From insight to improvement at G&S Chemicals

G&S Chemicals in Zimbabwe has taken decisive steps to modernise its production processes, sharpen its market approach and build a safer, more efficient workplace. Through a series of three PUM projects, on location, remote and a visit to the Netherlands, the company gained practical insights that are already fuelling growth and setting the tone for its next chapter.

G&S Chemical Agencies (G&S) is a dynamic, privately owned manufacturer in Harare. Its Techiad brand is well-established in Zimbabwe’s construction sector, offering paints, Damp-Proof Course (DPC), solvent cement, termite treatment and window putty. The company operates its main production site in Harare alongside five retail outlets across major cities, giving it direct access to both contractors and households. Staffed by 48 employees, with women represented in both management and office roles, G&S has shown consistent ambition to compete on quality while expanding its footprint nationwide.

By 2023 the company had paints positioned as a promising area for higher-margin growth. Yet the team recognised that efficiency gaps, communication challenges, and rising competitive pressure were becoming constraints to further expansion.

First assessment on location

G&S approached PUM for guidance in maximising production efficiency, improving quality consistency and creating safer working conditions, especially in paint processing and DPC production. The management team also sought advice on smart investment choices, automation opportunities and ways to strengthen interdepartmental coordination.

During the first project, PUM expert Fer Klinckhamers carried out an integrated assessment on location. This covered plant operations, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) practices, organisational effectiveness, and the company’s position in the market. Together with the team, he mapped a list of practical improvements ranging from redesigning work processes and enhancing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), to reorganising raw material storage and preparing the business for automated packing solutions.

Continued online collaboration

A follow-up project was conducted remotely and ensured that momentum continued. Through structured progress reviews, G&S made steady advances in safety, housekeeping, maintenance planning, communication routines and workforce development. By mid-2025, around one-third of the agreed actions had been fully completed, with the remaining items well underway.

The joint focus was not only on equipment upgrades but also on strengthening organisational discipline. Monthly management reviews, better alignment between sales and production, and a clearer division of responsibilities started to take root. These organisational shifts positioned the company to sustain improvements long after the technical interventions.

A transformative visit to the Netherlands

The Trade Promotion Visit to the Netherlands became the final building block. Over an intensive week, three G&S team members visited equipment suppliers and production plants in the paint and bitumen-coating industries. Each company generously opened its doors, giving G&S direct exposure to modern production environments, practical HSE systems, automated packaging lines, maintenance strategies and approaches to customer engagement.

This hands-on learning encouraged the team to validate earlier recommendations from the PUM expert. For paint production, the visit clarified the benefits of semi-automatic filling lines, dust-extraction setups and efficient raw-material handling, all achievable within G&S’s investment capacity. For the DPC line, the G&S visitors observed how consistent tension control, improved temperature management and robust preventive maintenance can sharply increase output while reducing waste and downtime. Moreover, valuable contacts were made between G&S and the hosting companies for future exchange of expertise, practices and purchase of second hand machinery.