Overview
Pilkington is an international manufacturer of glass and glazing products. Through pioneering technology and innovation they produced the world's first self-cleaning glass and are renowned as leaders in the global Flat Glass industry. The company was founded in 1826 and became a member of the NSG group in June 2006, which has manufacturing operations in 27 countries and sells its products in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Testimonial
"The companywide introduction of de Poel's tried and tested software solution has made a huge difference to the way in which we manage and pay our agencies.
Not only has e-tips® successfully condensed the amount of agency invoices and timesheets processed to just one per week, but it has improved administrative efficiency and considerably enhanced visibility and control over our contingent workforce spend. The extensive range of real time management information delivered by the system has already proved invaluable for analysing staff usage and seasonal trends as well as budgeting for future usage.
We are so impressed with e-tips® and the overall cost savings delivered by de Poel that we are looking at extending this to a further three areas of the business."
Case Study
Client:
Pilkington is an international manufacturer of glass and glazing products. Through pioneering technology and innovation they produced the world's first self-cleaning glass and are renowned as leaders in the global Flat Glass industry. The company was founded in 1826 and became a member of the NSG group in June 2006, which has manufacturing operations in 27 countries and sells its products in more than 130 countries worldwide.
Client's issue/s:
£3m annual spend on their contingent workforce throughout the UK. Approximately 1,700 invoices processed each year, resulting in considerable administration and escalating costs and highlighting a need for improved process efficiency. 32 different agencies supplying drivers and manufacturing staff across the company's 24 sites, all operating under their own terms and conditions and charging variable rates. Pilkington wanted access to an innovative system which would provide a full range of real time management information and increase their visibility and control over agency spend and staff usage
Solution
Create and apply standard service agreements to ensure uniformity across Pilkington's supply base. Agree and establish formal cost structure to reduce annual contingent spend. Condense the number of timesheets and invoices processed, improve efficiency and enhance visibility of staff usage and spend through the installation of a tried and tested software system.
Approach
In line with Pilkington's mission statement, form a strategic partnership with a forward thinking and innovative consultant who will assist with the management of their contingent workforce and implement a bespoke solution to deliver the desired cost savings, process efficiencies and management information.
Implementation
Firstly de Poel undertook a full analysis of Pilkington's 24 sites and their current suppliers to verify agency usage and temporary spend. With this information they were then able to propose a new fixed cost and charge structure and set their legal team the task of drawing up revised service agreements.
In order to ensure that existing agencies were briefed on the impending changes Pilkington's newly appointed de Poel Account Manager conducted a series of presentations across the country. With all of Pilkington's suppliers keen to continue supplying staff de Poel took the decision to maintain all 32 agencies. In addition to this Pilkington was given access to de Poel's panel of Gold Standard Agencies, selected for their ability to supply staff and history of delivering good service to de Poel clients.
de Poel's e-tips® timesheet and invoice system was then installed simultaneously at all 24 sites and at each agency branch to significantly reduce the number of invoices processed and deliver noticeable cost savings.
Results
- 4% net savings delivered on contingent workforce spend.
- Agencies now operating under fixed service agreements, bringing uniformity across the country and protecting Pilkington from legal exposure.
- Invoices reduced from 1,700 each year to just 52 courtesy of de Poel's e-tips® system.
- e-tips® has considerably enhanced Pilkington's visibility and control over agency spend and provided tangible management information.
- 99% compliance achieved, indicating only minor out of panel spend, with 100% expected in the near future.
Pilkington has been so impressed with the savings delivered that they are now looking at extending this to another three of their divisions and are investigating the viability of implementing PermPortTM, de Poel's web based permanent recruitment management system.
