VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
PUTTING COLLABORATION BACK INTO REMOTE WORKING With the rise of home working and virtual meetings, the way we work and interact with our colleagues, customers and suppliers has changed dramatically over the last year. We may still need to keep our distance, but as Andrew Cooper – National Specification Manager for aluminium fenestration solutions manufacturer Senior Architectural Systems – explains, close collaboration within the supply chain has never been more important. SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
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ANDREW COOPER IS NATIONAL SPECIFICATION MANAGER FOR SENIOR ARCHITECTURAL SYSTEMS
lthough the construction industry was never in full lockdown like other industries, with essential projects and manufacturing continuing throughout, it is fair to say that it has been far from business as normal since the outbreak of COVID-19. With any construction project, work begins way ahead of getting on site, and those early conversations around product specification, performance and compliance are critical. With many office-based teams displaced and forced to adapt to a more isolated and remote way of working, we may not have been able to have as many face-to-face meetings as usual, but that has not stopped us from being on hand to support our customers. Much more than just a buzzword, supply chain collaboration offers real, tangible benefits – so how can product manufacturers assist specifiers in these challenging times?
A clearer view With so much uncertainty, not least following the UK’s departure from the EU trading bloc, maintaining regular communication with architects, main contractors and fabricators is essential. As we are a UK-based manufacturer, we have greater control than most, but it’s still important that we regularly update and advise our customers about any potential changes in terms of product availability, price points and deliveries. We can also provide access to a number of different resources, from detailed product information and technical datasheets, to relevant testing and certification documentation. We’ve always tried to work as an extension of our customer’s in-house team, and that ethos certainly hasn’t changed, even if the location and style of our meetings have. FC&A – MAY – 2021
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Proactive planning Providing information is one thing, but working together to apply it to meet the individual requirements of a project is another. The advantage of early supplier involvement can’t be underestimated, as it provides the perfect forum for manufacturers to contribute specialist knowledge and facilitates an environment in which innovation and problem-solving can thrive. If a project has already been designed before all the options have been considered, it follows that many vital opportunities for reducing risk, time and costs could be missed. One of the greatest plus points for supply chain collaboration is that it can bridge the gap between design and delivery so that the completed scheme performs and looks as originally intended. Early engagement with manufacturers, who are of course well placed to advise how products can be used most effectively, can help to highlight any potential risks prior to work commencing on site and reduce the likelihood of expensive and time-consuming redesigns when these problems resurface later on. In terms of designing and delivering the building envelope, tapping into the manufacturer’s extensive product knowledge can be vital in ensuring that all the different interfaces, such as curtain walling and cladding, work together
