Why Integrating Our Supply Chain Brings Unique Opportunities

Supply chain management and supply chain integration are important business objectives across many sectors. From manufacturing to fast food, a better-integrated supply chain is a route to greater efficiency, lower costs and repeatable quality.

It’s fair to say that many sectors have made a great deal more progress with supply chain integration than construction. Lack of progress is probably the result of complexity and the fact that construction projects tend to be unique. We are not optimising a supply chain to produce millions of the same thing but a series of one-offs. The product is always different.

This uniqueness and the fact that supply chain partners can have a significant input into what the finished product is, and how it is created. This is where the opportunity comes in.

Relationships Built on Trust

Relationships and trust are clearly critical. The end product may be unique but it doesn’t make sense to build entire new supply chains and ways of working for each project. With longer-term relationships, it makes economic sense for a contractor to invest in the skills and capabilities of its supply chain partners. It also makes sense to invest in tools and processes that make collaboration easy.

Supply chain partners are more than just experts on their part of the process. They also understand how their contribution can be made harder or easier by what happens before they are involved. They also have access to technical knowledge and experience that will be unique to them. If we bring all this together we can create buildings and assets that perform better, last longer and are easier to maintain.

Community Investment

The other advantage of stable supply chain relationships is the fact that subcontractors are often rooted in the communities we serve. They can be important partners when it comes to the social value we seek to deliver through every project.

Osborne is highly committed to our supply chain. Some have been with us and working closely with us for many years. Our selection process looks at both technical competence and culture. We ensure that any new subcontractors can meet the standards of conduct and ethics we expect from our own employees. This provides a consistent and positive customer experience across every project.

Chains are as strong as the weakest link. It’s important for contractors and customers to recognise the value in each element of the supply chain and to invest in the relationships that make each part stronger. Find out more about our Supply Chain Partners here.