Trying to untangle the supply chain network
The International Marine Purchasing Association has launched IMPA ACT, an initiative that will bring maritime industry stakeholders together to implement a minimum set of standards for supply chain management. Although in its infancy, there are obvious benefits of such a project for a superyacht supply chain network that has been labelled disparate in the past.…
The superyacht industry supply chain is historically characterised by its complex network and its protracted nature. And although IMPA ACT’s initial focus has been recruiting commercial shipping members, programme manager, Tatiana Stotz says the superyacht industry has a valuable role to play in its future, while reaping simultaneous benefits from its aims.
“The thing that really benefits the relationship between the buyers and suppliers is that the buyers will also try and adopt the same principles that the suppliers are being asked to adopt”, she explains. “It’s a different approach to the traditional top-down approach to supply chain management; it’s much more collaborative.”
The focus of the initiative is not the auditing of suppliers but instilling a culture of due diligence and risk management for a sector that is both diverse and populated by small enterprises. Stotz says it will effectively act as a tool to help these businesses identify the gaps in their internal processes to improve their performance.
While the supply chain is the target of the initiative, for the superyacht sector at least, it will be the yards and managers who have the greatest power of advocacy. By supporting IMPA ACT, they will necessitate the need for suppliers to adopt this code in order to remain commercially competitive, once they have been audited and awarded IMPA ACT-endorsed supplier status.
“The issue has been time and cost of auditing one’s own company; it’s been too much for a single company to take on by itself”, Stotz says. “So there’s a real incentive for an industry standard, and a preference from the suppliers to go through this standard once…and that saves them time in the long-run.”
The project is still in its infancy, so the focus remains shipping, and this has meant the recruitment of Singapore-based Thome Ship Management. Commenting on the initiative Thome’s procurement and supply chian manager, Ryan Dalgado said, “Thome is deeply committed to a responsible business approach, which includes zero accidents and zero pollution alongside sustainable business growth. The IMPA ACT programme fits perfectly within our vision and mission.”
This year's Global Superyacht Forum (17-19 November) will adopt an unprecedented focus on the lessons that the superyacht industry can take from other sectors, inviting key figures to share their thoughts, whilst evaluating the efficacy of initiatives and projects with similar aims to IMPA ACT.
To register your place at this year's very special 20th anniversary edition of GSF, please contact Suzie on suzie@thesuperyachtgroup.com or call her direct on +44 207 801 1014. Full details of this year's programme can be found on the website.
The Global Superyacht Forum 2014 is sponsored by: Awlgrip, Caterpillar, Cathelco, Cayman Registry, Clyde & Co., MTN, Palladium Technologies, R&Q Marine Services (Yachtsure24) and Struik & Hamerslag.
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