The Johnson Control Incorporated (JCI) project started over the festive season when they contacted Express Employment Professionals (Rosslyn) to provide them with 200 sewing machine operators.

JCI closed its operations in the Eastern Cape and moved the whole operation to Gauteng over a 2 week period. They secured a manufacturing plant in Rosslyn and converted it into a fully functioning sewing plant. The old plant had been closed for 12 years and fixing holes in the roof while battling with the cobwebs was a real challenge. All the machines were installed and ready for use by the 27th of December, when Express Rosslyn arrived with over 100 Express employees. This was accomplished by a team of technicians who came from the Eastern Cape and worked throughout the period before Christmas to ensure production functionality.

Employees were allocated to all the different operations and team leaders and the instructions began. JCI’s sewing operations are completely different from those of other clients who are in the same industry. Whereas most sewing plants allow operators to sit down, the JCI operators stand whilst sewing. They also work closely together in groups which they call cells. Our associates had to learn to deal with the challenges that this presented. They quickly adapted and their feedback was positive. The operators were being trained on the real McCoy, no scraps or cut-offs! They produced the first seat covers by the second day.

JCI supplies seat covers to Nissan and Ford and they work in a variety of materials, e.g. leather, vinyl and cloth. Express Rosslyn processed a second phase of another 100 associates who started working on the 2nd January 2013. Most of these employees were sourced in KZN and had to settle in quickly and started working immediately. “We have now been working on this project for several weeks and so far operations are running smoothly,” says Joan Gur-Arie from the Express Rosslyn office. JCI’s manufacturing plant was operational within 2 weeks. What an achievement!

Back (Left to right) – Theresa (Lear), Mmuso (Bader SA), Prudence (Johnson Control Inc), Sylvia (Johnson Control Inc), Mimi (Office recruitment and support), Catherine (Transpharm), Tsholofelo (Lear), Chris (Payroll Manager), Madelyn (Transpharm), Lesego (Johnson Control Inc)

Front (Left to right) – Joan (Express), Elvis (ALC), Colleen (Express)

Express Employment Professionals – Rosslyn