Made for Trade, like most other businesses in the industry, is carefully managing its way back to operation, due to the lock-down measures forced upon the company by the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s a fact that all of us have been adversely affected in the short term and although we predict a challenging path to get back to where we were, only time will tell what shape the future of fenestration manufacturing will take.
During the lockdown and subsequent downturn in product interest, Made for Trade was forced to furlough a large percentage of its workforce. A small team remained working, primarily to keep a close eye on its incoming enquiry activity, but also to plan and risk assess the changes which needed to be made in the workplace to safeguard staff when the time came to bring people back to work.
When the supply chain began to come back online, the company was in good shape to call some staff back to start tackling the backlog and fulfilling all the orders affected by the shut-down.
To its surprise, Made for Trade has been inundated with quotation requests from its current clients and businesses seeking new suppliers in a changed market landscape. The initial flurry was driven by projects that had been paused or delayed, but it does seem that time spent at home, fantastic weather and possibly little use for the holiday savings, means that many homeowners have been thinking about home extensions and developments.
The ongoing restrictions of social distancing and process controls does create challenges for the company, and its usual lead times are, as a result, still compromised as physically the business cannot have sufficient staff working together to deliver the numbers we usually produce.
Although not yet at 100%, Made for Trade’s recent move to larger premises has helped with keeping people apart, and it does intend to develop strategies with seating and shift patterns to ensure these lead times come back in line to its normal service, whilst doing all it can to protect its employees.
Clients and customers are being very understanding and appreciate that the company is delivering as soon as it possibly can under the current restrictions.
Product development is one area of the business which has continued “as usual”, and its continued investment in engineering and innovation within the industry will keep Made For Trade delivering the best products, with the best service, at the best prices – despite the market challenges it may face.
