INNOVATION
One Size Does Not Fit All
There are many tried and tested ways to solve problems but, sometimes, forcing an existing approach or solution, while improving the task at hand, somehow does not suffice.
Sometimes, there isn’t an existing model to draw from, or the unique issue is company or situation specific, requiring a unique or fresh approach. 5C is about providing what best fits a client’s need. Often, we will help develop or facilitate variations of existing best practice solutions but we also understand that sometimes a new solution, unique to the issues at hand, is required.
We work with clients’ teams to bring additional expertise as required to build a solution that is not only elegant but practical for the business.
We can develop a unique response to unique needs by coupling our brand of ‘open to anything’ with the knowledge and collective imagination of people within a company.
“He was our team leader in terms of conceptual design and product functionality. He pushed us all to think beyond just meeting project goals and to instead provide leading edge technical solutions. I would certainly look forward to working with him again”
-Chris Aman, Director at PowerAdvocate
5C has over the years proudly developed innovative solutions to many problems, for different clients in different industries.
A few examples of innovative approaches developed by 5C Contracts Ltd:
COMMODITY HUB
Initially designed for a medium sized company experiencing logistics, quality, schedule, technical start up and operating issues with 12 major components. This approach provides a focused, cradle to grave ownership based solution to controlling areas of spend and high risk; keeps overhead costs to a minimum and improves integration within the differing business units and functions.
The commodity hub can be adopted equally for materials, equipment and services. Any size of business in any industry or location with a proportionally large area spend, or high risk business critical commodities, can benefit.
EVERGREENING
EVERGREENING
Not necessarily an innovation, except in the manner in which it is managed. Businesses can adopt an evergreen approach to:
- drive product and service innovation
- remove costs
- reduce lead time
- minimize internal resource demand in acquiring the product or service
- improve cost certainty during estimating or budget planning
- reduce risk
- increase quality
- reduce safety incidents
- manage market influence/pressure
In general; increase the value created and retained.
COMPETITIVE TENSION
Where companies have similar scopes or needs on a regular basis, essentially repeat work, this is one of 5C’s favourite solutions.
Based on a performance only approach, it can be the basis of entering into an evergreen relationship, either as the sole provider or on a permanent competitive tension basis.
A cornerstone of competitive tension is utilising the natural human competitive spirit that drives all of us, and by extension every business. This is not competition in the traditional sense, more fostering and harnessing the desire to be better than your competitors in all aspects of delivery.
VERTICAL RISK SHARING
Creating a direct relationship between identification of risk money accounted for within contractor’s bids and the mitigation requirements needed to avoid those risks, and therefore the costs, can yield surprising additional financial benefits to the client, while ensuring no additional risk to the contractors. A rare, true “win-win” outcome.
This approach requires an appreciation of the General Contractor role and sub-contractor role. Our job is to help define and clarify the differences and how they affect strategy.
LOWEST COST CUSTOMER
Not an innovation, more of a philosophy. Once understood, it becomes a “Eureka” moment, purely common sense and alarmingly obvious in its simplistic concept with potentially exceptional rewards. However, with over 40 years experience, the effort is not underestimated. This approach has made smaller companies more attractive than larger companies for contractors or suppliers to deal with. Becoming the lowest cost customer generates increased attention, enhanced production allocation, reduced lead times, improved safety & quality and many more benefits not least of which includes direct cost benefits.
To find out more about these and other innovative approaches, or to discuss your unique issues that are not being served by standard practices, contact us by filling in the contact form below.