In this series, we have discussed the impact that UK businesses are currently experiencing in 2023 due to difficulties in trading conditions, and low employee engagement because of disruptions in the supply chain.
These supply chain disruptions have affected industries including, food and beverage manufacturing, general manufacturing, and facilities and building management. These industries have struggled with the process of securing parts, materials, and equipment from suppliers to complete jobs due to labour shortages, therefore causing delivery delays and increased shipping costs.
It is recommended that if there is a fault with your equipment you should take immediate action and book an engineer to identify the fault and repair your equipment. If repairs are delayed due to difficulties in sourcing parts, then the current defect can have a knock-on effect on other parts of your machine. Which can lead to unnecessary expenses and further breakdowns of your equipment.
As the economy has grown at a rapid rate, so has the demand for greater customer satisfaction. This has resulted in manufacturers having to increase output at short notice, however manufacturers face storage shortages on-site due to limited space.
In addition, employers are also facing issues due to reduced numbers of skilled people entering the market to replace those affected by the pandemic or those who are retiring. Companies are unable to retain current employees and recruit extra staff that have the required skill sets to conduct certain tasks.
What can your organisation do to tackle the supply chain disruptions?
- A cost-effective solution to save on labour costs for unexpected breakdowns and repair costs would be to hire specialised equipment. This will give your company the flexibility to access a range of equipment during a period of peak demand when your current equipment is out of use. As a result, tasks can be completed in less time particularly if the equipment requires one man instead of two.
- Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, all employees should receive training for the equipment that they are using, this is a legal requirement that all employers should be providing. This in turn will increase employee awareness and knowledge of health and safety when working at height. This will reduce the risk of accidents by having a competent workforce to complete risk assessments and daily checks, improving the safety and morale amongst employees.
- Selecting the correct working at height equipment and any additional safety features, like guardrails and PPE for employees to use, will mitigate the risks that are associated with causing fatal and non-fatal accidents. At HLS, we offer a wide range of equipment, from steps and ladders, mobile boom lifts, scissor lifts, push-around vertical lifts, and bespoke platforms for more complex requirements.
By working with Height, Lift & Shift (HLS) our team will pass on their knowledge and experience and will provide you with the correct working at height solutions. We can also help boost your supply chain resilience by helping you increase your business profitability and employee productivity by offering high-quality and affordable services such as mandatory inspections, planned maintenance and repair contracts, IPAF approved training courses, and a range of equipment to suit your needs available to hire or purchase.
To read more about our key business challenges blog series click on the links below to find out how your business can improve employee engagement and trading conditions.
- Planned preventative maintenance contracts and LOLER examinations
- Repairs and daily checks to minimise downtime costs.
- Hiring specialised equipment to complete tasks more quickly
- Training courses to improve employee engagement and knowledge
- How choosing the right equipment reduces absences and improves work efficiency.
