Congratulations to David Rameka on his EWC Forestry Award
This award recognises an individual who demonstrates excellence across a range of skills within the wood processing chain beyond best practice guidelines.
To be eligible for this award the individual must:
- Demonstrate safety and/or environmental leadership
- Show evidence of expertise/specialisation
- Demonstrate a high quality of work output
- Show evidence of professional development (current and planned)
- Show recognition by peers and employers… (which is letters/videos/snapchat etc. of endorsement)
David shared some of his experience to date, working with Juken New Zealand:
How long have you worked at JNL?
I started at JNL eight and a half years ago when I was 20. I spent 1.5 years as a machine operator in the Sawmill before becoming the leading hand of that line where our crew was able to consistently reach and more often than not exceed targets and expectations. For example, our production went from averaging 90 tonnes per day before I was a leading hand to 120 tonnes per day after I became a leading hand.
I spent around a year as the Sawmill Leading Hand before moving to become the Leading Hand in the Solid Wood finishing area where again I was able to help the crews reach new heights as far as production and overall efficiency. Meeting cut off dates almost every single time and again always meeting or exceeding set targets.
After 2.5 years as the Solid Wood Finishing Leading Hand, I made the next step to SLVL Finishing Team Leader where I also played a small part in dispatching and logistics.
It took a little while to get used to the difference between Manufacturing/Producing Solid Wood Products and Manufacturing/Producing SLVL Structural Beams. But after a few months or so in the job we were able to increase safety, quality, and productivity and overall efficiency in all SLVL finishing lines.
Last year my role was increased to include part of the Manufacturing Line in the SLVL due to the big staff reduction and refocus of the business I also took a more in-depth role with dispatching and logistics.
Tell us about your role at the moment.
Currently, I am a Team Leader/Supervisor of the SLVL Production Area, Despatching and Logistics.
I plan and oversee most of the production that happens through our SLVL production lines.
This includes planning, training, making sure things are done, providing tools to get things done, helping and running machines myself to meet deadlines.
I also deal with all the Dispatching and Logistics for the whole mill. This includes planning for both Solid Wood and SLVL, sending both SLVL and Solid Wood Products going out, receiving products into the mill and liaising with ports, trucking companies and customers both local national and international.
I just wanted to add that a lot of my “success” has only happened because I’ve had great crews along the way that have embraced my ideas and way of doing things as in the end, it made me look good. If not for them I would be still at square one. Especially when I moved from Solid Wood to SLVL in 2016 I knew nothing about SLVL and the people on the floor were able to help me out, and as a team, we achieved great results.
A huge thanks has to go to all my crews over the years both on the floor and the managing staff above me.
Juken New Zealand
Great Kiwis Leading the Way.