As the Category Manager responsible for cleaning and hygiene products, Florian Badrutt holds a key position at ISS during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s how he ensured that ISS and its customers never ran short of personal protective equipment and disinfectants during the first wave.
Florian Badrutt is a “hard worker” in a business suit. He started at ISS almost 30 years ago as a machine mechanic; today, as a senior procurement manager, he’s responsible for several product categories - including cleaning and hygiene supplies. Nothing fazes this man easily. Not even COVID-19.
On Sunday, February 23, 2020, he received a call from CEO André Nauer. The next day, he attended the first meeting of the newly appointed “ISS Pandemic Crisis Team.” Over the next 52 days, the team would meet practically every day from 9 to 10 a.m. to assess risks, draft scenarios, develop new services, and ensure the supply chain and operations for ISS and its customers.
From 0 to 100 Decontaminations
As a procurement manager, Florian Badrutt had experienced SARS in 2002 and the swine flu in 2009. But this time, everything was different - closer, more threatening. In late February, the first customers contacted ISS because employees had contracted COVID-19. Workplaces had to be decontaminated. And it didn’t stop at isolated cases. The infection rate was rising exponentially. Now entire departments had to be closed and decontaminated.
By this point, ISS had already formed special emergency teams throughout Switzerland; in addition, dozens of ISS employees had completed internal training in decontamination. At the same time, Badrutt and his team designed decontamination kits containing disposable hooded coveralls, shoe covers, full-face goggles, disposable gloves, protective masks (FFP3), disposable microfiber wipes, and surface and hand sanitizers. Every ISS branch will be equipped with these kits.
Consumables: From a Steady Flow to a Roller-Coaster Ride
The procurement and provision of equipment and consumables are centrally managed at ISS. However, bottlenecks in the procurement of surface and hand sanitizers soon became apparent, even though - or perhaps precisely because - ISS requires large quantities of them. This is where Florian Badrutt leverages the strong network he maintains with local and global manufacturers. Thanks to this, the supply of ethanol - an active ingredient in short supply in many places - never runs dry. But then, suddenly, small containers, bottles, and spray nozzles are in short supply. The flow of goods turns into a roller coaster. Wherever possible, Florian Badrutt therefore enters into purchase agreements with manufacturers that include sales guarantees, ensuring they always keep sufficient stock on hand for ISS. With success.
Preventing Shortages: The ISS Group’s Network
The supply of protective masks is also becoming increasingly tight. This is where the ISS Group’s network proves its worth. Florian Badrutt contacts Vincent Robyn, Director of Supply Chain & Procurement for the ISS Group in Asia and the Pacific region, who is promptly able to secure an initial shipment of 50,000 masks in Singapore. The pallets are ready for export to Switzerland - then suddenly they’re gone, sold to someone who offered more. Prices fluctuate wildly during the pandemic. Prices rise and fall daily - just like on Wall Street. Anyone who hesitates or strikes at the wrong moment either loses a lot of money or misses out on their shipment.
Just as a second shipment of masks is ready, flights to Europe are suspended. Once again, days of uncertainty pass, along with nights during which Florian Badrutt doesn’t get a wink of sleep - due to the pressure and the late-night negotiations with the Far East. What a relief when the highly sought-after masks finally arrive in Zurich-Kloten.
ISS supplies its branches with goods from the WEBSTAR logistics center.
Next Challenge: Logistics
To mitigate the volatility of deliveries, ISS is setting up a central warehouse for critical goods on short notice. At the same time, a hotline is being launched through which ISS branches must order their replenishments - packaged for a maximum of two weeks so that an overview of total inventory is not lost.
But how do the items reach their destination? After all, the logistics industry is also stretched to its limits - ISS must expect delivery times of up to ten days. For this reason, ISS is simultaneously organizing internal courier services to deliver directly to branches and customers.
An Impressive Total: Half a Million Masks
Now that the first wave of the coronavirus has subsided, the results are impressive. ISS purchased half a million masks. During peak periods, 350,000 pairs of hygiene gloves and up to 3,600 liters of surface disinfectant were used—per week. Every service was carried out on schedule. Today, the flow of goods is reasonably stable again. Florian Badrutt has accomplished a great deal during this time and gained a wealth of new knowledge. And that gives him confidence that ISS can quickly reactivate these measures if the situation requires it.
In the Supply Chain & Procurement Team at ISS headquarters in Zurich-Altstetten, everything revolves around the procurement of goods and services. There, the team manages the framework agreements for approximately 150 key suppliers across some 25 different product groups and ensures the support and operation of the online procurement platform “ISS Sourcing,” where catalogs, suppliers, and contracts are managed. More than 95,000 items are available to the over 3,000 users of “ISS Sourcing.” Currently, cleaning and protective supplies are once again being ordered through the platform to meet customers’ renewed, heightened hygiene needs.