Dental Tribune South Africa Edition

3Local NewsDental Tribune South African Edition - December 2013 Chris Jenkins Sirona South Africa has won the Top Starter Award 2013 for fastest growing new Sirona Dental System GmbH subsidiary across its worldwide company base. Sirona South Africa (SA) opened in March 2012 and its mandate includes Sub-Saharan Africa. The criteria for the Top Starter Award includes: start up to specified targets and growth rate of the business. In both areas, Sirona SA was one of the highest. The award is a recognition of the whole of Sirona SA’s team and their contribution to building and developing Sirona. Mr Andy Cyprianos, the General Manager of Sirona SA said, “We have got a team that is made up of very talented people in terms of service and sales that have contributed to this result”. “The service aspect is critical” Cyprianos believes, “We are doing everything we possibly can to have the best service possible and meet our clients expectations”. Sirona sees the South African market as a growing market that is hungry for service which is willing to invest in high tech products thus an emphasis is placed on high levels of service. After winning this award, Sirona SA still views the SA market as an exciting market where they will continue to grow. Cyprianos would like to thank all of Sirona’s customers for their valued support and for making it possible for them to receive such an award. Sirona is one of the largest manufacturers and innovators of dental equipment in the world today with a company history spanning over 100 years. The company has over 3000 employees at 25 locations across the globe of which 260 employees are scientists and engineers who research and develop Sirona’s various dental products. Over $250 million has been invested by Sirona on research and development. The products offered by Sirona include: instruments, hygiene systems, treatment centres, imaging systems and digital dentistry. As mentioned above the company is a world leader in innovation and begun this trend by inventing the first electrically powered dental drill in 1887. DT General Manager of Sirona SA, Andy Cyprianos - front center - with his Sirona SA team and their well deserved award. Sirona South Africa wins Top Starter Award 2013 Chris Jenkins The Dental Warehouse has been operating in South Africa for over 35 years from small beginnings in Springs to the recent acquisition by Henry Schein. The Dental Warehouse can be considered one of South Africa’s biggest importers and suppliers to the dental industry. One of the keys to the success and growth of the Dental Warehouse over the years is its ability to cultivate a strong, happy, loyal and dedicated staff in all aspects of the company. A family run company, there is a strong family aspect to working at the Dental Warehouse where staff members are treated equally, fairly, with compassion and as one would expect to be treated as a member of a family. This promotes staff satisfaction, well-being and company growth. With this in mind Dental Tribune South Africa had the opportunity to speak to a number of employees to get their perspective and feelings about working at the Dental Warehouse. This included staff with over thirty years under their belt at the company to staff with less than five years. Name: Hyman Oddes. Length of employment: 32.5 years. Job Description and functions: General office work including overflow work from all sections of the business. The company has been operational for over 35 years of which Hymie, as he is more commonly known, has worked for them for nearly 33 years. He knows the ins and the outs of the company from stock control systems to having a sound knowledge of the products that the company supplies. With that length of service under his belt he truly believes that there is a family aspect at the company. “There is a very good upside to it, in that the decision making process is very short and fast.” he said, “People who have got a personal stake in the business are treated with a view to a longer term growth than a shorter term profit.” Hymie is very enthusiastic about working with Henry Schein especially with their large and varied product range as well as their expertise that The Dental Warehouse can now offer its clients. He believes that, “things change and generally speaking the changes are for the better. This is one that definitely holds the promise to be better for the consumer, to be better for the employee and holds promise to be better all round for everybody.” Name: Amos Puleng. Length of employment: 23 years. Job Description and functions: Store man including picking, packing and checking. The Dental Warehouse: a family orientated company Amos begun working for the Dental Warehouse on the 3rd of March 1990 as his mother started with Springs Dental before it became The Dental Warehouse. Through his mother’s employment he was employed and has stayed at the company ever since. He feels that he is part of a family and that they have looked after him during his time at the company. Amos is excited about The Dental Warehouse becoming a Henry Schein company because he feels, “the company is still growing up.” Even after 23 years of working at The Dental Warehouse he enjoys going to work and enjoys everything about working there. Name: Liezle Möller. Length of employment: 13 years. Job Description and functions: Telesales Consultant, Jane of all trades including getting sales and servicing customers. Liezle is a single mother who is in her 13th year at the company. Through her time at the company she feels she is part of the family and has found that The Dental Warehouse is responsive to their employee’s needs. She has found that at the company the other employees are caring, are generally nice and stand together when the need arises. After having worked at government institutions before working at The Dental Warehouse she has found the setup and vibe to be very different. With Henry Schein coming in to the South African dental market, Liezle is very excited and happy. “We are going to have a broader spectrum at the end of the day that we will be able to have more product ranges” she said “Being an international company now, we are going to fly somewhere.” Name: Cecilia Mohlala. Length of employment: 3 years. Job Description and functions: Switchboard administrator including meet and greet walk-in clients and answering phone calls. Even though Cecilia has only been at the company for 3 years she knows that if she has a problem she go see and speak to Melanie Savvides, the joint MD at The Dental Warehouse, anytime and she knows the company will help her in any situation. With only 3 years of service under her belt she does believe that working at The Dental Warehouse can be a long term career. Cecilia has found that there is no pressure at the company as long as you do your work and not too much office politics to upset the ambience of the office. DT