Lean and Mean
Business efficiency, in its most simple terms, is about minimising waste and maximising value.
Working with partners in its supply chain, Girvan Early Growers is continually looking for ways to reduce the levels of waste across the chain, whilst at the same time improving the overall quality of the product. All parties contribute to this process and the financial benefits that accrue can be substantial.
An improvement in product quality has been achieved through the use of better agronomy techniques, better equipment (that could not have been afforded by individual companies in the chain), coupled with improved IT systems. This has led to fewer rejections, better prices and, therefore, increased revenue.
The Edrington Group and Highland Grain evaluate their performance against others through a benchmarking tool available from the Home Grown Cereals Authority, called PROBE (Promoting Business Excellence). Application of this management tool led to the identification of an opportunity to purchase barley tailored to Tamdhu Maltings requirements.
Following barley deliveries, the performance of the crop in the maltings and the distillery was discussed. This feedback resulted in a new database of knowledge spanning the entire malting and distillation process and the specification of the barley was further refined and developed.
Delivering this specification requires careful management from Highland Grain and they have developed a system that supplies what the Edrington Group need.
For a specialist company like Coldwater Shellfish, business survival is the starting point for measuring success. In this supply chain, it is achieved by ensuring that the industry remains competitive by encouraging everyone in the chain to maximise the quality potential of the raw material resource.
Key point from this case study:
- Chains investing in technology and research, for example, and which communicate effectively, can improve efficiency and quality
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