Roofline Roundup

The Roofline Roundup column has already started to fire readers into action. A frustrated roofline installation company contacted us about time – and money - lost on site through incorrect deliveries. Poor quality control and packaging right at the top of the supply chain i.e. the manufacturers are at the root of many of the problems he is experiencing. Getting it wrong at the top can impact downstream on stockists and installers.

 The state of packaging is important especially on delivery to the stockist. If it’s ripped, wet and dirty or the label is illegible or even missing, it makes it difficult to put it in the correct racks. It also makes it hard to check against the delivery note that the product is what it should be. Wet and dirty boards mean wet and dirty clothing too, especially on the shoulder used for carrying.

 It’s not hard to see the implications of this on the installer. Many installers use stockists as warehousing facilities and carry few spare boards. This means they rely on just in time, correct deliveries to site. An incorrect delivery can stop an installation. When installers have ripped off the old wooden boards leaving rafters exposed, it is not a good time to find out the delivered boards are blue white rather than the warm white they ordered, or 225mm when 250mm is required. The installer’s problem is then rebounded back to the stockist who has to redeliver the correct board onsite, costing him time and money too.

 ken Davies comments, “Mistakes on delivery can be reduced if packaging and labelling is clean on leaving the manufacturer. An easy way to keep packaging clean is to store it inside. It is protected from rain, dirt, dust and traffic film that affect the packaging and labels. Manufacturers, like Everwhite, who take this and other simple steps, like lining stillages with cardboard, can really impact on the bottom line of everyone in the supply chain.”

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