Company Report: AMS Consulting

AMS training the PDI Contractor in erecting a school hall

CTM as completed by AMS

New offices for South African Police Force

AMS Consultants certainly has an interesting history. It was originally established in Bethlehem in 1993 by Anna-Marié Sassenberg and has expanded rapidly in both scope and size over the past 16 years.

The firm’s original concerns were in the design and implementation of all Consulting, Civil and Structural work with continued adherence to high standards of design and supervision.

But how does it achieve these high standards? The answer, as the company confirms, is by making use of up-to-date technology and methods to enhance its position as a leader in the consulting field, together with the employment of superior personnel and their ongoing technical training.

AMS is unique in the sense that over and above being involved in the consultancy side it also has a small construction team executing its own commercial developments as well as restoration and maintenance work for clients.

By being hands-on involved on the construction side gives AMS an insight on the day to day problems experienced by contractors and enables the company to provide support and training to upcoming contractors appointed on governmental projects.

In regards to the ownership of AMS, as mentioned the firm is currently owned by Anna-Marié Sassenberg and her son Leaan Sassenberg. Her youngest son Charlbert is currently in his second year as a quantity surveying student and will create value for the company by adding a new division which also forms an integral part of the Consultancy services offered to clients, once he has completed his studies.

Sassenberg’s brother and niece are also involved in the day to day running of the business. Being a family business has its advantages as the goal and objectives are set out very clearly allowing AMS to maintain effective technical, financial and administrative control on projects.

AMS’s philosophy is that the key to successful completion and commissioning of a project within the programmed time is the use of a critical path network covering all aspects of the work. This network must monitor client decisions, the Consultant’s work and the Contractor’s progress.

But how does the company achieve this? “Well, the team involved must be well balanced with all their basic needs being satisfied, enabling them to focus,” says Sassenberg.

“No matter in what line of business you are, one must always realise that you are working with human beings with different personalities and cultures that have needs,” she adds. “By fulfilling their needs they will fulfil the company’s needs and all will reach the same goal.” Also to bear in mind is that money is not the only need and objective to a team member, as Sassenberg also says.

AMS is different from the competition by being technically involved by means of serving on committees that brings forth new construction techniques, doing research on design parameters of new technology, assisting with lectures thereof and being able to assist and train the previously disadvantaged contractors differentiates AMS from the competition.

Main customers for AMS are the various Governmental Departments in the Free State area, Public Works Roads and Transport, Education and Health, as well as the PPD developing group based in Cape Town which is mainly involved with Golf Estate developments, national as well as international.

AMS provides the formal, single-point contact for the client integrating, controlling and monitoring the performance of the various design disciplines. Where the expertise is not available in-house, AMS has built strong relationships with acknowledged experts in the relevant areas of specialisation.

The firm really does offer the total package of project management, Civil and Structural design and OHS which includes the oversee of the construction process, not to mention the issue and flow of information, progress on site, cash flow, commissioning and handover, and also advice on the efficient close-out of the project.

But how would Sassenberg sum up the state of the industry in the current economic climate? “We are in preparation for the World Cup, so our industry has not been affected a great deal by the current economic climate.”

However, this situation may not last. Sassenberg foresees a downward spiral in the building industry locally should the expectations of the after effect of the World Cup not become a reality.

There remains the challenge of being able to maintain the current company infrastructure without any retrenchments, as retrenchments not only have a negative impact on the team member it is related to, but also to the company. Sassenberg adds: “A great deal of investment goes into each and every team player to ensure a reliable service for the client.”

And the key to the company’s success? “Always being there for the client, providing the technical expertise and experience when needed and not being afraid to ask for support from expertise when in doubt.”

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