical skill.
Great leadership is doing the right things
Rudi Lamprecht, our chairman, is also a member of theManaging Board of Siemens AG of Germany, our primaryshareholder. Rudi has special responsibility for the jointventures Bosch Siemens Hausgeräte and Fujitsu SiemensComputers. He is also responsible for Africa, the Middle Eastand the C.I.S countries. Generally identifiable as developingmarkets, with a reciprocal need for accelerated infrastructureinvestment, these regions offer excellent potential.
Accelerating profit and growth is the common goal of thehighly diverse countries of these regions. Along with SouthAfrica, some of the other key countries include Russia, theUAE, Egypt and Angola.
Our place in theglobal organisation
Rudi Lamprecht, Chairman, Siemens Limited
from page 1
me just to get to know the people, thecustomers and the organisation".
For this reason, Peter Löscher's first dayswill be devoted to visiting Siemens' groups,production facilities and researchlaboratories. One focus will be on the high-growth markets of China, India and Japan,where Siemens still has substantialunrealised potential.
Furthermore, he will be continuing toimplement Siemens' current strategy andFit4 2010 programme that establishesguidelines for the company's furtherdevelopment in the current years (read thecover story on this programme).
Ethics and compliance is also close to hisheart. With recent non-complianceallegations against Siemens AG, PeterLöscher has expressed his obligation toclarify any acts of wrongdoing at ourcompany and to completely restoreconfidence in Siemens.
"I am confident that Siemens will overcomethe challenges and emerge from thissituation stronger than ever before" hecomments. "Instilling an ethical corporateculture is a marathon for us, not a sprint".Peter Löscher adds that performance withethics is not a contradiction, but a must.
Besides his inherent business, leadershipand language capabilities - he speaks sixlanguages - Peter Löscher is also a happilymarried family man with three children. Hishobbies include skiing, collecting modernart and soccer. He is an enthusiastic fan ofthe FC Barcelona soccer team.
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 5
Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEN)recently received the Diamond Arrow Awardfrom Professional Management Review(PMR) Africa, the highest award rating in thecategory of PABX systems, with an overallrating of 4.11 out of a possible 5.00.
Graeme Eddey, CFO of SEN received thecertificate on behalf of the company at thePMR Business Leaders' Breakfast, which tookplace in August at the Bryanston CountryClub.
PMR Africa is an independent researchbased magazine that conducts annualsurveys within various business to businessand industry specific sectors within theAfrican continent. The Traditional Supplierssurvey is conducted annually to assesswhich business technology suppliers areperceived in the market as offering the bestproduct, sales and service, as rated byappropriate senior management in business.This is a prestigious endorsement of theentire SEN team.
SEN wins services contract with SANDFOn 7 August 2007, Siemens Enterprise Communications was awarded acontract by Armscor for an estimated amount of R95 million for themaintenance of the Department of Defence's speech network, TMS and ICTcabling over a five year period.
Tata Steelawards Harryfor safetyHarry Maselela from Power
Transmission and Distribution (PTD)
won the "Safety Man of the Month"
award from Tata Steel KZN.
Working at Tata Steel's Richards Bay
project, Harry carries out onsite
substation construction and
installation, and won the award for his
excellence in safety.
Five teams across four continentssuccessfully completed the first phase oflaunching Siemens' new Web appearancein July this year. Our new Web lookcomprised of a simultaneous pilot re-launch of Siemens.com, three countrywebsites (USA, South Africa, and India)and five Industry portals.
For South Africa, this successful effort isthe first of two very important localprojects to be rolled out in the first quarterof next fiscal: the introduction of a newWeb Content Management system and theredesign of our corporate Internet website.However, our pilot exercise isn't complete.In September and November, we willlaunch two unique, Web "features" on ourentry page, which will effectivelycommunicate to our target market ourbusiness offerings and our commitment toAfrica.
The Internet has undergone a hugechange. Where once static, accessiblecontent was the priority, deliveringengaging experiences that not onlystrengthen our corporate image but alsoeffectively make use of technology shiftsand converting visits into sales leadswhich is of priority. This will be the onlinefocus for Corporate Communicationsgoing forward.
Our I&S team based at the OlifantsfonteinAggregate Plant were recentlycongratulated on consistently achievingthe highest Health, Safety andEnvironmental (HSE) audited compliancerating. Led by Project Manager Anton vanGoeverden, our Upgrade Project teamnicknamed "ZEE Siemens Team",accomplished a zero accident rate (LTIRF)with 59 709 injury free man-hours underthe belt. Core members of "ZEE SiemensTeam" now have a collective 168 968injury free man-hours for the periodJanuary 2005 to June 2007.
6 Amongst
In the news
Our Siemens Building Technologies (SBT)division provides high-level securitysolutions with reliable equipment. Alocal core team, represented by ManualSchmidt, working together with ourMozambique regional company, won theR8 million tender to supply an integratedsecurity solution to the Central Bank ofMozambique.
The project extends outside the bordersof Maputo and the solution comprisingof fire detection, intrusion detection,closed circuit television and video
surveillance, as well as access andegress control based on the SiPortsystem inclusive of fingerprint readers,will be installed in five of the Bank'sbranches situated in Pemba, Lichinga,Quelimane, Tete and Maxixe.
The project is due for completiontowards the end of this year.
Sanette Nel, BusinessDevelopment Manager, SBT
Anton van Goeverden, I&SCarrie Kritzinger, SENJacques Labuschagne, Service Delivery Manager, SEN
Security solutions forBank of Mozambique
Experience Siemens' new web appearance
For now, experience Siemens' new web appearance by visiting: www.siemens.com; www.usa.siemens.com;www.siemens.co.za; http://w1.siemens.com/en/in/entry.html and www.siemens.com/metals; www.siemens.com/water;www.siemens.com/traffic; www.siemens.com/marine and www.siemens.com/paper.
SEN is tops with Diamond Arrow Award
Top achievers atOlifantsfontein
Graeme Eddey, CFO, Siemens Enterprise Communications receiving the Diamond ArrowAward at the PMR Business Leaders' Breakfast.
Anton van Goeverden.
Harry Maselela with his award.
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 6
Our Power Group, consisting of bothPower Generation (PG) and PowerTransmission and Distribution (PTD), hasa new chief leading the way forward,Dion Govender.
Dion was appointed as Power'sDivisional Managing Director in July andwith his wealth of expertise andknowledge, comes a new strategicviewpoint for the power business. An MBA graduate from Henley (UK),
Dion is a member of the Board ofDirectors of Siemens Tanzania, SiemensBotswana, Siemens Demag DelavalTurborep Limited and the South AfricanElectrotechnical Export Council. He isalso a member of the Institute ofDirectors.
His responsibility will not be limited toonly the Power business within SouthAfrica, but will also extend to the SADCregions, an area in which he has gainedconsiderable experience since 1993,having helped establish the firstSiemens subsidiary in Zambia.
A man of many resources, Dion alsoserves on the executive committee ofthe Nepad Energy Working Group andhas been recently invited to Chair theNepad Business Foundation'sInfrastructure Portfolio.
Dion is a vigorous proponent of growththrough local and regional skillsdevelopment and technology transfer.With a deep commitment to local blackand small business developmentinitiatives as well as skills developmentprogrammes within the Power sector inthe region, Dion is dedicated to ensuringthat Power provides viable energysolutions for southern Africa.
Dion's interests are centred on familyactivities but he also finds the time toplay golf off a 12 handicap and attendregular yoga classes.
Steering the way forward
Dion Govender
Movers & shakers
7Amongst
To strengthen the Siemens brand, simpleand consistent principles of brandmanagement and brand architecture arerequired. Since Siemens is a complexcompany with many different businessareas and thousands of products andsolutions, we can only be successful intoday's marketplace if each individual partsupports the whole.
Indeed, in a complex global marketplace,a unified and consistent brand stands outfrom the crowd. This means that we needto pay extra careful attention to how wepresent ourselves visually to our externaltarget audiences. In this light, animportant tool for ensuring we anchorSiemens in the minds of our keystakeholders is promotional goods.
These articles can range from small giftslike golf shirts and items like giftwrapping paper to more costly goods
such as notebook PC bags orwristwatches.
New branding guidelines have beenreleased providing globally-binding rulesfor how the Siemens logo and relatedbrand attributes can be represented onpromotional items. These guidelinesdeliberately reduce past flexibility for thereasons described above. The key changecontained within the new guidelines isthat wherever possible, the Siemens logomust appear in teal/petrol (exceptions areonly allowed in certain instances).
