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Vol 29 - No 04 - June 2003 News & views: National Federation of Builders Event Review : Regional Conference Thursday 10th April 2003 at JJB Stadium, Wigan ‘Reconstructing the Supply Chain’ The National Federation of Builders subscribed the help of Institute of Operations Management (IOM) and Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) speakers for their west conference in April, which exceeded expectations, attracting over sixty attendees. The one day conference, ‘Reconstructing the Supply Chain’, delivered practical advice to organisations in building and construction sectors, on the major changes taking place within procurement in both the public and private sectors. Supply chains cannot be taken for granted as major clients are substantially reducing their supplier base. Indeed, Local Authorities are actively reducing their client bases by up to 90%. Keynote speakers were Nick Lawrence of Barclays Solutions (IOM) and John Birch, Supply Chain Director at Business Advantage, (IOM) and (CIPS). Other speakers were Canute Simpson, Construction Best Practice Programme and David Morgan, The Manufacturing & Logistics Group (IOM). The workshop-supported conference inspired attendees (ranging from small house builders and quantity surveyors to large contractors and architects) to be innovative in looking at their business processes and then to extend this learning into innovating their supply chain – itself a complex thread of processes starting at client and filtering down through to the smallest of sub-contractors. Nick Lawrence gave an inspiring opening session on process innovation, demonstrating how a house could be built in record breaking time – and proved it to awestruck onlookers. John Birch helped in summarising the day’s work, showing how organisations can look at the changes in the industry as opportunities, rather than threats, by positioning themselves to participate in ‘best practice’ programmes, build their own supply ‘clusters’ and by being proactive in showing prospective clients that they are serious about adding value, improving quality, reducing costs and ensuring on time delivery in the supply chains of future projects. Organiser Denise Barry, Regional Services Manager at NFB, said that with the support of Bolton & Bury Chamber of Commerce, the event “exceeded my expectations …Business Advantage and NFB made a good team.” John Birch, MIOM, North Manchester Chambers of Commerce Related Topics:
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