Sept 2024 International Blog – How to Improve Safety and Health in Global Supply Chains
Starting with Quality management
The UK company I once worked for manufactured components for a Japanese multinational. Our early prototypes were, however, returned to us with twenty A4 pages of non-conformances listed.
We then gave it everything we had, and submitted more prototypes made to the best of our ability - which were rejected with “only” four pages of non-conformances. When we pointed out that we had now made the components to higher quality standards than their own suppliers in Japan, the polite response was: “So?”.
The point here is that “good enough” wasn’t good enough for the Japanese. They wanted components to be the best they possibly could. My company took this lesson to heart and made step-changes in its quality processes.
What if you could apply this to health & safety?
You can see from the above how best quality practice from a Japanese multinational fed down its supply chain to the UK. It wasn’t at all unusual for us to see Japanese engineers wearing impeccably white overalls visiting our factories to check on quality standards – whilst freely imparting their own tips/ideas.
To live up to Japanese standards, we in turn needed better quality raw materials from our own suppliers so – you’ve guessed this already – we had to insist they raised their game too.
With just-in-time manufacturing systems, no-one can afford for a serious accident to hold up supply chains. When my previous employer’s quality engineers visited raw material suppliers, they therefore looked not only at quality processes, but health & safety too.
Indeed, I would occasionally be asked to visit a dingy, seemingly dangerous workplace to give a supplier, in effect, free H&S consultancy. I didn’t mind in the least, since I’ve long considered it a responsibility of larger companies to give a leg-up to medium-sized enterprises, and for medium-sized enterprises to assist smaller businesses etc.
Ethical sourcing needs to be considered too. How often have you heard of an otherwise respectable retailer’s reputation besmirched because of dubious labour practices found higher up the supply chain?
Arinite to the rescue
There are several key strategies companies can employ to improve health and safety within their supply chain:
- Thorough risk assessments: Regularly evaluate potential health and safety hazards at each stage of the supply chain. If the supplier’s country legislation falls short of international H&S standards, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights.
- Establish clear standards: Publish comprehensive health and safety guidelines for suppliers and partners to follow.
- Supplier audits: Perform regular audits to ensure compliance with established standards.
- Training programmes: Offer health and safety training for managers down the supply chain.
- Technology implementation: Utilise safety management software and monitoring systems to track incidents and identify areas for improvement.
- Collaboration: Work closely with suppliers to address issues and share best practices.
- Transparency: Promote open communication about health and safety performance throughout the supply chain.
- Incentivise safety: Reward suppliers and partners who consistently meet or exceed safety standards.
- Continuous improvement: Regularly review and update health and safety protocols based on new information and changing conditions.
- Extended responsibility: Take accountability for health and safety beyond immediate suppliers to include sub-suppliers and contractors.
Further reading
Arinite clients appreciate we provide practical, no-nonsense advice about what you need to do to establish and maintain a safe and healthy working environment.
Our team of health and safety consultants take pride in keeping health and safety simple.
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