This new ruling does limit the scope ofcreativity for the branding of promotionalgoods but the advantage is that Siemens'visual identity is strengthened. Employeespreparing promotional goods via one ofour preferred suppliers should set asidetheir own personal preference andrecognise that the brand must come first.
After more than a decade spent at variousSiemens operations in Europe, North andSouth America, Stuart Clarkson hasreturned to South Africa as the newDivisional Director for our IndustrialSolutions and Services (I&S) business area.
With South Africa experiencing skillsshortages in a number of areas, Stuartsays his main challenge is to ensure thatthe division has sufficient resources, skillsand competence to be able to staff-up forprojects in a time of expansion andgrowth, especially in the build-up to 2010.
"The challenges facing us are the same asthat of the industry generally, namelyhow to address the skills shortage in theface of a booming economy to cope withthe almost endless opportunities ininfrastructure growth and expansion," hesays. "My priority therefore is to make surethat we retain our existing staff, empowerthem, make them accountable andresponsible, and provide them with achallenging workplace."
A graduate from Wits Technikon, Stuartjoined Siemens in 1981 as a traineecommissioning engineer, and spent thenext 12 years in the commissioningdepartment of I&S installing andcommissioning standby power systems,UPS and diesel generators. This wasfollowed by a move into the processautomation, specialising in plants in thepulp and paper and chemical industries,and later into the mining sector as well.
During this time, Stuart gained invaluableexperience in sales and marketing, as wellas project management, which stood himin good stead when he was appointed torun the engineering division of I&S in1996.
Sharon Thotharam, HR Services.For further details regarding this programme and to refer a person,please visit http://applications.siemens.co.za/recruitment/index.html
Shawn Teixeira, Internal Audit
Branding of ourpromotional goodsand corporate clothing
For more information on the company's accredited promotional goods suppliers (whoare all familiar with the new guidelines), please contact either Procurement orCorporate Communications (CC). CC can also be contacted for detailing pertaining tocorporate design. Guidelines and rules governing gifts can be found on the CorporateCompliance pages of the Intranet.
In late 1997, he was seconded to Germany,where he managed a service andcommissioning group acting as a serviceprovider to Power Generation and PowerTransmission and Distribution in the plantconstruction field spending time in Mexicoand the USA. Four years later, he joined abusiness development group responsible forstrategy definition and businessdevelopment in the Americas. After threeyears, he assumed responsibility for his ownportfolio, covering northern and easternEurope, including Scandinavia, Russia andthe Ukraine until his return to South Africain May 2007.
Married with two children aged 19 and 17,who are both finishing school in Germany,Stuart is a keen golfer and long distancerunner.
"It's an exciting time to be back in SouthAfrica with some great opportunitiesbrought about by the tremendous growth,both in South Africa and in the SADCregion," he concludes.
Meeting the challenges
Stuart Clarkson
Since the re-launch of the Siemens FraudHotline earlier this year, seven legitimateconcerns have been reported to date. SaysShawn Teixeira, Head of Internal Audit, "Therelatively low number of reported concernsbears testimony in many ways to the factthat Siemens is an organisation with peoplewho live by a code of good ethics."
Shawn continues, "The success of a hotlinerelies on the anonymity of the callers. Callsmade to our fraud hotline were treatedwith the strictest confidence and the callers'identities were in all instances neverrevealed."
AmongstUs asked Shawn how these callswere handled and sufficiently resolved. Wewere informed that as a first step, reportswere drafted by the hotline administratorswithin 24 hours of the contact and thesereports were then sent via secure e-mailtransmission to Internal Audit for further
Our Recruitment department, in theirongoing search for new high-calibreemployees to join our Siemens family, runsa referral programme that is open to allpermanent Siemens employees. Theprogramme is designed to recognise andreward the person who successfullyrecommends an external candidate for anavailable Siemens job opportunity.
If the individual recommended is appointedto a Peromnes Job Grade 10-12 or 7-9position and he/she remains in employmentfor three months, the referring person willbe eligible to receive a bonus of R7 000 toR12 000.
Living good ethicsevaluation and investigation. In someinstances, some of the reported cases wereevaluated by a panel that includedmembers of our Executive Management.These matters were resolved whencorrective action, where necessary, wastaken.
Says Shawn, "Although there are timeswhen allegations may be based onperception rather than fact, managementremains committed to evaluating everyconcern. Those who came forward must becommended for their courage and strengthof conviction. With the launch of Siemens'new international compliance helpdesk,which replaces our existing local fraudhotline, I urge people to continue to maketheir voices heard by using this newmedium."
Recruiting by referralsIf the candidate is appointed to a JobGrade 4-6 position, the referring personwill receive a bonus of R20 000 once thisindividual has completed six months ofemployment.
The top current vacancies are:
• Service Technician (IndustrialServices & Solutions) - Job no.ZA01594
• Business Dev. Manager (SiemensBuilding Technologies) - Job no.ZA02441
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 7
From left to right: Naas Liebenberg, CFO, SIS; Zunaid Mayet, CEO, SIS; Jurgen Frischmuth, SISBoard Member; Michael Schulz-Drost, member of the SIS international Executive Board; GeorgGebauer, COO, SIS and Stephan Signer, member of the SIS international Executive Board.
8 Amongst
As part of our initiative to promote Artsand Culture in the previouslydisadvantaged communities, Siemenssupports the South African BalletTheatre (SABT) Mamelodi OutreachProgramme. As an introduction to theballet, the boys from our Youthspacehome in Mayfair were invited to join afree charity performance of the SABT'sBallet Highlights held in the OperaAuditorium at the South African StateTheatre in Pretoria. The performanceconsisted of two ballets, 'Les
Sylphides', which is set in a forest anddepicts a poet who wanders throughthe forest and sees a gathering ofsylphs, and 'Don Quixote', a one-actshortened version of the full-lengthballet which is set in Spain and tells thestory of an elderly knight, Don Quixote,who mistakes the beautiful Kitri for hislong-lost love, Dulcinella.
Experiencing the arts
Winter woollies for Youthspace
A scene from SABT's Ballet Highlights.
The boys from our Mayfair Youthspace home wearing their windbreakers, takkies,gloves and woollen caps that were donated by PG C&I. Back row from left: Wesley Nkosi,Petros Dhlamini, Sylvester Dwayi, Velezweni Mkhwanazi and Anele Thuswa. Front rowfrom left: Michael Khoza, Nontobeko Zuma and Smangaliso Mkhwanazi.
Our colleagues from Power Generation Control and Instrumentation donated muchneeded winter clothing to the children at our Youthspace home in Mayfair.
Several of our PG C&I colleagues visited the Youthspace home to handover the donatedclothes. Back row from left: Thabo Dlamini, Jimmy Mabaso, Lungile Phakathi andMichael Potterton. Front row: Roy Elliott.
Emily MolefeCorporate Communications
Stanley ShongweCorporate Development
Candice Daniels, SIS
The results of our annual SiemensEmployee Satisfaction Survey (SESI) isavailable and AmongstUs caught up withStanley Shongwe, Corporate StrategyConsultant to find out what the surveyrevealed.
Stanley:I want to thank each and every Siemenscolleague who participated in the survey.Our return rate improved from last years'60% to 63% this year. In total we received1199 responses. Most units show animprovement on return rate. This is anindication of staff's support for the SESIinitiative.
AmongstUs:And how does the overall satisfaction levellook?
Stanley:Again good news, the satisfaction level ofour employees has improved from a scoreof 3.3 last year to 3.4 this year. The score isout of a maximum of 5.5. Interestingly, ourfemale colleagues indicated that they arehappier than the males. The ladies scored3.47 and the gents 3.32. The female scorealso shows an improvement over their scorefrom last year. They also scored higher thanthe men in all 10 of the questionnairecategories.
We also note that satisfaction withcommunication in the company hasimproved significantly. Moreover, thesurvey revealed significant improvement ofsatisfaction for the Corporate Units.
AmongstUs:And on what level did we not score so well?
SESI - the count is inStanley:The area of Compensation and Benefits stillscores the lowest level of satisfaction at2.92 out of 5.5. However, this is still animprovement over last years score in thiscategory.
AmongstUs:Tell us about the process followed once youreceived the questionnaires.
Stanley:The data analysis took three weeks. Thiswas another improvement over theprevious years, when the process wassomewhat longer. We are also very pleasedwith the performance of the network. Weexperienced miminal problems with theelectronic submissions, and want to thankour colleagues from CIO for their support.
