Carl Dean, Engineering Director at PCML
“With the impact of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak being felt by businesses around the world, all businesses have a duty of care to its staff welfare and reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 whilst simultaneously limiting the disruption to production to ensure customer satisfaction is retained” says Nadine Bishop, Managing Director, PCML. “
Consequently we have invested considerable time and energy in developing our plans on how to deal with the threat of COVID-19”
To address the ongoing concerns PCML has developed an 8-point plan, which focuses on:
- Prevention
- Consulting with employees
- Planning for absenteeism
- Planning and preparing for home working
- Review of critical supply chains
- Dealing With an Emergency
- Testing the Business Continuity Plan
- Keep the plan updated
PCML as a Strategic Supplier
“Not since the second world war have we seen manufacturers called to arms by the Government ” says Carl Dean, Engineering Director.
PCML is the leading supplier of machining and subcontract fabrication services in the South Fens. PCML has a significant presence as a manufacturing partner to the Cambridge Bio-Tech, scientific testing and medical equipment community (currently c.50% of revenue). In particular, PCML has competencies in making the equipment used for antibody bioreactors, biological sample collection and surgical robotics.
The relevant services that will be required include:
- Product Design Consultancy and Precision Engineering
- Multi-tier supplier management with one-stop shop manufacturing and assembly, Testing & inspection
- Daily delivery of high level kits of parts – with perfect quality, clean & ready to use
- Consignment stock managed off site by supplier
- Offer of Value/Performance proposition that is competitive with offshore suppliers
- World Class operational efficiency
- Available manufacturing capacity to support new product development and batch manufacturing
PCML anticipate minimal disruption to their business operations.
“We consider ourselves perfectly positioned to answer the Health Secretary’s call to arms for a drive to build the ventilators and other equipment the NHS will need”. Says Paul Blanchflower, Production Director.
PCML has implemented a detailed business continuity protocol and anticipate they will be able to maintain normal business continuity throughout the current situation. In particular:
- PCML has initiated and will be continuing thorough, daily clean-downs of all sites and sanitizing all machine tools and delivery vans, and have implemented a no attendance policy for employees who are ill.
- PCML’s multi-site operations across five locations ensures redundant manufacturing capacity and reduces risk of the business disruption from problems at just one location.
- In conjunction with this, Fastnet.nc enables mission-critical deliveries for customers who may be faced with a LINE STOP and need a part to be replaced or repaired at short notice.
- A number of customers with foreign supply chains are experiencing difficulties due to travel restrictions and have started to approach PCML to assist with on-shoring of critical components.
- By comparison, PCML have a localised supply chain ensuring no impact to accessing raw materials
- Smart Innovations enables PCML management to manage the business remotely and flex capacity to another location
Finally according to Nadine Bishop “We know COVID-19 is spreading across the UK and we know the outbreak will eventually retreat but, we don’t know yet how fast this will happen. It is vitally important we do all we can to the protect all our stakeholders .One thing is for sure, We do know the UK has a history of navigating through economic climates and we at PCML are ready to play our part in supporting the government in beating this malevolent virus”
