Utility Week - authoritative, impartial and essential reading for senior people within utilities, regulators and government
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UTILITY WEEK | 16TH - 22ND OCTOBER 2015 | 19 Operations & Assets collaborate to provide a service to the ultimate customer. If we do that then we will succeed and, along the way, be profitable. So that's got to be your ultimate game." Mike Sewart, director of digital services, Fujitsu "Ultimately, leveraging a diverse group of people through a supply chain is a way of introducing new thinking into the operational process. You can't go to one extreme or the other, it's about balance in the middle; the knowledge that's in operational teams is phenomenal, however it is always good to have a fresh pair of eyes to look at something in a different way." Jim Storm, programme director, Northumbrian Water "It is incumbent upon everybody to make sure that the [gas and electricity] grid is in good shape. With water, the distribution network is in the hands of the licensed operator." Graeme Wright, associate director energy, utilities and construction, Fujitsu "The problem with totex is that the majority of [companies] are already running existing contracts that are based on a capex regime and now totex is here, but you've got to wait until you renew contracts before you make an effective move to totex." produced in partnership with: 1. Diversity. Utility companies need to find the right balance between knowledge/ experience and creativity. 2. Innovation. Innovative and creative thinking is the most effective way of saving companies money. 3. Training. Data collection technicians need proper training so the data they collect is useful and correct. 4. Sharing. Companies must "get together and start talking" so problems are solved quickly and effectively. 5. Regulation. Both utility and supply chain companies must understand the regulatory environment. Five key points to take away Ian Butler, distribution strategy manager, UK Power Networks "I think collaborative working is key – having a common process or a common goal. If you're part of one team working on a common goal, I've found that works really well. If you don't work together then you don't have that comradery, which I think is really key to making partnerships work."