The findings were presented to ourExecutive Committee end of July. I want toemphasise that our Exco takes the resultsvery seriously. They have noted what theSiemens community feels and will play aguiding and supporting role to take action.It was then presented at the SeniorManagement Workshop mid August. AllBU's then discussed their results internallyand need to put a plan of improvementtogether by October. From this point,Internal Audit will monitor theimplementation of the plans.
Stanley concluded by pointing out thatSESI, although an annual survey, is anongoing process and should remain top ofmind throughout the year.
The Executive Management of our Siemens ITSolutions and Services (SIS) Group recentlyhosted members of our international SISExecutive Board, Jurgen Frischmuth andMichael Schulz-Drost in South Africa. Inconjunction with their visit, all SIS Gautengbased colleagues were invited to attend thequarterly community talk held at SiemensPark. SIS local and global targets wereoutlined at the community talk as well as thefinancial status of SIS, with the former SBSachieving its turnaround of 5.2% in thesecond quarter.
The key pillars of the Siemens Fit4 2010model were also discussed briefly and it wasnoted that 59% of Fit4More measures hadbeen implemented successfully in SouthAfrica. In addition, the SIS strategy wasdiscussed in great detail and mention wasmade of SIS's integration into our SiemensLtd. Group. At the session, the global SISMission: "We provide IT expertise and deliverindustry-focussed solutions by leveragingSiemens' capabilities to benefit ourcustomers", and the Vision: "We continuouslywin industry leading customers through IT
innovations created by teams of talentedpeople, setting the benchmark in sustainedcustomer loyalty", were communicated.
The Mission and Vision statementsdemonstrate that SIS, together with otherSiemens' Groups, offers our customers acomprehensive portfolio of industry-specificcomplete solutions. This unique offeringcombines the expertise of Siemens with SIS'sown outstanding IT skills and allows SIS togenerate added value and contribute to thesuccess of the whole Siemens Group. The goalfor our SIS Group is to drive IT innovations intheir selected industries in order to secure acompetitive advantage and to attain the statusof a benchmark for successful long-termcooperation with leading customers.
The expectations for our local SIS unit wereclear: To deliver what we promise, be the ITPowerhouse for Siemens in southern Africa bydriving the verticalisation of the portfolio, andto become a meaningful player in the focusmarket sectors within the next three years.
SIS Community Talkscomes to South Africa
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 8
RoundaboutAmongstUs
A roundup of sport, healthy living and entertainment
Solani Buje, Siemens RunningClub Chairperson
Our Siemens Park colleagues recentlyattended the Work-Life Balance event tocelebrate the opening of our second Work-Life Balance project, the new leisure areaoutside our head office's canteen.
The leisure area, completed by Siemens RealEstate Management and their suppliers,boasts a large deck with an ecological waterfeature and a 100% indigenous landscape tocreate the perfect environment forentertaining or simply taking a break fromour desks. In addition, the area is a WLAN"hotspot" where we can also workproductively in the fresh air.
At the event, our CEO, Sigi Proebstl, sharedhis thoughts around the initiative, "Throughthe Work-Life Balance programme, it wasrealised that in order to help our people copewith the stresses and demands of this dayand age's working culture, Siemens as acompany needs to help its employees balancework and other personal aspects of their lives.In theory, Work-Life Balance really means theoffering of a variety of means to reduce yourstress levels and increase your jobsatisfaction."
"To start implementing these kinds ofchanges is a challenging task and notsomething that will magically happenovernight.
Celebrating in true German style
Several of our Work-Life Balance committee members, from left: Norrine Dorfling, Julie Sewcharan, Nico Loubser, Sharon Thotharamand Sherrie Eddey, joined by Sarita Gouws from Corporate Communications.
Continued on page 9
Walk the TalkOur Siemens Running Club enteredthe Discovery/702 Walk the Talk inJuly with 50 runners, including thefive boys from our YouthspaceHouse in Mayfair.
Sporting Siemens branded t-shirtsand caps, our team joined morethan 40 000 people who took tothe streets of Johannesburg tocomplete the specified 5, 8, 21 and42 km routes - all in the name ofcharity.
All our runners completed the 5 kmwalk and received medals for theirparticipation. Our Youthspace boys also entered the event, back
row from left: James Kwenika, Siemens Driver,Sylvester Dwayi, Anele Thuswa, Wesley Nkosi.Middle row from left: Lloyd Mariba, MkhwanaziVelezweni. Front row: Petros Dhlamini.
Several of our runners with their medals at the Discovery/702 Walk the Talk.
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 9
10 AmongstUs Roundabout
Send us yourinterestingpicturesRyan Neacy from Automation andDrives sent us his photograph and hewon the R250 Woolworths giftvoucher.
Pictured top right: Ryan Neacy fromA&D with his winning photograph, inaction on his skateboard at theprevious Woodstock event. (Visit theAmongstus portal on our Intranet,which can be accessed from theCorporate Communications landingpage, to see the winning pic in moredetail.)
Pictured bottom right: The runner-upphoto chosen was submitted by NicoLoubser from Human Resources. Nicois photographed here with TumishoMasha, presenter of the "Top Billing"TV programme.
If you have visited any unique andinteresting places recently, send usyour photo with your contactdetails and a brief description ofwhere the picture was taken andyou too could win Woolworthsvouchers valued at R250.
To view all the photos taken at the event, please visit our online SiemensSouthern Africa Picture Database: http://picturedatabase.siemens.co.za/
Siemens staff enjoying the festivities atthe opening ceremony of our secondWork-Life Balance project.
Above: Sigi Proebstl, our CEO, addressing the crowd.Right: Unveiling the Work-Life Balance commemorativeplaque, from left: Sigi Proebstl, CEO; Harry Hollier,Executive Director and Tertius Vermeulen, CFO.Below: The Otto Kahl Oompa Band in full swing.
In fact, the Work-Life Balance initiative is not a short-term project; it is a long-term programme that willreap lasting benefits for all of us and something thatI trust will position us as an employer of choice anddemonstrate that we are dedicated to not only thebusiness growth of our people, but their personalwellbeing too!"
With a "festively German" theme in honour of ourcompany's heritage, our Work-Life Balancecommittee members were donned in traditionalGerman attire and all who attended wereentertained with the musical talent of an OompaBand, while eating German sausage rolls served withmustard and sauerkraut.
Concluding, Sigi re-iterated his commitment toensuring that Work-Life Balance at Siemens is asuccess, "Our people are our greatest assets, and thisprogramme is our way of thanking every Siemensemployee for their loyalty and hard efforts. We arevery pleased with the great turnout and hopeeveryone enjoyed the festivities".
July crossword puzzleThe winner of our July edition crosswordpuzzle is Grace Naidoo from SiemensEnterprise Communications. Grace won theSiemens Gigaset E450 sponsored bySiemens Home and Office CommunicationDevices.
The winners of the five runner-upprizes are:Imtiaz Kahn, Siemens IT Solutions andServicesRachel Binda, Siemens Building TechnologiesLouisa Mogashoa, Power Transmission andDistributionKirsty McEwan, SiemedNatalie Martin, Reporting
Congratulations to our winners!
The crossword puzzle solution:
Lets meet...AmongstUs dug deeper in apersonal interview with Marvinto find out exactly what makesthis dynamic person tick andwhat foundation he has laid inmarking his success in thearena of not only his work lifeat Siemens, but his family lifetoo.
Marvin Benjaminour new Government RelationsCorporate Director
Your career history?
I'm a Siemens man through-and-through. Istarted out at Siemens by working as acasual worker in the Cape Town branchduring holiday seasons, initially while atschool and later while completing mystudies at University. This was over a periodof approximately six or seven years. At thebeginning of 1998, while I was stillfinishing my first degree, I worked on a six-month contract basis for the Siemens HRDepartment in Isando as a HR Assistant. Bymid-1998, I had transferred to our HeadOffice in Midrand where I worked underHarry Hollier as an HR Generalist handlingissues or the Corporate Units. In April2001, I transferred back to Isando to co-ordinate all the HR activities for EnergyMeasurements (Pty) Limited over a periodof approximately 18 months. At that time, Ihad extensive exposure to factoryoperations and acquired good experiencein industrial relations procedures andliaison with the representative trade union.By November 2002, I returned to Midrandand worked in the Leadership DevelopmentDepartment for a few months before beingoffered the position of Diversity Manager.This function saw the start of my frequentinteraction at Executive Management level.I have been handling DiversityManagement since February 2003 andaccepted the additional GovernmentRelations function at the end of June thisyear.
Your qualifications and where didyou study?
