Project management
‘Short lead times can be a challenge, so it is essential to be able to source the necessary materials at limited notice’
suppliers losing Crossrail work for not meeting the necessary health and safety requirements, so there is clear risk in terms of financial loss and damage to a company’s reputation.
Sustainability
Environmental responsibility is becoming increasingly important across all industry sectors. While there is some demand for sustainable materials within the rail sector, where we are really seeing a change is the need to minimise carbon footprint to fit with the organisation’s internal green strategies. It is essential to minimise the environmental impact of all aspects of the supply chain by reducing emissions. This massive investment into the rail sector means it faces many challenges to undertake and complete construction work, whilst maintaining a high quality service to its customers. It is important for all organisations within the industry to work closely together to overcome any operational issues and deliver a solution that minimises risk and provides total peace of mind.
typically taking possession of rail tracks and stations out of hours, between 01:00 and 04:00 or during weekend closures, it is critical that the necessary materials are available when required. Any failure to complete work can often result in a delay of weeks or even months, whilst potentially costing thousands of pounds to secure additional possession time. Short lead times can be a challenge, so it is essential to be able to source the necessary materials at limited notice. Many contractors and construction teams will only be aware of their requirements 24-hours prior to work being undertaken, so it is important to have a dynamic procurement system to receive core and specialist items even with the tightest deadlines. Storage can also be an issue, meaning deliveries need to be made in scheduled timeslots to avoid any disruption at the rail site. It is essential, therefore, to have access to a comprehensive network with high levels of product availability to ensure that the necessary material is delivered at the appropriate time and place. This not only minimises the possibility of delivery failure, but also provides added peace of mind to the contractor and rail business.
The appropriate delivery equipment is also a consideration, as any delivery is being made to a live rail location rather than a round-the-clock construction site. Therefore, truck mounted cranes are usually required because the station or track rarely has any suitable unloading equipment, whilst larger delivery vehicles can be inappropriate dependent on the road access and entrance to a site.
Risk management
The procurement process poses considerable threats to a business in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR), brand protection and financial performance. For example, a high profile accident can result in damaging publicity within the media, while missed deadlines can equally impact an organisation’s reputation and affect future business or prospects. In terms of health and safety compliance, Crossrail and
Network Rail both operate a zero tolerance approach to ensure that any company that flouts the rules faces serious consequences and could even be removed from existing and upcoming work. Apparently, there have been examples of
MAY/JUNE 2012 PAGE 27
Richard Wade is the rail sector manager at Keyline, the only heavy building materials provider to the rail industry to achieve the Gold Standard of the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS). This recognises the highest levels of safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility.
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