Scalable system that provides adequate guidance for management and supervision
With a greater number of businesses becoming lean we are seeing a growing trend toward outsourcing maintenance and specialist activities to contractors. With this trend brings additional hazards relating to familiarisation with systems, processes and company standards/requirements.
Some key considerations were captured along the way from working with our clients tp produce a contractor management system that:
- is relevant to the nature and type of work being performed
- considers and addresses the risks
- is scalable to suit organisational growth
- delivers an end to end perspective
- provides adequate guidance for managers and supervisors
We have documented a scalable contractor management system involving ten primary elements:
- Procurement
- Scope of Work
- Due Diligence
- Engagement
- Induction and Training
- Work Coordination
- Work Authorisation
- Supervision
- Performance and Accountability
- Communication and Consultation
In a nutshell there are two risk perspectives when engaging and managing contractors:
- The risks the business has that will affect the contractor.
- The risks the contractor is introducing to the business.
An efficient Contractor Management system has a mechanism for identifying and communicating risk with the contractors. The following diagram portrays the risk areas and shows a delineation between the obligations of each Person in Control of a Business or Undertaking.
With a systematic method for identifying risks within the primary risk areas (Workplace, Plant, People, Process, Productivity), the supervisers, managers or workers can communicate effectively and efficiently with the contracted workers.
