FALL 2016

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
ROBERT FOOTLIK HAVE YOU CONSIDERED... from page 34
Consider Protests And Demonstrations
Most Fastener Distributors think they are immune
to hostile protests, and normally they are correct. If
your company sells Grade 5 fasteners to the consumer
market ignoring this isn’t a problem. But what about
Defense Contracts for MIL Spec parts?
Sooner or later the protestors will figure out that
military equipment needs fasteners to hold it together.
That’s when they may try to shut you down. Bullies pick
on the weak and an independent distributor has far less
resources than a large defense contractor. There is also
a possibility that your neighbor might be their target.
Even a media circus a block away can severely hamper
your operation, and there is little you can do to limit the
disruption directly. But there is a lot that can be done to
mitigate the problems.
Having clearly defined property boundaries can
channel the demonstration away from critical areas such
as docks and gates. Hiring private security officers who
can politely enforce those boundaries while respecting
First Amendment rights will help control the situation, but
they need to be in place as quickly as possible. Meetings
with local law enforcement and these guardians should
be arranged before the demonstrators arrive whenever
possible. And don’t neglect your image in the media.
A good spokesperson, prepared for the situation can
deflect negative coverage to actually enhance your image
in the community. This rarely happens without planning
and practice.
Consider Cyber Security
Almost everyone who carries a credit card has been
affected by criminal or cyber warfare attacks on the
financial system. Just because you are a small business
does not guarantee immunity. As warehouse operations
become more computer dependent everything comes to
a halt if the server is compromised. Why break into a
building when you can have UPS deliver the loot?
In the early days of unreliable computer systems
paper based backups operations would just shrug off the
inconvenience. This no longer works and anomalies can
be considerably harder to detect. What work arounds are
available, or at what point do you throw up your hands
and send everyone home? Everyday these scenarios
become more probable and more devastating.
Consider Power Outages
We all take reliable power as a given, until the
lights go out, the telephone stops and the computers
shut down. If you have the foresight to have installed
a backup power system for the computers, phone and
A/C the offices might be functional. But what about
the warehouse? Power doors and dock boards should
have manual overrides and actuators. People, power
conveyors and forklifts all need light and electricity to
operate. Not every outlet and light fixture must be on
but critical areas and functions should be tied into the
emergency generator system or an independent battery
system must be available.
Work with your warehouse team and a qualified
electrician to review the transfer relay and power panels.
Making changes in a brightly lit space is far easier
than trying to switch live wires in the dark. Make sure
that all the appropriate circuits are served and that the
equipment will perform reliably in an unlikely event.
If there is no generator back up then have the
electrician install a manual disconnect from the main
power supply and add a plug in point for a rented or
portable generator. This must be done properly to
prevent electrocution in your building or further down
the line. Planning for it now is cheap adding it later is
problematic.
And if you have a backup generator keep a can of
spray ether and jumper cables handy just in case the
rarely used equipment is reluctant to start. It’s cheap
insurance against a dead battery.
Consider Natural Disasters
Hurricane Katrina demonstrated how poorly prepared
we are for large scale disasters. Systemic failures
received the publicity, but individual lack of preparation
quickly mounted.
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