Pralene Singh
Agricultural Specialist
Pietermaritzburg
Summary
Talented small business owner with excellent marketing, customer service and facility oversight skills and more than 33 years of experience. Highly effective and comfortable working with people at all levels in organization.
Self-motivated professional successful in seizing viable opportunities for expansion and innovation in business. Background in increasing profits, reducing costs, and transforming customer service standards. Experienced in leading and supervising operational and sales teams.
With a proven track record at Northmec, excelled in strategic project planning and negotiation, enhancing business operations and client satisfaction. Expertise in logistics and small business operations, combined with a knack for fostering key partnerships, has significantly contributed to sustainable growth and efficiency in agricultural machinery servicing.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Owner /Managing Director
Agricon
Pietermaritzburg
04.2010 - Current
- Servicing and maintaining agricultural equipment including mowers, rakes, balers, tedders, rotavators, power harrows, and various other ground engaging machinery for LELY, Welger, Monosem, Falcon, Howard, PZ, Citrex, Foton, Case, New Holland, John Deere, etc.
- Provision of spares for above machinery and various other agricultural parts.
- Managing day-to-day business operations.
- Developing and maintaining strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and referrals.
- Overseeing daily operations, ensuring all tasks were completed accurately and efficiently by team members.
- Negotiating contracts with suppliers for better pricing and terms, reducing overall costs for the business, including being a selected as a Foton Tractor dealer.
- Consulting with customers to assess needs and propose optimal solutions.
- Managing financial aspects of the business, including budgeting, financial reporting, and tax preparation.
- Increasing customer satisfaction by implementing efficient business processes and providing exceptional service.
Spares Officer
Northmec
Pietermaritzburg
04.2006 - 03.2010
- Conducted the sale of agricultural and earth moving related spares for LELY, Welger, Jackto, Storti, Baldwin, Case construction & New Holland Construction. This included face to face over the counter sales and telephonic sales and site sales.
- Controlled the dispatch of goods to customers and various Northmec dealers & branches throughout South Africa.
- Established effective relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally for increased collaboration opportunities.
- Mentored junior staff members, helping them develop their skills and advance in their careers.
- Improved department efficiency by streamlining and implementing policies and processes.
- Implemented process improvements that streamlined workflows, reducing redundancies and increasing operational efficiency.
- Maintained strict adherence to industry regulations, minimizing risk exposure for the organization.
- Enhanced communication between team members by organizing regular meetings and fostering open dialogue.
- Mentored junior officers, providing guidance and support to foster professional development and career progression.
- Conducted regular reviews of operations and identified areas for improvement.
- Created and managed project plans, timelines and budgets.
Agricultural Mechanic
Northmec
01.2004 - 03.2006
- Undertook repairs of CASE combine harvesters, tractors and all Northmec & LELY related equipment.
- Ensured safety compliance across all repair procedures by adhering to manufacturer guidelines and governmental regulations.
- Adapted quickly to new technologies within the industry, continuously updating knowledge base to stay current with evolving equipment designs and repair techniques. Attended CASE Combine Harvester and CASE Tractor course in Northmec Bethlehem & Northmec Kroonstad respectively.
- Reduced machinery downtime with efficient diagnosis and repair of hydraulic systems on tractors and combines.
- Utilized advanced diagnostic tools effectively for accurate fault detection and expedited repair processes.
- Diagnosed complex mechanical issues for timely resolution, optimizing farm operations.
- Enhanced preventative maintenance programs by conducting regular inspections and repairs on farm equipment.
- Maintained detailed records of completed repairs to provide accurate service history information for each piece of equipment.
- Improved equipment functionality by troubleshooting and repairing various agricultural machinery.
- Collaborated with other mechanics to resolve challenging repair situations, improving overall team efficiency.
- Managed work orders effectively to prioritize urgent repairs and maintain consistent progress on long-term projects.
- Used operational manuals, maintenance records and forums to gain troubleshooting insight for complex issues.
- Analyzed machinery and tested electrical systems and wiring to identify faults and resolve issues impeding performance.
- Documented and filed records of repair work and maintenance for accurate tracking of labor hours, inventory use and equipment histories.
- Complied with company policies, safety requirements and best practices to protect people, equipment and operations.
- Coordinated maintenance schedules proactively to minimize overlap between tasks and optimize resource allocation within the workshop environment.
Spare Parts Administrator
LELY SOUTH AFRICA
Pietermaritzburg
03.2000 - 12.2003
- Worked on sales counter for the provision of spares for LELY machinery.
- Handled the importing of LELY spares from Holland.
- Distributed LELY machinery and spares to all Northmec Branches and dealers in South Africa.
