Stop taking risks and increase business
June 1st 2008 Coupled with the everincreasing
importance of
'just-in-time' deliveries and
the need to balance risks
and costs, Hertfordshire
based Fleet Risk Profiler
believes that reducing fleet
risks enterprise-wide is a
business essential.
"We believe that
thousands of organisations
are not taking advantage of
their opportunities to
identify and assess their
total risks and implement
solutions that enhance the
management of their total
fleet and related operations,
thereby achieving
competitive advantage,"
says John Stevens,
managing director.
"The growth of internet
shopping has created a
demand for instant
customer fulfilment. This
has resulted in huge
pressure on commercial
transport operations as
they rise to the 24/7
challenge of delivering
goods.
"The increase in delivery
journeys puts added
pressure on businesses and
their total
operations and
has created
huge risks that
must be
managed
enterprise-wide."
In addition to
risks within their
own direct
operations,
organisations
increasing rely
on extensive
support from
supply chain
partners. While
the parent
organisation
does not have a
legal 'duty of
care' under the
new Corporate
Manslaughter and
Homicide Act, the activities
of supply chain partners – if
not under control – can
create significant risks and
affect the customer
fulfilment of the parent
organisation.
Organisations that have a
comprehensive and
effective risk management
strategy at all levels that
cover complete operations,
have little cause to worry.
However, too many
businesses have taken a
piecemeal approach to risk
and have assessed only a
single area of their
operation, for example
drivers, whereas risks arise
right across their
organisation and supply
chain.
As a result, says Stevens:
"Organisations must
conduct an in-depth risk
analysis across their entire
organisation and then
create and implement an
organisation-wide fleet risk
management system. Illprepared
businesses that
have failed to conduct a
comprehensive risk analysis
and put in place measures
to reduce their risk
exposures and costs will not
be taking full advantage of
the commercial
opportunities available to
them and could face fines
running into millions of
pounds, reams of unwanted
publicity and remedial
orders in the event of a fatal
crash."
Boards of directors and
senior managers often treat
fleet operations as a
Cinderella subject, but as
businesses strive for
improved efficiencies and
competitive advantage, the
need to identify and reduce
risks across the whole of
their operations should turn
that view on its head.
More information can be
found on the Fleet Risk
Profiler's website
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