None of us can predict for certain what the supply chain of the future will look like, yet we all have to plan for future changes to make sure our businesses move forward in step with the world around us.
For NorSea UK, the key to looking ahead has been found in proactively shaping our single layer supply chain rather than ad hoc reactionary measures and it is an ethos which continues to stand us in good stead as we navigate the choppy waters on the journey towards finding the much talked about “new normal.”
During the past few months, the time and effort we have already invested in creating a local supply chain has truly reaped rewards in myriad ways.
At our locations in Aberdeen and Peterhead, the offering may differ but the common thread is an emphasis on operating as a seamless extension to the client’s supply chain. What we do, we do well by using our own expertise or hiring in capable and trusted partners to get the whole job done.
We pride ourselves on being well enough connected to find the right solutions when our clients need them, creating a vertically integrated supply chain which positions us as the facilitator of a one-stop shop. It is that sharp focus on where our strength lies which makes us agile, responsive and project-driven to get the job done quicker.
Often, the pieces a client needs to complete the project jigsaw lie immediately around them in the local community and that is particularly true when it comes to people. In Peterhead, for example, contract staff are recruited from within the area thus minimising the need to travel and creating local work for local people. They are people we call on regularly and whom we know and trust.
They all operate to levels of competency laid down by us and our carefully chosen partners, so they really can hit the ground running. By keeping our people local, the supply chain is harder to disrupt and our clients know they can rely on us.
However, at the heart of finding the right solution to any challenge and the crux of shaping the supply chain is knowledge and it is imperative to enhance that knowledge by having one eye on the world around your business – especially internationally. NorSea UK is especially fortunate on that front due to our Scandinavian parentage and a recent regionalisation strategy has provided the ideal platform for sharing ideas and best practice, particularly when it comes to creating a flat supply chain.
The creation of this partner network ensures that we team up with like-minded businesses who share the same high standards with regard to safety, sustainability, efficiency and high service levels. Add to the mix a shared “get the job done attitude” which acknowledges challenges and looks for solutions, and it really does work.
These steps and the constant strengthening of the partner network have also been a catalyst for growth, not least in winning the company’s biggest ever piece of work – a ten-year base contract which builds on a relationship stretching back to 1974 with a global operator and which is worth more than £121 million. Whilst the project is located in Denmark, it will also positively impact on NorSea UK because we operate within the same region and can use the experience harvested in deals such as this to further capitalise on market opportunities.
So back to that question of what the supply chain will look like? My advice is that you shouldn’t wait to find out – take the initiative and find nimble solutions which will be applicable no matter what the future holds for your business.
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