I completed an initial degree in the socialsciences, majoring in Industrial Psychology,at UCT. After moving to Gauteng, Icompleted a second degree at UNISA -Bcom - with specialisation in Strategy andRisk Management. Lastly, I completed thechallenge of participating in the SiemensManagement Development Programme.
Where were you born and bred?
I was born in the fairest Cape. I actuallygrew up on the Cape Flats and attendedschool in Mitchells Plain.
How do you spend a typical workday?
If I reflect on Diversity Management, thereis a lot of variety in my day-to-day tasks andthe topics I deal with vary quite extensively.Besides the interaction with customers,shareholders, government officials,professional organisations and ExecutiveManagement, there are various internalmeetings and presentations that make up asizable portion of what I do. Moreparticularly, I work closely with theProcurement Division (Guido Coppens andhis team) where the focus is oninvestigating ways of increasing our BEEprocurement spend and identifyingopportunities for developing suppliers.Corporate Communications is also a keypartner if one considers the socialinvestment aspect that is measured from a
Broad Based Black EconomicEmpowerment (BBBEE) perspective.Employment equity and skills developmentinitiatives are also a focus of DiversityManagement and I therefore rely on theHuman Resources Department - my formerhome - for input. In a nutshell, theseexamples point to the broad scope ofstakeholders with whom I interact on adaily basis - no wonder I still look forwardto getting up in the morning and comingto work!
What achievement in your career doyou consider a personal highlight?
I have had many wonderful experiencesover the past nine years with Siemens. Aparticular highlight was when I wasrequested to participate, on behalf ofSiemens, in a panel discussion in Germanyregarding the key issues surrounding BlackEconomic Empowerment (BEE). Thediscussion focussed on advising Germancompanies on BEE and its objectives anddiscussing South Africa's investmentopportunities as an attractive investmentdestination. It was during this time that theDeputy Minister of Trade and Industry, DrRob Davies, was visiting Munich with histeam and also participated in thediscussions. During this trip, I wasfortunate to be able to spend time with theSouth African Consul General, Ms MarthaOlckers. In addition, a dinner was arrangedwith both the Deputy Minister and ConsulGeneral at Wittelsbacherplatz, and thisprovided an ideal opportunity for me toraise some questions that one wouldnormally not ask publicly.
What attribute do you think is themost important as a manager?
I actually have three attributes in mind thatI believe are important as a manager. Firston my list is honesty. Honesty works hand-in-hand with integrity and sincerity - if youlack in these qualities, people quicklynotice that you are simply putting on anact. Secondly, good communication. It isabsolutely necessary to constantly interactwith each other to ensure a flow ofbeneficial information. Communication isonly really effective when there is feedbackand when we listen to each other - notmerely taking turns to talk. Lastly, you needto have a vision. This reminds me of whatmy former boss once said: "Dream aboutwhat you can do for this company". Eventhough I still see that I've had somelimitations in fulfilling the dream, this issomething I'm not going to easily let go of.
With your new added GovernmentRelations responsibilities, in additionto your Diversity Management tasks,what immediate challenges do youforesee?
With regard to Government Relations, my
immediate focus is to build-up a workingsystem. A process definition must be definedto guide how and when we engage withGovernment, something that may resemblethe "Siemens One" philosophy where there isa point of entry for channelling andfacilitating the relationship withGovernment. We also need to look at howthis engagement is documented, whatstrategy is associated with the variousrelationships in Government and the impactthereof. I can't think of a better introductionto Government Relations.
In the near future, I will also be makingcontact with our Government Affairscolleagues in Germany and will be learningfrom their successful practices.
How do you view the relationshipbetween these two responsibilities?
With Diversity Management, the key focus isBBBEE and this may be viewed in relation toGovernment as a customer and stakeholder.That in itself implies a link to Government, soyes Government Relations and DiversityManagement is connected. My futureexperiences will be the teacher as far asunderstanding the intricacies of thisconnection,
What interests or hobbies do you haveoutside of work?
Besides being a member of the KommunikaToastmasters Club in Pretoria, I'm a big fan ofhouse music. During my spare time, Iparticularly enjoy playing records and mixingmusic on my turntables. I'm a true SouthAfrican, so a braai is always welcomed aswell.
Who is your personal supportstructure?
My wife, Maurenza, is definitely my supportstructure; she supports me all the way. WhenI start any planning process, Maurenza is thefirst person I consult with. We have a greatmarriage and we are there for each other inevery respect.
As a senior manager, how do youmanage to balance your work andhome life?
I've been married for over a year and mydaughter is five months old, so I've beenmaking deliberate attempts to, as far aspossible, not switch on my laptop over theweekends. I believe that weekends are aboutmy wife and daughter. I would rather arriveat work earlier in the mornings to deal withsomething that is pressing. Moreover, I reallytry to ensure that I don't work past 20:00 inthe evening. The challenges are there, butyou need to make a conscious effort daily inorder to ensure you maintain a good work-life balance.
What motto do you live by?
"Submit your plans to God and He will directyou".
What good advice would you givepeople to achieve career success?
I can only reflect on my career at Siemens.My advice to people is to live your dream. We all have aspirations and want to getsomewhere. Stay focussed on your dreamand work towards it. There can't be anegative outcome if you are that passionateabout where you are heading. Siemens is anorganisation where good work is recognisedwith positive consequences, so there canonly be good consequences if you are livingthe constructive dreams you have.
Grace Naidoo, winner of the crossword puzzle,with the Siemens Gigaset E450 that she won.
Thoughtful words
"Your best success comes afteryour greatest disappointment."Henry Ward Beecher
"Happiness is not in ourcircumstances, but in ourselves.It is not something we see, like arainbow, or feel, like the heat ofa fire. Happiness is somethingwe are."John B Sheerin
"The brighter you are, the moreyou have to learn."Don Herold
"Conditions are never just right.People who delay action until allfactors are favourable, donothing."William Feather
"Most people give up just whenthey are about to achievesuccess. They quit on the oneyard line. They give up at thelast minute of the game, onefoot from a winning touchdown."H Ross Perot
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 11
Did you know...
• A square piece of dry paper cannot be
folded in half more than seven times.
• Men lose about 40 hairs a day. Women
lose about 70 hairs a day.
• Approximately two-thirds of a person's
body weight is water. Blood is 92%
water. The brain is 75% water and
muscles are 75% water.
• All the planets in the solar system
rotate anti-clockwise, except Venus.
It is the only planet that rotates
clockwise.
• Earth is slowing down - in a few
million years there won't be a leap
year.
• Millions of trees are accidentally
planted by squirrels who bury nuts and
then forget where they hid them.
• New Zealand is home to 4 million
people and 70 million sheep.
• Picasso could draw before he could
walk and his first word was the
Spanish word for pencil.
• The largest web bookshop,
Amazon.com, stores almost 3 million
books.
• The names of all the continents end
with the letter they start with.
• Due to Earth's gravity, it is impossible
for mountains to be higher than
15,000 metres.
• Chocolate is the number one foodstuff
flavour in the world, beating vanilla
and banana by 3-to-1.
• TIP is the acronym for "To Insure
Promptness."
• There are about a billion bicycles in
the world, twice as many as
motorcars.
12 AmongstUs Roundabout
Emily Molefe, Corporate Communications
Closing date is Friday, 26 October 2007.E-mail to [email protected] fax to 011 541 5462.
September:Johannes Kleinsmit, Siemens Ltd.Chris McInnes, S.I.S.Mark McDonald, S.I.S.Michael Buckton, SEN
October:Harry Hollier, Siemens Ltd.
November:Olga Moremba
Birthday Milestones
Sudoku for lifeTry our Sudoku puzzle to keep your mind active. To find out how tocomplete a Sudoku puzzle, be sure to check out the July AmongstUs.
Representing Siemens at this year's Business Trust LongRun, our team of eight runners tackled the third leg ofthe relay which stretched from Hazyview to Dullstroom.
A total of 800 participants from business andGovernment - including celebrities such as Baby JakeMatlala, Bruce Fordyce and Nick Bester - embarked uponthe ten day, 1 100 km roadshow to demonstrate thepower of partnership to bring about positive change inSouth Africa.
The run, comprising of several 10 km stages, commencedin Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province and proceeded toBushbuckridge, Hazyview, Dullstroom, Middleburg andErmelo, further to Newcastle, Dundee, Greytown andHowick before finishing in Kwa Mashu in KwaZulu-Natal.
As an active member of the Business Trust, Siemens hasparticipated in the long run since its inception.
