The Situation
A. Steadman and Son (Steadman’s), part of the leading specialist building distributor SIG Trading Ltd, is a major supplier of steel cladding and roofing to the construction and agricultural industries.
With the focus on responsible sourcing gaining momentum in the construction sector, Stedman’s wanted to be able to assure its customers that Steadman’s are sourcing its materials responsibly from a social, ethical and environmental perspective.
Our Solutions
Anthesis was engaged by Steadman’s to support the organisation on its journey to achieve BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing certification, a standard which would complement their existing quality systems.
Anthesis conducted a site visit to the Steadman’s site in Carlisle, Cumbria to undertake a gap analysis. This ‘mock’ site audit identified the level of readiness for a formal BES 6001 audit, as well as areas where additional evidence of responsible sourcing would be required. Following the implementation of our recommendations, our certification partner Intertek, a trusted provider of quality and safety services for leading brands and companies, independently audited Steadman’s responsible sourcing operations according to BES 6001.
Key services included:
- Trusted advisor and guidance role throughout the whole certification process.
- BES 6001 gap analysis.
- Site visit and mock audit.
- Recommendations to maximise BES 6001 responsible sourcing score.
- Recommendations for improvement opportunities beyond of BES 6001, to formalise and improve Steadman’s approach, processes and procedures around issues such as procurement practices, supply chain, transport emissions, life cycle assessment, and engagement with local communities.
Impacts of the Project
The findings of our investigation were delivered to the organisation in a presentation and a short report with some accompanying materials. The emphasis of all deliverables was on giving Steadman’s practical implementation guidance and hands-on information which would help them fine-tune their responsible sourcing activities, not just for the purposes of passing the BES 6001 audit but to enable Steadman’s to make operational efficiencies which will ultimately contribute to their overall business objectives.
Within two months of contracting Anthesis, Steadman’s were audited by Intertek and successfully achieved a ‘Good’ rating in BES 6001 Framework Standard for Responsible Sourcing certification, a score which recognised that the company is excelling in particular assessment areas. Their certification scope covers the three main product categories Steadman’s produces: galvanised products, composite panels and pre-paint steel products.
The company is now approaching its supply chain sustainability program as an integrated process and has established connectivity and efficiencies across the teams who collect sourcing data, with ambitious improvement plans in place to build on their current score in future years. By going beyond the basic scope of BES 6001 requirements, Steadman’s is considering a broader portfolio of business resilience issues, e.g. upcoming supply chain risks, and giving their organisation a higher level of differentiation in the marketplace.
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