Two weeks since the last blog. The first month of the new year. Grandson’s second birthday and the start of two weeks annual maintenance. Boris decides to get a grip of things before they slide too far and causes much fluttering in the hen-coop.

Business has been steady as we push to complete the orders that are urgent only because we are about to close for two weeks maintenance work. It is amazing how this annual event always seems to panic our customers despite their inability to forecast their requirements at any other time of the year. We also experienced some unfamiliar demand for rework as two jobs were quarantined for problems outside our control but which may nonetheless tarnish our reputation. Interesting learning experiences though, with non-Newtonian behaviour of suspensions and anomalous dissolution rates of dyes in organic acid. Fortunately we have built in some production activity into the maintenance programme.

The two-shift working consultation is progressing steadily too and it looks as though we have cooperation from nearly all. We have identified how we will endeavour to recoup the extra costs of the arrangement by productivity improvements such as running lines through breaks. I’m not certain how sustainable this will be but it may establish changes in practices that will be of long-term benefit. All being well, we will go live at the beginning of September. The Factory Inspector’s visit was chalked up as a success as she decided that it was unnecessary to write us a letter and was complimentary to our safety rep about our provision for Covid-19  security.

We now need to execute our plans for maintenance and the strategic projects for the rest of the year. With Brexit and the uncertainties that surround the pandemic situation, forecasts of 10% unemployment, rises in inflation and the collapse of retail I can only grimace and hope that a focus on training and productivity improvement will be enough.

The sudden quarantining of travellers returning from Spain and Luxembourg as well as the reimposed restrictions on gatherings in Manchester, Bradford and Kirklees on the day before Eid shows a new decisiveness on the part of Government. It also underlines the volatility of the situation everywhere. Our trip to Grandson’s birthday party had two other purposes including a business one but was probably pushing the boundaries for family groups and this is the problem nationally. Too many boundaries are being pushed.

For the “we mix and pack stuff” business it means a continual risk assessment. What actions do we need to take to mitigate the risk of being unable to fulfil a customer’s order due to Covid?