COMMENT
MEANS OF SUPPLY
During this unprecedented time, managing
our supply chain is more important
than ever. With events changing daily, and
the significant impact on all businesses and
their employees, maintaining proactive
communication with suppliers and our operation
is critical.
Bellrock has a vast array of clients from retail
to healthcare, o ices to pubs, each with their
own requirements at this time. This has meant
that some parts of our supply chain are not
currently required to deliver their services. Whilst
this is a di icult message to manage due to the
potential impact for those suppliers, proactive
communication is key to ensure that suppliers can
manage their sta and operations to minimise
the impact to their business. Suppliers are being
contacted on a regular basis to make them aware
of changes in service requirements and to provide
as much information to support as possible.
Meanwhile, ensuring that records and systems are
updated to manage planned works and mandatory
compliance works is key to a smooth return to BAU
once businesses re-open.
Elsewhere, there are a significant number of
clients who still require services. Some require
slightly reduced service such as schools that may
be shut or partly open to support the children of
key workers, while some require an even greater
level of service that means maintaining high quality
standards, such as hospitals and health centres.
In these instances, supply chain management
is critical to ensure hospitals are cleaned, and
10 MAY 2020
providing reactive support for deep cleaning or
maintenance where a fault occurs. In the face of this
challenge, many suppliers are closing their doors to
minimise the impact on their business, while others
are o ering a reduced service to maintain the safety
of their employees.
COMPLIANCE MAINTAINED
Using to the latest government advice and
guidelines, and those of the regulatory bodies,
we are working with clients and suppliers alike to
ensure that all statutory compliance is maintained
throughout this period, while ensuring that safety
and wellbeing continues to be a priority, and that
payments for work done is protected.
We have developed an extensive supply chain
network covering the breadth of the UK to support
our diverse client portfolio over recent years,
which is now providing the right coverage to
support clients through these challenging times.
Constant communication with these suppliers to
understand how their operation is being impacted,
and how they might be able to provide additional
support will enable you to react quickly to client
needs and keep these critical sites operational.
Information should be reviewed constantly. We use
Bellrock’s Concerto analytics platform to provide
important performance, coverage and accreditation
information that is used to inform decisions when
the team require additional support.
One specific example of the additional supplier
engagement implemented is a link (which is shared
on all supplier emails) that enables suppliers to
provide ‘as it happens’ updates to Bellrock of any
suspected or confirmed COVID-19 within their
business, and where those employees have worked,
enabling us to inform clients and colleagues to
try and minimise the risk of infection. This link
also enables suppliers to provide updates on its
services, including any restrictions. Information is
cascaded regularly with stakeholders throughout
the business to ensure that everyone is informed
and can react quickly.
The Supply Chain team regularly review the risk
profile of its supplier base, and this is something
that should be done more regularly during the
current climate. Where possible to do so, the
business is looking to support SMEs by giving
them work and ensuring that invoices are paid in a
timely manner.
Finally, there is the challenge of sourcing products
that are in high-demand for example PPE and
hand-sanitiser, which we all know is in short-supply.
This is where Bellrock have had to be creative in
the way that it procures – not just working with
the conventional suppliers, but also with the
wider supply chain, to use their supply chains and
contacts to source products. By creating mature
relationships with our key suppliers, we have been
able to continue to source these key products to
support our front-line sta during this period.
FMs will be faced with a range of procurement issues during the
lockdown. David Richards, Chief Customer Offi cer, Bellrock, off ers
some advice on reviewing your supply chain, whether you need to
identify a secondary supplier and how to source continuity supplies
TIPS FOR FMS
Financial Stabilty – The COVID-19 crisis will
inevitably put significant strain on the
cashflow of a large amount. It is critical
to assess the financial stability of all of
your supply chain and their ability to fulfil
contractual requirements.
Furlough Impact – a lot of supply chain will
have had to furlough a number of their
staff due to a downturn in building PPM,
reactive tasks and occupation. The ability
to remobilise all of these staff and get
them up to speed to meet the demands of
reopening buildings will be crucial.
Stock control and critical spares – the
ability of the supply chain to obtain critical
spares and stock post lockdown will be
critical, this needs to be thought of now
to ensure re-occupation of business is
seamless.
Performance – inevitably performance
metrics and KPI performance will suffer
through COVID-19 and restrictions on
travel and workforce availability. Post
lockdown the remobilisation of services will
need to be monitored carefully to ensure
performance and contractual commitments
are met.
Planned and Reactive service backlog –
inevitably there will be significant PPM
and reactive tasks that will be backlogged.
Careful attention must be paid to ensuring
the relevant tasks are prioritised and
statutory certification is fully compliant.
ADVICE & OPINION