onesteel Connecting with suppliers and stakeholders
second Town Hall in Whyalla
OneSteel’s Procurement Team has conducted another groundbreaking Town Hall stakeholder event in Whyalla.
Following a similar event in August last year, that attracted more than 50 service providers, the OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (OneSteel) Procurement Team this time played host to more than 80 goods and material supply companies at the Westland Hotel in Whyalla during November.
This most recent event saw representatives from major overseas and interstate goods and materials suppliers to discuss partnerships with OneSteel that represent more than half a billion dollars in trade.
Also present were many Whyalla suppliers as they too connected with their respective OneSteel category managers while also rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest companies in the Industry.
It was an energising experience for the procurement team to be able to talk to these suppliers with a positive lens on the business, both now and long into the future
OneSteel Head of Procurement Lachlan McOmish
OneSteel Head of Procurement Lachlan McOmish said that, like the first Town Hall for service suppliers, the goods and services meeting was an outstanding success and a real breakthrough moment for OneSteel and all the stakeholders present.
“We had major companies there that supply critical alloys, gases and hydrocarbons, refractories, heavy mining machinery, lifting equipment, engineered and fabricated products along with our local partners who supply everything from stationary to Complex Fabricated products,” Lachlan said.
“To have that many stakeholders in the room together was amazing and sent a clear message that we are open for business and have a serious supply chain that needs to be serviced and managed.
“We work in a volatile and competitive market, so to be able to reach out this way to so many stakeholders has far-reaching benefits and real positives for our business.”
OneSteel procurement Category Managers made presentations while the State Government’s Whyalla Regional Coordinator and SA Industry Advocate, John Chapman OAM also spoke to the gathering before it moved into an informal meet and mingle phase.
To have that many stakeholders in the room together was amazing and sent a clear message that we are open for business and have a serious supply chain that needs to be serviced and managed
OneSteel Head of Procurement Lachlan McOmish
Lachlan said the position of strength OneSteel was now in, thanks for the rescue package put in place by the South Australian and Federal governments, gave the category managers the confidence to present a clear supply chain path for suppliers and real clarity for present and future operations.
“It was an energising experience for the procurement team to be able to talk to these suppliers with a positive lens on the business, both now and long into the future” Lachlan said.
“Their presentations were excellent and the time to connect informally gave them the chance to talk further about the pipeline of opportunities and real solutions to the projects we are working towards.
“For an event that hasn’t happened in my time, it was also a valuable opportunity for the stakeholders to inter-connect among themselves and further develop their business networks.
“You could feel the positivity in the room, the feedback was great and everyone is keen to keep these connections and cooperation going.”
The OneSteel Procurement Team will continue to hold specific town halls, Service Suppliers and Goods and Materials suppliers, every six months respectively in Whyalla.
Main picture and above right: Lachlan McOmish speaks at the Town Hall in Whyalla. Top right: Portfolio Manager Capital Project Colby Krawczyk makes his presentation at the meeting
