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Addressing the
challenges in choosing labelling for both client and contractor
Nick Michaelson, managing director of UK cable labelling manufacturers Silver Fox, argues that both client and contractor must pose themselves the key question ‘What’s in it for me?’ when deciding on the type of labelling to choose.
T
here is little doubt that on many of the upcoming Crossrail contracts and projects,
the labelling of wires and cables will not be high up on the food chain for many of those engineers involved. In a way they are correct, as the budgets for many of these projects will run into the hundreds of millions of pounds, with labelling only taking up a small fraction of these costs.
There is also the misconception that all labels look much the same, with one company just as good as another – or the common British business disease of stating: ‘Well, we’ve always done it this way…’
However, both client and contractor must pose themselves a simple question before making a
decision – that is: ‘What’s in it for me?’
A contractor’s role is to do the job as quickly and effi ciently as possible to a certain quality and standard. The client must maximise quality to minimise any ongoing maintenance. This often leads to confl ict as contractors always like to use who they know.
For example, the client may specify to their contractor that they require ‘Low Smoke, Zero Halogen’ (LS0H) labels. The client will be aware that if the labels have been independently tested and meet all Network Rail approvals then they can be confi dent of both consistent quality and reliability throughout the project – therefore that’s ‘what’s in it for them’. Initially, the contractor may not think that ‘Low Smoke,
Zero Halogen’ is that important, or that the type of testing carried out by the supplier is that vital to them or the project. They just want to get the labels bought and applied. However, on closer inspection, by thinking ‘what’s in it for me?’ during this process, they will know that labelling is the last part of a project, and with a happy client due to the quality and reliability being assured, leads to low site maintenance.
This means the project can be signed off sooner, lead- ing to earlier invoicing.
W:
www.silverfox.co.uk FOR MORE INFORMATION
rail technology magazine Aug/Sep 14 | 127
Nick Michaelson
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