A word search puzzle is a group of wordshidden in a grid of random letters. Find the 18words hidden in the grid, which can appear inany direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal andbackwards), circle the words once you havefound them and then cut out the puzzle andsend it to AmongstUs.
The puzzle is also available for download on theAmongstUs portal, which can be found byfollowing the AmongstUs link on the CorporateCommunications landing page on our Intranet.
Our team, back row from left: Diane Hunter, Brynmor Majiedt, Moses Tlhagale, Jimmy Mabaso. Front row from left: Desmond Dacosta, BettyDiphoko, Emily Molefe, Samuel Mothothi.
Business TrustLong Run 2007
Complete our puzzle and win Bosch productsBBBEEBRANDCOMPLIANCECUSTOMERDINING
ENGINEERINGETHICSEXCELLENCEGIDGIGASET
INNOVATIONLEADERSHIPLOSCHERPKIPOWER
SAFETYTRAININGYOUTHSPACE
Complete AmongstUs' word search puzzle andstand in line to win a Bosch Juicer and Hand Mixer.
Name: Tel:
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 12
For further information, please contact Marvin Benjamin,Diversity Manager. [email protected]
Transformation corner
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deal, left with much more knowledge,and most importantly, through theinteraction on both a business andsocial level, built a network that will lastthroughout their careers," shecontinues.
Nicolette Barnard, our Group HRServices Manager says our sponsorshipof the SA WomEng Forum goes a longway in demonstrating that there arecompanies in South Africa who activelysupport the role and advancement ofwomen in engineering.
"It has been identified that while quite afew women enrol at tertiary institutionsto study engineering, many later droptheir courses or move to administrativestudies," says Nicolette. "As a sponsor,supporter and business partner of SAWomEng, Siemens sees the
organisation as providing a valuablesupport base for females entering whatis a harsh environment that is notparticularly female orientated. Withinour own company we wholeheartedlypromote diversity across theorganisation, supporting a number ofprogrammes aimed at empoweringwomen."
Nicolette added, "We will continue topartner SA WomEng with both financialand logistical support as it is aprogressive movement which is fittinglyconfirmed by their mission statement:To ignite the engineering flame, tofacilitate mentorship and a meeting ofthe minds, to embrace the femininity ofthe engineering woman, and toincubate the engineering mind."
Given its significance in nearly all of ourtender submissions, most colleagueswill be aware of the company's BroadBased Black Economic Empowerment(BBBEE) certificate that was issued in2006. The Government's BBBEE Codesof Good Practice was legislated earlierthis year and Empowerdex, as anindependent assessor, will once againapply the principles of the Codes toquantify our BBBEE credentials in 2007.
Last year, the result of the assessmentconfirmed our status as a level sixcontributor to BBBEE - level nine beingthe lowest and level one being thehighest. This prescribed assessment willbe conducted annually with an updatedcertificate being issued to us thereafter.Our credentials are quantified by wayof a scorecard that covers sevenelements and include ownership,management control, employmentequity, skills development, preferentialprocurement, enterprise developmentand corporate social investment.
Each element is weighted such that weachieve an overall score that is reflectedas a percentage. The scores arecalculated by measuring our status in
each element in relation to theGovernment's targeted status. Bonuspoints may also be scored wherespecific criteria are met. The tablebelow depicts the scorecard elementsand their associated weightings.
Within the coming weeks, the BBBEEstatus of Siemens Limited will be re-assessed and the outcomecommunicated in AmongstUs. A taskteam has already been constituted tomanage this process.
Recognising the importance of providingsupport, motivation and encouragementto women intending to pursue a careerin the traditionally male-dominatedengineering environment, our companyhas, for the second consecutive year,sponsored the South African Women inEngineering Association (SA WomEng)Forum held in Cape Town in July.
A non-profit organisation founded in2006, SA WomEng is a relativelyexclusive support and motivationalnetwork with 60 members who are thetop academic achievers at theUniversities of the Witwatersrand, CapeTown, Stellenbosch, KwaZulu-Natal andPretoria.
Naadiera Patel from our Recruitmentdepartment says that the recent SAWomEng Forum provided the perfect
opportunity for the association'smembers to explore opportunities opento them in the engineering field as wellas to interact on a social level.
"Over the week, delegates were given aproject to complete which theypresented at the end of the conference,"says Naadiera. "This enabled them toshowcase their abilities and talents forthe many projects that will be availablein the future, especially in light of 2010."
In addition to the project, delegateswere afforded the opportunity to listento a number of speakers on subjectsrelated to all aspects of engineering,including the mechanical, electrical andchemical fields.
"Many of the women met for the firsttime at the Forum. They learned a great
Igniting the engineering flame in SA women
Scoring on Government'sBroad Based BEE scorecard
BBBEE element Weighting
Ownership 20
Management Control 10
Employment Equity 15
Skills Development 15
Preferential Procurement 20
Enterprise Development 15
Corporate Social Investment 5
Total 100
Sharon Naude, I&S
Our Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S)staff members and management gatheredin August to participate in their quarterlyopen forum. The forum commenced withan address from our CEO, Sigi Proebstlfollowed by a presentation of I&S'sfinancials by Roger Klintworth, I&S'sDivisional Financial Director.
In addition, the newly produced I&S video,"We are part of your life", whichdemonstrates the frequency that oureveryday lives come into contact with
Open interaction atI&S 's open forum
Sabrina Manikkam and Wayne van Wyk from I&S Engineering.
Hennie Bekker, Candice Bergstrom and Lorna Louw from the I&S Engineering Mafube Project Team.
technologies provided by our I&S group,was shown. Individual and teamachievements were awarded to all staff andthe forum was concluded by a presentationof the new I&S concept, embracing ourglobal Fit4 2010 programme, and itspositive impact on our local business byI&S's Divisional Managing Director, StuartClarkson.
Naadiera Patel, Recruitment
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Our colleagues at Siemens EnterpriseCommunications (SEN) officially launchedtheir new HiPath 8000 and OpenStagephone range locally to key customers andjournalists from the IT and business mediaat an exclusive event in August. Guestswere introduced to the new HiPath 8000concept as well as the OpenStage phonerange - all under the banner of SEN's newstrategy of Open Communications.
With the powerful new HiPath 8000 Real-Time IP System, which tightly integrates theenterprise IT fabric and applications to helptransform how businesses communicateand operate, our SEN company has takenVoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) beyondjust delivering voice packets.
Fred Maurus, SEN's Divisional Manager ofTechnology Management and Marketing,says the open, IT-based IP communicationsoffered by the HiPath 8000 will boostenterprise performance and will lowercosts.
"This major HiPath 8000 softswitch deliversa wide range of new features that offer farmore user and network capabilities, plusimproved application interworking, securityand overall system manageability," saysFred. "These features can help enterprisesdrive greater productivity as well ascollaboration and responsiveness amongtheir employees while gaining a proven,lower total cost of ownership (TCO) andmore rapid return on investment (ROI)."
One independent study showed the HiPath8000's centralised operation modelachieved a 15% to 25% lower TCO than thedistributed IP-PBXs used in the study.
As the industry's best native-SIP (SessionInitiation Protocol) softswitch, the HiPath8000 system offers massive scalability from300 users up to 100,000 users per systemand virtually unlimited numbers in anetwork. Its carrier-grade reliability,resiliency and recovery provide 24/7
business performance. Designed to operatecentrally out of IT data centres, the HiPath8000 eliminates the complexity and costsof managing distributed TDM- or IP-basedPBXs. At the same time, its open SIP, SIP-Q,Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and
Web Services interfaces allow easyinterworking with SIP application serversand end devices as well as business processintegration and workflows. Data centreintegration fits perfectly into the IT world,where data-centre consolidation routinely
saves up to 40% compared to traditionalarchitectures.
"Our development of the HiPath 8000platform is driven by a standards-based,open communications model that webelieve provides richer experiences forusers, greater effectiveness among thoseusers, lower costs and higher returns forour customers," explains Fred. "By helpingIT make communications part of itsenterprise services suite, we believe we'refundamentally transforming how businessgets done, and provide the foundation forfuture unified communication".
Hosted at the Lanseria International Airport,the event to locally launch the HiPath 8000was also attended by Gerhard Otterbach,Member of the SEN Executive Board andSEN global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO),who provided guests with a unique andinternational overview of the HiPath 8000and how this concept had been adopted inboth the European and American markets.
Following presentations that commencedthe event, the guests boarded two vintageaeroplanes (a DC 3 and DC 4) for a trip tothe Pilanesberg National Game Reserve. Onarrival, they were met by game vehicles atthe Sun City International Airport wherethey were taken to the boma at BakubungBush Lodge for a bush lunch and later agame drive experience before departingback to Johannesburg in the vintageaeroplanes.
