Product category:
Window Systems
News Release from: KEB Fabrications | Subject: Partnering performance
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 15 April 2005
Partnering philosophy in social housing
sector
How one window manufacturer defines partnering performance.
During the Nineties, both Latham and Egan recommended a dramatic change in the way clients, contractors and others in the supply chain, interacted Clients were encouraged to search for quality as part of the procurement process and in return, contractors were expected to deliver efficiencies and better value
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 15 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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All elements of the contract were to be integrated, with high-quality communications, common objectives and benefits.
Within the social housing sector, the Housing Forum launched "Partnering" in December 1999, initially to encourage organisations to work more closely together, either formally or informally.
In due course, with guidance from the "Construction Industry Partnering Task Force", the Association of Consultant Architects launched the first standard form of Project Partnering Contract, PPC 2000.
Further reading
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Lawrence Breakspear, Managing Director of KEB Fabrications, examines the role of the supplier in social housing refurbishment and offers a valuable insight into Partnering and Decent Homes.
KEB announces Gateshead Partnering Agreement
KEB Fabrications Limited has been awarded another major social housing refurbishment project, valued at GBP 1 million a year for The Gateshead Housing Company.
High security as standard
In addition to a comprehensive list of British Standard accreditations, KEB Fabrications has now added a Secured by Design licence to its professional credentials.
The document embraced the recommendations of Egan and Latham and provided a simple, accessible framework for any partnered project.
At its core was the notion that the project was paramount and that this must be the first priority of all the signatories.
PPC 2000 is still widely used in Social Housing Refurbishment allowing Registered Social Landlords to comply with Egan.
The documents requirement for an integrated Project Team allows contractors, suppliers and other interested parties to provide valuable input into design, working practices, supply chain development, risk management, benchmarking and project objectives.
For the client or main contractor, choosing a supply partner is not just a question of locating a product source that can meet the necessary quality and technical specifications.
It is crucial to the project that any company in the supply chain has a fundamental understanding of partnering philosophy.
They must be able to demonstrate best value principles, excellent communication and a commitment to continuously improve products and services.
Typical of the new breed of partnering suppliers is social housing fenestration specialist KEB Fabrications.
Following a number of successful partnering schemes throughout the UK, the company has recently been awarded another major social housing refurbishment project, valued at GBP 1 million a year for Arms Length Management Organisation, The Gateshead Housing Company.
The ALMO is wholly owned by Gateshead Council but acts independently and is responsible for the management and maintenance of more than 23,000 properties throughout Gateshead.
KEB Fabrications has entered into a five-year partnering agreement with main contractor, Frank Haslam Milan and Company Limited to supply and fit replacement windows.
The highly specified windows, manufactured from the Profile 22 Bubblex system and fitted with hardware from Yale and Securistyle, will be used in the refurbishment of more than 9,000 dwellings as part of Gateshead Council's commitment to provide Decent Homes by 2010.
Partnering is often defined in expressions such as qualitative based procurement, cost authentication, client interaction, supply chain management, benchmarking, key performance indicators, continuous improvement in product performance and customer satisfaction.
The reality is that project team members must deliver on these commitments.
For example, one of the ways in which KEB provides Best Value is the company's policy of local recruitment.
Managing Director, Lawrence Breakspear explains, "We routinely employ local labour wherever possible".
"Equipped with local knowledge of the community, our installation teams are able to liaise more closely to meet the needs of householders, minimize disruption and also, knowledge of the local area delivers significant efficiencies in deployment." From this we see that although partnering is about metrics, key performance indicators and benchmarking, it crucially requires a commitment to action by all concerned.
Lawrence Breakspear sums it up "Partnering is a philosophy which can be found in every part of our business, among our staff, our workforce and in our methodology and business systems".
"Ultimately, partnering is about developing a close and constructive working relationship with other organisations, safe in the knowledge that what benefits the team, benefits us all but more importantly, it is about deeds not words.".
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