Images_June_2020_Digital_Edition

www.images-magazine.com 40 images JUNE 2020 Now is the time to start doing things differently Jas Purba, MD of ETC Supplies, explains why there has never been a better time for embroidery business owners to get hands on and start making some simple changes that will help to keep staff safe, cut costs and improve efficiency when the busier times return B usiness closed, no production, no income – what do I do? Unfortunately this is the situation most of us find ourselves in during this crisis. But rather than sit at home and worry, here are some of the things I have done to seek positive opportunities in this time of adversity… As the managing director of the business my daily role is normally office- based or out visiting customers. I have a team of very good people to whom I delegate other jobs and responsibilities. So during this period of uncertainty I decided to give our premises a ‘spring clean’ – not in the physical sense, but more of an inspection. Being alone in the warehouse and factory gave me time to dig into every part of the business to see what could be improved and done better. As the senior managers or owners of your business, now is a good time to do the same – get hands on and start making some changes yourself. Cost savings One of my strengths (or some would say weaknesses) is that I pay a lot of attention to detail. So, I started by going round the warehouse. I noticed many things that needed to change. I won’t list all of them here, but there were some simple things that will make a real difference, such as cleaning areas not often seen or used, improving stock management by re-locating where particular items are stored and making changes to the quantity of stock held, and introducing new, improved stock signage. In the factory, for example, I noticed machines that could do with better cleaning and that some hidden areas (you have to take covers off) were potential fire hazards due to the build up of fibres. This led me to change my risk assessment for these machines. I also became aware of how I could provide better equipment, tools and PPE to my staff and keep them safe. I noticed that we were cutting the size of our largest box down when packing. This was wasting money through additional labour and the cost of larger boxes, so I ordered the correct size of boxes. A simple change like this will help deliver significant cost efficiencies. These are just a few examples of how you could benefit by using the available time now to look into tactical operational fixes in those areas that you wouldn’t normally pay much attention to. We’re all creatures of habit, but in times of change it’s essential to be prepared to view and do things in a different manner. Cost savings are going to be hugely important as we return to work. The economy will have shrunk and, unfortunately, recession is likely. So where cost-cutting measures have previously been rejected by staff – for example, using cheaper thread – why not take this time to re-assess and understand the impact of making small adjustments to processes and whether products that have previously been rejected could, in fact, be made to work perfectly well. Time to learn This leads me to my favourite topic, thread tensions. Now is a good time for you to check the tension on your machine. Do this before you assess whether any new product is working correctly for you. This is something you must feel and stitch out to know if it is correct. As a result of coronavirus, the industry, country and indeed the world will not be the same again. Unfortunately, many companies will not survive this economic downturn and lack of cash flow will lead to closure. Schoolwear suppliers are going to find the return to work especially challenging. We are leading up to your peak production period and your busy sales times are just around the corner. In the past, you may have had queues of customers out of your shops. You will have to change this business model and adopt the supermarket queue system with longer opening hours or, better still, do more business online with a click-and- collect facility. Whatever you decide, use this precious time at home to build your business model of the future. I encourage everyone in the embroidery sector to show solidarity and compassion during this difficult time. It’s important that we come together to support small businesses in order to ensure the survival of our great trade. Don’t bury your head in the sand, just do things differently and better than before. Stay safe and look after your health. INDUSTRY ISSUE