Fred concludes, "The launch eventpresented us with a fantastic opportunity tonot only launch a product that will changethe way we communicate, but also spendvaluable time with journalists and our keycustomers, which ultimately enables theSEN team to further enhance theirrelationship and understanding of thecustomers' requirements in the area ofunified and open communications".
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Our Group Human Resources Servicesdepartment offer numerous capabilitytraining courses which range fromAssertiveness, Coaching for Competence,Conflict Handling and Contract Law toCustomer Service Excellence, EffectiveWriting, Finance for Non-Financials and theExecutive Image Programme, among others.
Says Nicolette Barnard, Head of Group HRServices, "Development is an ongoingprocess and through training we have the
communication from HR Services to confirmavailability and management approval.
Continues Nicolette, "Siemens is passionateabout developing its people and I think this isaptly demonstrated by the R6,3 million thatwas invested in training during our2005/2006 financial year. We declare thistraining spend to the SETA on a yearly basisvia our Annual Training Report and WorkplaceSkills Plan." Nicolette concludes byemphasising that every person is encouraged
opportunity to increase our personal andprofessional knowledge and skills."
Training requirements are identified jointly bythe employee and the manager through theDevelopment Needs Analysis in our staffdialogues tool.
Once this information has been provided toour Group Human Resources Servicesdepartment, the employee is then enrolled onan applicable course and will receive further
to take advantage of the training coursesavailable to all employees. "If you feel thatyou will benefit from attending a particularcourse, address this need with yourmanagement and enrol for the course. It'sreally that easy."
Details of the various courses offered can befound on the Training portal on the HumanResources Intranet site. Should a trainingcapability course not be available, HRServices can source the required training.
HiPath 8000. Opening a whole new world of possibilities
Guests at the launch of the HiPath 8000 disembarking from the vintage DC3 aeroplane at theSun City International Airport.
An international demonstration of the HiPath 8000 solution.
Raymond Padayachee, CEO of our local SEN group and Gerhard Otterbach, Member of the SENExecutive Board and SEN global CMO addressing the guests at the launch of the HiPath 8000.
Training is the key to development
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Earlier this year, AmongstUs reported onthe work that our Industrial Solutions andServices team were undertaking at theLumwana Copper Mine situated in theZambian Copperbelt in north westernZambia.
Mining operations are currently underwaywith the ball mill shell already in positionand the even larger SAG (semi-autogenousgrind) mill to follow shortly. Our Siemensring motors for the gearless mill drives areon-site, as well as the containerisedcycloconverter substations to power thesemotors.
The overburden, to be removed from thenew open cast pit, will be used for theconstruction of landscaped features, suchas the crusher ROM (run of mine) pad,levelling the run of the 4km long overlandconveyor and anything else that requiresmajor levelling.
Much of this earth moving is managed bythe Hitachi Euclid EH4500-2 electrical-mechanical dump trucks, which carry 240tons of soil at a time. With a gross vehiclemass of 440 tons, these trucks are run byour electric variable speed drives as well asour electric wheel motors at 2MW each.From January 2008, the trucks will run onthe Siemens supplied overhead trolley linethat will then supply 4MW of electricpower per truck to enable the trucks to
climb out of the growing open pit atspeeds up to 24kph.
Our I&S MT colleagues are currentlypreparing to mobilise the installation siteand as part of our scope we will beerecting 4km of trolley line and installingfive 10MW rectifier substations for thetrolley line. To support the miningoperations, we will be constructing four33kV 5MW skid substations and four6.6kV skid breaker substations that willpower four electric mine shovels.
Furthermore, in order to ensure thisworks, we are installing 33kV doublewolf overhead distributions lines,supplying over 7km of trailing cable andequipping the pit workshops and controlrooms with electrical services. MobileSiemens stadium lighting will ensureround the clock safe mining conditions.
In addition, we will be supplying theSIMATIC PCS7 process control system, allthe high and low voltage variable speeddrives, the low voltage motor controlcentres as well as the complete minecommunications using OTN (OpenTransport Network) as well as a state ofthe art HiPath PABX system.
Mining operationscontinue at Lumwana
The ball mill (largest in the world) under construction. The Siemens ring motor stator halfsection is already installed (left underside of mill).
Hitachi-Euclid EH4500-2 truck, operating on Siemens technology, being loaded by a HitachiEX5500 hydraulic excavator.
Sharon Naude, I&S
Jose MachadoCorporate Communications
Our Siemens Power unit participated inthe African Utility Week conference andexhibition at the Cape Town InternationalConvention Centre earlier this year.African Utility Week is the continent'slargest power, water and gas conferenceand we hosted a 42m2 stand at theexhibition. Our Power colleagues usedthe exhibit as an opportunity tocommunicate our total solutions for thepower industry - from power generationto transmission and distribution. Ondisplay were energy automation productsfrom Power Transmission and Distribution(PTD), such as the SIPROTEC relays for
Highlighting our power innovation
Youthspace enters the CSR AwardsA short video production of ourflagship Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR) programme,Youthspace, is listed as an entry to theglobal Siemens Corporate SocialResponsibility Awards.The CSR Awards, which is beingpresented for the first time this year,pays tribute to individual Siemens
employees and employee teams forhighly successful projects. This year'scompetition will focus on projectsunder the auspices of the company-wide programmes, Siemens CaringHands and Siemens Generation 21. The awards will be presented on 11October 2007 at the Siemens BusinessConference in Berlin.
For further information and/or to obtain a copy of the Youthspace videoproduction, please contact Emily Molefe, Corporate Communications.
Stemming from a 110 year presence in ourcommitment to southern Africa, SiemensTransportation Systems (TS) furtherconfirmed our presence and commitment tothe advancement of rail technologies byparticipating as a gold sponsor in the AfricaRail Exhibition earlier this year at theSandton Convention Center.
As one of the three leaders in rail mobilityworldwide, and with the largest display ofofferings to the rail industry in Africa, ourcolleagues at TS demonstrated our vastknowledge in turnkey, integrated solutionsand products through the showcase ofglobal technologies, extending to localcontent, training and job creation as well asour corporate credentials. Our presence wasfurther enhanced through the knowledge,support and expertise of an internationalcontingent from Siemens in Europe, whichincluded the presentation of a paper onAutomatic Train Protection by Rolf Seiffertfrom Switzerland at the adjoiningconference. Being the only company toshowcase new products, visitors were keen
to inspect our offerings. The exhibition alsooffered us the opportunity to introduce tothe rail industry our new TS executives,Kevin Pillay, Divisional Managing Directorand Clifford Klaas, Divisional Director ofFinance and Administration.
Comments Kevin, "I was really impressed bythe interest of the customers, suppliers andcompetitors in the rail industry. Africa Railboasted good stands and a strong presenceby most companies, especially Bombadierand Alstom. With relevant key topics thatstressed that need for investment underdiscussion in the featured lectures and thegala dinner attended by key players, AfricaRail proved to be a good networkingground."
Kevin concludes, "Overall, Siemens showedthat it is a committed, key player in themarket. Thanks to the efforts of our localand overseas colleagues, I believe wedemonstrated that we are truly a transportsystems company of choice through ourinnovative products and solutions".
M o b i l i t y a t i t s b e s t
digital protection. As an industry leader,we were invited to present two papersat the conference. Alexander Ebert fromPTD Energy Automation made apresentation on the virtual power plant,while Olaf Woeller from Siemens PG,Germany presented on Combined Cyclepower plants and Open Cycle GasTurbine (OCGT) technology with areference to the OCGT power plants inAtlantis and Mossel Bay that Siemenshas completed for Eskom.
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Keeping ittogetherBradley Ewan from our Power Generation(PG) group was recently honoured as the"Non-Eskom employee of the year" for hisexceptional role as Project Manager on-siteat Eskom's Kendal power station. Bradleyhas been responsible for overseeing theplanned outage work on the powerstation's first major General Outage (GO).
At the end of last year, PG was awardedthe contracts to manage two criticalengineering projects that were due tooccur within the outage, being the Unit 1Generator Stator swap and the Unit 1 HPTurbine Drain Connections modification.
Bradley was commended for his dedicationto ensure that the projects were executedwith the utmost professionalism and forhis exceptional job in liaising betweenEskom, Kendal and Siemens Germany toensure that work continued. Eskomfurther commented, "Many problems wereexperienced, but Bradley always came upwith a solution and a positive wayforward. He has worked undertremendous pressure and with frustratingissues at times, but he has alwaysmanaged to act professionally".