- Reduced order processing time through the development of efficient order handling procedures.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction with prompt and accurate delivery of spare parts orders.
- Improved overall efficiency by conducting periodic reviews of processes involved in the Spare Parts Administration function.
- Reviewed warranty claims for validity before initiating returns or replacements, protecting company revenue from unnecessary costs due to fraudulent claims or faulty documentation.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with key suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of critical parts for urgent customer requests.
- Designed an effective labeling system for easy identification and retrieval of stored spare parts in the warehouse.
- Established a streamlined returns process that expedited customer refunds while minimizing overall return rates through thorough inspection procedures upon receipt of returned items.
- Collaborated closely with technicians to ensure timely availability of required spare parts for scheduled maintenance tasks.
- Implemented cost-saving measures by identifying obsolete or excess inventory items for disposal or sale at reduced prices.
- Maintained an organized workspace by implementing effective storage strategies for all spare part categories, resulting in easy access and improved productivity.
- Conducted regular audits of physical inventory, ensuring accuracy in the database records and minimized discrepancies between actual stock levels and recorded data.
- Managed vendor relationships, ensuring consistent delivery times and quality standards were met or exceeded.
- Developed comprehensive reports on spare parts usage trends, enabling informed decision-making regarding future purchases and inventory levels.
Workshop Manager
LELY SOUTH AFRICA
Pietermaritzburg
01.1991 - 02.2000
- Commenced at LELY SA in the assembly plant. The duties included receipt of goods from Lely Holland, off-loading of equipment & machinery from shipping containers. Conducted pre-delivery inspection (PDI), sign off of order, assembly of the machinery, dispatched machinery to dealers within South Africa. Undertook this function for 2 years.
- Subsequently, started working as a workshop mechanic. Duties included repairs to all LELY machinery. This was for a period of 5 years.
- Promoted to Workshop Manager in June 1997.
- This still included repairs to LELY machinery but also managerial duties.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by consistently delivering quality workmanship and meeting deadlines.
- Maintained workshop activities in line with budget requirements.
- Purchased and oversaw inventory of supplies, tools and equipment.
- Managed and led a team of technicians for optimal productivity and job satisfaction.
- Mentored junior staff members, fostering professional growth and skill development.
- Oversaw equipment maintenance schedules, prolonging the lifespan of machinery while reducing downtime due to repairs.
- Prioritized tasks effectively based on urgency and importance, enhancing overall project management capabilities.
- Collaborated closely with sales team to understand customer needs better.
- Ensured timely completion of projects with effective resource allocation and scheduling.
- Maintained high safety standards, resulting in reduced workplace accidents and increased employee wellbeing.
- Scheduled maintenance and repair projects to maintain optimal performance of all equipment and systems.
- Fostered an environment where open communication was encouraged among team members.
Education
N2 Electrical Trade - Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
Northdale Technical College
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 01.1989 - 12.1990
Completed Standard 8 -
Raisethorpe High School
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa 01.1988 - 12.1988
Skills
Strategic project planning evidenced by being an Exhibitor for agricultural machinery at Royal Agricultural Show (RAS) with all the companies Was a Judge for last seven years for the RAS for agricultural exhibitions stands
Time management abilities
Problem-solving aptitude
Key partnership cultivation
Sales management
Negotiation
Verbal and written communication
Marketing
Business marketing
Small business operations
Strategic project planning evidenced by being an Exhibitor for agricultural machinery at Royal Agricultural Show (RAS) with all the companies Was a Judge for last seven years for the RAS for agricultural exhibitions stands
Timeline
Owner /Managing Director
Agricon
04.2010 - Current
Spares Officer
Northmec
04.2006 - 03.2010
Agricultural Mechanic
Northmec
01.2004 - 03.2006
Spare Parts Administrator
LELY SOUTH AFRICA
03.2000 - 12.2003
Workshop Manager
LELY SOUTH AFRICA
01.1991 - 02.2000
N2 Electrical Trade - Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
Northdale Technical College
01.1989 - 12.1990
Completed Standard 8 -
Raisethorpe High School
01.1988 - 12.1988
Similar Profiles
Bathandwa PhoswaBathandwa Phoswa
LIBRARY ASSISTANT at BULWER LIBRARYLIBRARY ASSISTANT at BULWER LIBRARY
Lukhanyo MacwiliLukhanyo Macwili
Medical Technologist at National Health Laboratory ServiceMedical Technologist at National Health Laboratory Service
Jacqualine O'NeillJacqualine O'Neill
Senior Database Administrator at Oneway SASenior Database Administrator at Oneway SA