Using risk management to enhance profitability

Purchasing critical products or parts from Asia purely based on price can lead to a catastrophic hit to profit when things go wrong.

If you do not have the goods, how can you make a sale?

Managing risk should be at the core of every business. The COVID-19 crisis has not only identified serious supply chain risks, it has highlighted many other risks that Australian businesses are exposed to by relying on Asia for imported goods.

We have seen some supply chains completely shut down, with many factories in Asia having remained closed since the Lunar New Year. This has not only caused major disruption to supply chains right now but will continue to cause huge delays into the foreseeable future.

Does your business understand risk versus return?

Incorrectly, some Australian businesses make decisions predominantly on price.

What is often not understood are all the risks and myriad of hidden costs associated with the entire process of importing, particularly when the product is a high-value asset or safety-critical.

The risk most focussed on is the exchange rate. This is easily identified as it has a direct and immediate impact. Unfortunately, when the global economy experiences a crisis, the exchange rate hit can become even more volatile and costly than in normal trading periods.

What many importers often fail to fully understand are the hidden costs. Some of these costs are:

• The risk of non-compliance with relevant standards, safety and design rules together with the wide-ranging impact that poor quality has throughout their business.
• If a product failure was to occur, resulting in injury or even death, the Australian directors and employees are personally liable for criminal penalties.
• Importing poor quality products has a direct impact on productivity, profit and brand reputation.
• Lengthy time delays and the costs associated with reworking errors or writing off non-complying rejects.
• Time lost on communication difficulties with Asian suppliers including design or specification issues and misinterpretations.
• Having additional local quality inspection processes to compensate is costly and time-consuming.

If something goes wrong, who do you take legal action against?

It is next to impossible to sue someone over international legal jurisdictions, in particular when dealing with Asia. An Asian supplier cannot be joined in criminal or civil proceedings here in Australia. You and your business are left with all the risks.

Is buying from Asia a false economy?

Holding larger inventory levels to compensate for delays, failed deliveries or quality concerns is one way to reduce some of the risks. However, this causes a negative impact on cashflow in these uncertain times where cash reserves are critical to sustaining businesses. The interest charged on your additional finance facilities is another hidden cost of larger working capital.

Can your business control the international geopolitical landscape?

Of course not. Unfortunately, Asia of recent times has become a real hotbed of tensions.

There are majors concerns in respect to the possible shutdown of major shipping lanes and the rising conflict over China’s claims to the South China Sea. The South China Sea has large reserves of untapped oil and natural gas. The situation has antagonised many competing claimants including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Any flare-up could completely close these critical shipping routes. Also, the ongoing disputes with Taiwan and Hong Kong, together with North and South Korea, are of significant concern. There is also the constant threat of trade wars and military action by the USA.

Closer to home, Australian wharves have a history of major disruption due to industrial relations issues. Any change to Industrial Relations Law could again trigger long pickets which would undoubtedly slow or even halt the movements at all major Australian ports.

Using risk management to enhance your profitability

Understanding that without the proper analysis of price versus risk, there are many hidden costs associated with importing. These costs will, directly and indirectly, affect businesses and cause a loss of profits.

It can actually be a false economy to buy important products and parts from Asia.

Spreading risk by having two suppliers, one in Australia and one in Asia, is another strategy for risk minimisation and profit enhancement that can be considered.

Why Townley?

As a trusted Australian manufacturer for over 100 years, we can shore up your supply line and enhance your profitability.

There will be no hidden costs or time wasted. We will even hold stock for you.

Townley are experts in design, manufacture and testing of forged products to exacting standards.

In addition to lifting and rigging components, Townley offers a custom forging service and can work collaboratively with you to enhance your designs and specifications. With access to our expertise in metallurgy and heat treatment methods, we also provide in-house NATA mechanical testing to ensure design specifications or relevant Australian Standards are met.

Our team also provides marketing, warehouse and distribution solutions so that you can concentrate your efforts on engineering, design and your own business initiatives.

Support Australian manufacturing.

To discuss your custom requirements, call Townley on 1300 869 653 or complete our online enquiry form.