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Tracking our trainingOur company is recognised for the hugeinvestments in training that benefit ouremployees and other stakeholders,positioning us to address the skillschallenges of our company and country.Recent reports indicate that ouraggregated spend on various commercial,technical, management and soft skillscourses is approximately R25 million perannum.
An additional strength is that weconstantly investigate possibilities forimproving the way we do things. Suchimprovements contribute to a bettercompetitive position, reduced costs,greater revenue and overall businesssuccess. A current improvement initiativefocuses on the way that we record andreport training across the organisation.After assessing the Government's BEErequirements with regard to skillsdevelopment, we introduced - and arerolling out - a procedure that allows us tocapture the race and gender of employeesparticipating in training courses, inaddition to the costs. This data is requiredas input for calculating our score for skillsdevelopment from a BEE perspective. Last
year, we earned 40% of the maximumscore and are looking to improve this byapplying the new procedure. We have alsoidentified an added consequence of easingadministration associated with capturing,reporting and filing training data.
Capturing will be done in SAP HR and wehave already changed the profiles of mostof the leave coordinators thus allowingthem to capture training as well.Additionally, the leave coordinators havebeen orientated in the new functionalityand a process has been defined as far asthe paper trail and approval of training isconcerned.
As with most new things, we have facedsome teething problems and hope to ironthese out soon. Julie Sewcharan, from ourTraining Department, has agreed to be the"Lead" coordinator and will be givingadvice to the other coordinators on an adhoc basis regarding the use of SAPfunctionalities associated with training.
Increased sales and a good project pipelineare the lifeblood of any company. For thisreason, the Senior Management Team ofour Siemens Enterprise Communications(SEN) company invited internationallyqualified trainers from the United Kingdomto visit South Africa to host a two day salesboot camp with our local sales team. Theobjective of the boot camp was to shareand transfer global knowledge andexpertise.
The two day training event took placeearlier this year at the Heia Safari Ranch inMuldersdrift and was specifically designedto provide delegates with a best-in-classapproach to learning and development,critical to both sales success and in gaininga better understanding of SEN's new OpenCommunications concept. With the aim toproviding the SEN sales team with thenecessary tools and knowledge to enhancesales, the training focussed on reinforcingthe SEN vision and strategy, updatingtrainees on market trends within the worldof business and communication, andproviding trainees with sales strategies toleverage new and profitable salesopportunities within key accounts.
Sharon Naude, I&S
Our Industrial Solutions and Services' (I&S)Postal Automation team recently receivedan order from MTN Service Provider (RSA)to provide a solution for their MidrandDistribution Centre's distribution andshipping automation.
The solution provided to MTN, whichreplaces their manual system, includes athree tier bulk picking structure whichconveys the products by means of a seriesof conveyor merges into a single conveyorline. From this single line, the products areautomatically scanned and sorted into 130destination chutes where the completeorder is consolidated and packed intoshipping cartons that have been separatelysized and then conveyed to the correctchute.
The system includes a semi-automatedsecure picking system for high-valueorders, as well as automated invoicing,weight verification, carton sealing and
shipping labelling. The finished cartons arescanned and handed over to MTN's couriercompany ready for shipment to customers.Commenting on the challenges of the
An automated solution for MTNproject, Tim Walwyn who led ourconceptual design team says, "The keychallenge, from an engineeringperspective, was that of achieving the
seamless integration of the MTN businessprocesses with the various MechatronicSubsystems." Continues Tim, "Some of theobstacles which had to be overcome wasthat of limited warehousing floor spaceand the ability of our proposed software,the Siemens Logistics Information System,to communicate with the current MTNnetworking software, Oracle. This was themost crucial element of the successfulimplementation of the system".
Tim ends off by telling AmongstUs thatour solution is the first of its kind in theSouth African market and incorporatestechnologies from Canada, Germany,Denmark, Japan and Australia as well aslocally. "This solution will vastly improvethroughput and accuracy for MTN,"concludes Tim.
The I&S Postal Automation team, from left: Michael John Steward; Lehodi Seoka; Michael-Philip Powell; Tim Walwyn and Andreas Sennwitz. Absent: Sidney Sen & Barry Hill
The SEN marketing team with UK specialist trainers, from left: Leon Mangan; Richard Wood;Marianne du Preez, SEN Marketing; Cathy Donaldson and Carrie Kritzinger, SEN Marketing.
Back to boot camp forthe SEN sales team
Carrie Kritzinger, SEN
Marvin Benjamin, Diversity ManagementStanley Shongwe, Group Strategy
Bradley Ewan, on the right, receiving hisaward from Gladman Mkwai, Kendal PowerStation Manager.
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The Siemens PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)is a technological infrastructure whichenables business transactions to beconducted over open networks with acertain level of security. The primaryconcept involves the matching of key pairs- the public key and the private key. These PKI certificates are now stored on
our Smart Card ID. With its wide range ofuses, our ID can additionally be used fordomain log-on, e-mail encryption, dooraccess, Spiridon and Nexus access, timeattendance monitoring, and will also beused by PMP (Performance ManagementProcess) which is a Global SAP based ITtool used for the evaluation of the
As a leading supplier to the pulp and paperindustry, Industrial Solutions and Services(I&S) participated in the African Pulp andPaper Week in June at the DurbanInternational Convention Centre.
The event, hosted by the TechnicalAssociation of the Pulp and Paper Industryof Southern Africa (TAPPSA), was attendedby key global industry customers andsuppliers.
The I&S Pulp and Paper team showcasedour end-to-end solutions - fromautomation, drive engineering and energy,to infrastructure, communication andEnterprise Resource Planning. Our standwas the highlight of the event winningfirst prize for the best stand at the event.
Jose MachadoCorporate Communications
Ute MenikheimPG Control & Instrumentation
Our Power Generation colleaguesresponsible for executing themaintenance contract at Eksom's Matlapower station recently received severalawards at the power station'sManagers' Awards function held earlierthis year.
For the fourth year in a row, ourmaintenance team were rewarded fortheir outstanding performance as acontractor to the Matla power station
Information Security at its best
The ISA's (Information Security Associates) nominated within the various Business and Corporate Units have been driving the PKI2 roll-out. To find out who thecontact for your area is, please visit the Information Security link on the CIO Home Page. Pictured here are: Back row from left: Hendrik le Roux, NSN and GavinKatzenstein, SBT. Middle row from left: Brian Kearsey, Power; Martin Bertoldi, SEN; Hentie Dirker, A&D and Sharon Naude, I&S. Front row from left: Shaun Pete,Information Security Officer; Jason Wright, CF; Rebecca Kisten, SREM; Esther Maputla, HR and Greg Nolte, Corporate.
Johan Badenhorst is the ISAfor Namibia.
Bertie Steyn is the ISA forCape Town.
performance of employees, to name just afew. The PKI2 is currently being rolled-outcompany-wide and completion is due for
end September, by which date allpermanent employees must be PKI2compliant.
Should you not have your PKI2 at this stage, please contact Shaun Petefrom CIO on 011 652 2170 or [email protected] web based PKI training, please visit:http://pkitraining.siemens.com/2005/pkienglish/index.htm
and received a total of ten awards inthe following categories:
Technical Excellence and Innovation
Winner in this category:Gus Pretorius, Senior Service Technician
Receiving highly commended awards:Gustav Wilken, Service ManagerJaco Nortje, Senior Service Technician Riaan du Plessis, Service Technician
Contribution from a contactor
Receiving special awards:Leon Viljoen, Project ManagerGus Pretorius, Senior Service TechnicianGustav Wilken, Service Manager Jaco Nortje, Senior Service TechnicianSchalk Burger, Senior Service TechnicianRian du Plessis, Service Technician
Leading the way atthe African Pulpand Paper Week
Jaco Taljaard, Manager I&S, Pulp and Paper,holding the award that I&S won for the beststand.
Our Power Generation colleagues with their awards: Back row, from left: Schalk Burger, Leon Viljoen and Gustav Wilken.Front row, from left: Jaco Nortje, Gus Pretorius, Riaan du Plessis
The edge in customer excellence
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With the issue of security becomingincreasingly important in today's modernsociety, businesses and government aremaking big investments in securitysolutions.
Earlier this year our colleagues at SiemensBuilding Technologies (SBT) participated inthe Securex exhibition at the SandtonConvention Centre. Securex is the annualexhibition dedicated to South Africa'ssecurity sector and this year's exhibitionwas attended by almost 5 700 visitors.
