Case Studies
Issue No. 65 - June/July 2012
Business helps SA joinery to top fit-out award
Adelaide-based Comace Joinery and Maintenance Pty Ltd won the South Australian ‘Interior Fit-out of the Year’ Award in April for its outstanding fit-out of Southern Cross Care in Oaklands Park.
Such high profile recognition by the Australian Shop & Office Fitting Industry Association caps several years’ of efforts by Managing Director Paul Williams to identify potential areas of business improvement and growth and to keep Comace abreast of the competition.
The business had opened in 1981 in the Adelaide suburb of St Marys, just south of the CBD, and soon built a reputation for quality commercial joinery.
In 2008 Mr Williams applied for a business review from the Australian Government initiative, Enterprise Connect. He wanted to identify ways of achieving competitive advantage in what is a robust and challenging business environment, and to retain Comace’s position as one of the state’s leading performers.
The business review was carried out by Enterprise Connect Business Advisor, Phil Ransome. He recommended that Comace should participate in the Enterprise Mentoring program, becoming one of the first businesses to do so. Mr Williams was teamed with Joe Williams from Learning and Productivity Pty Ltd. The mentoring program involved informal learning sessions on a one-on-one basis for six months.
“Upon embarking on the journey of continuous improvement with Enterprise Connect I didn’t have any idea of how, over four years down the track, it would change our business,” Mr Williams said.
“We have implemented so many ideas, systems and improvements along the way, due mainly to a different approach and different way of thinking. Prior to the program I suppose we just survived day-to-day doing what was necessary to get the job done.
“Now, because of the program and highlighting the need to be better and continually change, we question what is the best way and think about how change will affect not only...
