Supply chain management policy
Our core business is distributing our manufacturers products. To be effective we have mastered supply chain management. Our customers choose to allocate management of the supply chain to a third party who they see as best placed to understand and oversee the activities of the organisations involved in delivery of each printed promotional product. We do not always seek to manage the entire supply chain ourselves; instead we assist our customers in identifying and recording their requirements. This allows us independently or with our customers, to assess the best solution to suit the business need.
Our key service is based on transparency, increased openness, efficiency in the management of supply chains and of course our expertise in the sourcing and print / production processes. This can offer benefits to our customers as follows:
- Shaping the solution to the business need
- Independent view
- Increased value for money
- Cost avoidance
- Improved cost efficiency
- Improved quality
- Improved service levels
- Use of eProcurement tools
- Higher level of reporting and recording of information
We take a partnering approach to both customers and suppliers allowing us the ability to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and potential threats in the supply chains. Our production management team are responsible for delivering each project in line with customers expectations. Our team will:
- Evaluate suppliers for each job based on Capacity, Technical, Quality, Price, Financial, Capacity, Service, Ethical and Environmental Practices.
- Maintain and mange a list of approved key suppliers
- Promote competition across the tier 2 supply base (deliver ongoing best value)
- Encourage more efficient management of tier 2 suppliers where appropriate. (E.g. leveraging buying power)
- Review key suppliers at suitable intervals (at a minimum, annually)
- Set up and maintain service level agreements with key performance Indicators and trigger points between ourselves and the tier 2 suppliers (90% success must be maintained to keep on the approved key suppliers list)
- Document the customers business need in the form of a clear specification
- Where practicable utilise eProcurement tools in order to record a fair and efficient tender process for each project. (Maintaining competitive and contestable markets for our customers as many products can be sourced from numerous importers/manufacturers)
- Use our secure web based production tracker ensuring each project is on track and risks are identified early in the production.
- Invite, record and report feedback from tier 2 suppliers
- Encourage innovation and the harnessing of new ideas from tier 2 suppliers
- Endeavour to insure that payments are made promptly throughout the supply chain
We take seriously the impact of our business on the environment preferring all suppliers to have externally audited accreditations (ISO) and health and safety policies where they can demonstrate their considerations.
We also take seriously the management of payments and are members of the Prompt Payment Code.