Our high-tech 72m2 stand showcased ourleading edge technology for videosurveillance and digital recording, accesscontrol and the proven Open TransportNetwork (OTN) fibre optic networksolution. The technology on display wascompletely integrated and operational sothat visitors could see our solutions atwork. Our technology partners, DallmeierElectronics and Nice Vision also had apresence on the Siemens stand.
The SBT stand was awarded the "HighlyCommended Large Stand" reward.
In our previous edition of AmongstUs weintroduced our CRM@Siemens team andtheir customer focus for our organisation. Soexactly what does this customer focusentail?
Firstly, customer focus means having a keenunderstanding of our customers and theirmarkets.
Secondly, we develop a systematic Siemenssales approach to addressing our customers.
Video, Internet, telephony andnetworking in one device: The GigasetSX763 WLAN dsl offers a completepalette of modern communicationsoptions for the home.
Telephone, fax and answering machinecan be connected via two analogue ports,while PCs, IP phones or other LAN devicescan be connected to the four Ethernetports, and still a printer or storage devicecan be attached to the USB 2.0 host port.In order to fully exploit the full spectrumof Internet communications, you can alsoemploy a TV set top box for homeentertainment.
This solution offers users the option ofmaking conventional wireline networkcalls or using Internet telephony. The newGigaset functions supports up to sixdifferent VoIP accounts and enables avariety of Internet-based communi -cations. The SX763 WLAN dsl
distinguishes itself with its outstandingvoice, speed and feature quality. It offersfast wireless networking compliant tostandard IEEE 802.11g up to 54 Mbit/s,Atheros Super G up to 108Mbps +Atheros extended range.
The superior quality also includes thesecurity features and firewall functionsoffered by the Gigaset SX763 WLAN dsl,which uses modern encryption methodslike WAP2 and WEP to protect the wirelessnetwork from unauthorized access.Essential to the ease-of-use, is itsintegrated Tango remote managementsystem (according to the TR-069/TR-104and TR-064 standards), which allowsoperators to automatically updatesoftware remotely.
Technology and design go hand in hand.The innovative Gigaset SX763 WLAN dslhas a simple, sleek design and fitsimpeccably into any living space.
Hi-tech security solutions at work
SBT's stand at Securex, from left: Sam Lessing, Head of Sales, SBT; Sigi Proebstl, CEO, Siemens and Raymond Vaughan, Manager forSolution Offerings, SBT.
Jose MachadoCorporate Communications
For more information on CRM@Siemens,visit https://intranet.crm.siemens.com
Tracey Ming Sun, Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices
Thirdly, we work hand-in-hand with ourcustomers to develop strategies forexpanding their business.
Fourthly, we leverage our portfolio todevelop offerings that are tailored to specificcustomer needs and can be adapted forfurther use at any time.
Customer Centricity
Introducing theSX763 WL AN dslThe triple play home gateway that entertains,communicates, surfs and networks.
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Alex Haberstroh, SREM
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The workshop and store facilities for theCorporate, I&S, PG and A&D divisions atour Pinetown branch in KwaZulu-Natalare currently being expanded andupgraded to 3500 m2.
The planning phase of the R16 millionproject was completed in December lastyear by our colleagues at Siemens RealEstate Management (SREM) andconstruction activities began in January. The execution of the project wasplanned in four phases, with two phases
Creativity with coloursSiemens Real Estate Management (SREM) brightened the offices atSiemens Park with the painting of the foyer stairwells in the proposed SIBCcolour concept. SIBC, our head office building consultants, were tasked toadvise us on ways to improve and introduce colour to our workingenvironment. This project is one of a host of projects planned to improveSiemens Park which will be executed by SREM. Our picture on the leftshows one of the newly painted foyer stairwells at Siemens Park.
Executive guest restaurantThe Executive Restaurant at Siemens Park has been revamped by our SiemensReal Estate Management colleagues. The project commenced in June and wastimeously completed by the beginning of August. With specialist input fromSIBC Industrial Building Consultants, Look Architecture and Design and Osram,the new area's classic décor and styling is subtle and sophisticated, creatingthe ideal venue for business dining and entertainment. The revampedexecutive restaurant area shown above, boasts a new look and feel.
Thinus Griessel, SREM
Robbie Hazel, SREM
More space for our Pinetown branchrunning simultaneously in order toallow continuation of I&S's productionactivities during construction.
Completion of the project is plannedfor mid September and with phasesone and two already completed; theproject is well on track to meet thistarget.
An internal view: Occupation of phase one of the new I&S extended workshop area.A North West Elevation of the new Workshop Extension to PG, A&D and I&S.
AmongstUs Sept07 online 9/10/07 2:25 PM Page 19
Anna Millar, A&D
Carrie Kritzinger, SEN
Sharon Naude, I&S
20 Amongst
Our Wireless Modules team from Automation andDrives Sensors and Communications (A&D SC WM)group recently embarked on the MagaliesbergCanopy Tour as a teambuilding event.
The Magaliesberg Canopy Tour is a unique eco-adventure through the Ysterhout Kloof set in theMagaliesberg Mountains, where participants literallyslide - much like a "foefie" slide - on slides that areup to 140m long above the kloof from platform toplatform. The platforms are built against the cliffand rock faces of the kloof and in some places theslides that link these platforms are up to 30m abovethe ground. With trained canopy guides at theirsides to assure their safety, our Wireless Modulesteam zigzagged down the kloof while stopping ateach of the platforms to admire the views andsurrounding ecology.
Within the team, various members were rewardedfor their involvement: Murray Kruger, RegionalApplication Engineer, won the "Noise award" for thelongest, loudest scream; Ryan Alexander, RegionalApplication Engineer, won the "Paramedic" awardfor the most self-inflicted injuries while KarloGlorioso, Account Executive, came first as the 'daredevil' of the group with the "Evil Canevil" award;Peter Tseladimitloa, Commercial Manager, washonoured with the "Driving Miss Daisy" award forbeing a 'slow coach' and lastly, Rudi Kohlmeyer wonthe "Clumsy" award for the clumsiest participant.
Earlier this year, our colleagues fromSiemens Enterprise Communications (SEN)invited delegates from Telkom to a productinformation sharing session at the LandRover 4x4 Experience in Kyalami. Due tothe success of the function, it was agreedto also hold the event in the regions.
The first regional event took place at theTala Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal in July and was shortly followed withan event in Cape Town at the Ford 4x4Challenge track.
As with the event in Johannesburg, theday started with a brief overview of theSiemens product offering and informationsession to equip the Telkom sales staffwith the necessary knowledge to assistthem in enhancing the sales of Siemens
products within their market. The Telkomrepresentatives, divided into teams tocompete against each other in a treasurehunt, were armed with information packsand GPS navigation systems to assist themin navigating their way to variouswaypoints where a series of productquestions awaited them. The well hiddenquestions - one question was even hiddenin a pile of Hippo dung - had to becompleted before each team could moveonto the next challenge.
After a lunch break, the teams thenheaded back to the course for the final legof the challenge: to navigate their 4x4vehicles through several obstacle courses.
An adventurefor the
wild-hearted
Murray Kruger, Regional Application Engineer, A&D, high above the ground as he slides between the platforms on the Canopy Tour.
SEN takes onTelkom ... again!
Top: The treasure is found at the KZN Ford 4x4 challenge.Below: One of the teams negotiating the Ford 4x4 obstacle challenge in Cape Town.
A team of six runners representing ourIndustrial Solutions and Services (I&S)group, recently supported andparticipated in the tenth annual RichardsBay Coal Terminal (RBCT) Charity Relay2007. This year's event saw a recordparticipation of 550 teams of runners andwalkers, with all the proceeds made fromthe event being donated to localcharities.
As part of the charity drive, our I&Scolleagues sponsored a celebrity, DavidVlok, in the celebrity race. Egoli actor andseventeen-time Comrades Marathonrunner, David entertained the public andspent most of his time with ourcolleagues and clients.
Congratulations to our runners: MikeStevens, Richards Bay Minerals; BorisKrull, I&S Account Manager; Alan Cross,Bateman; Walter Kroell, I&S WorkshopManager Pinetown I&S; Roger Klintworth,Financial Director, I&S and StuartClarkson, Managing Director, I&S.
Several of our runners and their supporters, front row from left: Helen Greenwood; Roger Klintworth; our celebrity, David Vlok;Walter Kroell and Sharon Naude. Back row from left: Boris Krull; Alan Cross; Barry Elliott and Stuart Clarkson.
