Silvicultural Modernisation Work Study for Mondi Limited

Project overview

Mondi manages extensive pine and eucalyptus plantations across KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, making it one of South Africa's largest commercial forestry operations. The transition from traditional manual silviculture to mechanised systems requires detailed, field-based analysis of current operations before new systems or equipment can be introduced effectively and economically.

Scope of work

Charles has been engaged on an ongoing basis since 2013 to conduct productivity studies across silvicultural operations, including planting, weed control and related tasks. The work involves building cost and productivity models to support decision-making around mechanisation and system change, and providing analysis that allows management to compare the economics of different silvicultural approaches.

Approach

Work study in a silvicultural context requires direct field measurement of task times, output rates and work quality under varying conditions. Data is collected systematically across multiple sites, operators and terrain types to produce reliable benchmarks that reflect real-world variability rather than ideal conditions.

This data feeds into cost models that compare manual and mechanised options across a range of productivity and cost scenarios. The analysis supports investment decisions around machinery, labour deployment and contracting arrangements, grounded in observed field performance rather than theoretical projections.