Like most people in the UK, we breathed a sigh of relief last week. Although most restrictions are still in place, the atmosphere has changed. Businesses are becoming more optimistic and forward-looking, and are springing into action again across the country. It’s great to see.
There’s no denying that the last eight weeks have been strange, and we’ve have had several calls from customers, checking if we are still open for business, and enquiring if our lead times have changed.
This article is, therefore, an opportunity to touch base, provide a service update, and reassure you that, yes – we’re still here, trading normally and happy to help as always!
Business as usual during lockdown
As a supplier to the manufacturing industry, there have never been restrictions on us working during lockdown, and projects have continued as usual.
We’re lucky to have the space to implement social distancing without it affecting productivity, so we put in place a business continuity strategy in mid-March, as soon as it became clear that a UK lockdown was on the cards. Our Covid-secure measures include:
- Disposable gloves for all operatives
- Hand sanitiser in key areas
- Increased cleaning schedule
- Increased space between engineers operating machinery
- Social distancing and safety signage (If you need social distancing signs, don’t purchase them. They can be downloaded for free from the HSE website.)
- Limits on the number of people allowed in one area
- Flexible shift patterns to avoid overcrowding and sustain capacity
- Buddy system so workers can get lifts to work with colleagues and not use public transport
- Stocking up on masks and safety equipment (although these are not currently used, they will become standard should government advice change)
We recently had the pleasure of welcoming BBC Newsnight’s Business Editor Helen Thomas to our workshop to discuss our Covid strategy! The interview with Andrea can be viewed here, starting 5 mins, 49 seconds in.
Increased capacity and shorter lead times
Our late shift is still running, and in conjunction with our new Pinacho CNC Lathe, has increased our capacity, letting us offer greatly reduced lead times on deep hole boring and large turning sections.
We’ve recently assisted with urgent deliveries for customers in the hydraulics, food manufacturing and packaging equipment sectors, so get in touch if you need anything urgently. For the timebeing we’ve removed our Priority and Express charges, regardless of how quickly you need something. Simply put, if we can help, we will!
Collaboration and support
One of the positive take-aways from this crisis is the way businesses have collaborated to keep supply chains moving. Although we compete in some ways, we’ve all got a common desire to get things done. Much of the support we’ve had in making our business Covid-secure comes from knowledge sharing on LinkedIn, with colleagues posting tips, strategies and best practices to help people do the best they can. MAKE UK have also been extremely helpful in the support they have given to manufacturing businesses during this crisis.
Thanks for sticking with us!
We are very proud of how our team have adapted to these extraordinary circumstances and continued a flexible and responsive service – while remaining safe and protected while at work. We are also thankful to our customers for your continuing support and trust in us. We are doing all we can to sustain the quality of our products and our high level of customer service, and will continue to support you and our industry as always through these difficult times. Get in touch to discuss your requirements!
