All articles by Brian Moone – Page 3

  • Fukushima plant
    Comment

    Spotlight: Impact of natural disasters

    2011-07-08T00:00:00Z

    To make sure your business doesn’t get hit hard by fluctuating lead times, you need to understand how international natural disasters could affect you - and where they are

  • leadtimesjuly
    Features

    Lead times April - July 2011

    2011-07-08T00:00:00Z

    The earthquake in Japan has had a negative effect on electronic control equipment and the steel market is fluctuating but enquiries are up and lead times remain stable. Brian Moone of Mace reports

  • Features

    Spotlight: Sustaining lead times

    2011-04-08T00:00:00Z

    Lead times are the best way to put yourself ahead of the market and stay competitive in these tough economic times, says Brian Moone. But how do you sustain this once demand picks up?

  • Features

    Lead times: January-March 2011

    2011-04-08T00:00:00Z

    Despite some components being harder to find and enquiries up, lead times remain overwhelmingly stable, with only two sectors reporting an increase in the last quarter. Brian Moone of Mace reports

  • The main contractor on Chatham Maritime went bust half way through the project
    Features

    Spotlight: When contractors fail

    2011-02-04T00:00:00Z

    The downturn has put many contractors out of business, says Brian Moone. What impact is this likely to have on project lead times?

  • /i/w/a/052_BUILDING05v2_2.jpg
    Features

    Lead times: Oct 2010 - Dec 2010

    2011-02-04T00:00:00Z

    The overwhelming stability of lead times continues, and despite reports of busier order books from clients looking to reduce costs, the next six months look equally flat. Brian Moone of Mace reports

  • /m/e/r/swiss_re_6.jpg
    News

    Spotlight when the upturn comes …

    2010-10-22T00:00:00Z

    After past recessions, lead times have rapidly increased - and there’s no reason why it will be any different when the next one comes, says Brian Moone. So what is the impact likely to be?

  • Materials company Hanson’s Kimberley office development in Stewartby, Bedfordshire, makes extensive use of brick, one of the mass-produced components whose lead times are set to increase,  due to stock levels being run down and kilns closing
    Features

    Spotlight: Mass-produced components

    2010-07-09T00:00:00Z

    We shouldn’t get too worked up about rising lead times in four contractor areas, says Brian Moone. It’s as much a reflection on raw materials in the supply chain as it is a sign of increasing work

  • Features

    Lead times - April to June 2010

    2010-07-09T00:00:00Z

    An increase in reported enquiries in many trades has not yet been converted to orders, but lead times are already creeping up in four areas compared with only one last quarter

  • Features

    Lead times January-March 2010

    2010-04-09T00:00:00Z

    It looks as though the industry may be turning the corner. Most contractors are reporting an increase in enquiries and for the first time in a long time, a package actually increased. Brian Moone of Mace reports

  • Features

    Spotlight on lifts

    2010-02-05T00:00:00Z

    The complexity of lifts can vary immensely, which means that their lead times do the same. Here Brian Moone looks at what’s involved – with special reference to the lifts at one very special building …

  • Features

    Lead times: July - September 2009

    2010-02-05T00:00:00Z

    There’s good news for anybody waiting impatiently for structural steel – it’s arriving three weeks earlier. Other packages are pretty static, and once again none have increased

  • Biomass boiler: 25-40 weeks
    Features

    Spotlight on sustainability

    2009-04-03T00:00:00Z

    Lead times may have levelled out, but if you are commissioning the latest green technologies there could still be a bit of a wait. Brian Moone of Mace gives an idea of what to expect

  • Features

    Lead times: January-March 2009

    2009-04-03T00:00:00Z

    If you want to know about the latest changes to lead times – well there are hardly any. Only two categories have altered, and the situation looks set to stay that way

  • Demand is low, unemployment is up and so are stockpiles. Prepare for a deep impact
    Features

    Spotlight: How hard will the credit crunch hit?

    2009-02-06T00:00:00Z

    Demand is low, unemployment is up and so are stockpiles. Prepare for a deep impact

  • Features

    Lead times: November 08 - January 2009

    2009-02-06T00:00:00Z

    Unsurprisingly, a weak economy has led to a reduced workload for many contractors, a few of whom are dropping lead times to a level not seen since 2003

  • As a recent NFB survey has found, connecting your site to gas, water and electricity can be a real headache for contractors.
    Features

    Spotlight: Utilities

    2008-10-24T00:00:00Z

    As a recent NFB survey has found, connecting your site to gas, water and electricity can be a real headache for contractors. Brian Moone and Bob Hollingsworth explain the form

  • Features

    Lead times: August-October 2008

    2008-10-24T00:00:00Z

    The downturn continues to wield a considerable influence on lead times, with only concrete works reporting an increase since July. Brian Moone of Mace crunches the numbers

  • Spotlight on steel
    Features

    Spotlight on steel

    2008-07-11T00:00:00Z

    Rocketing steel prices have affected a wide range of industries – not least construction, says Brian Moone. How far are availability problems implicated in the price rises, and will contractors’ lead times be affected?

  • Features

    Lead times May-July 2008

    2008-07-11T00:00:00Z

    Four packages have gone down this week and four have gone up, as the downturn pushes from one end and the steel shortage from the other. Brian Moone of Mace reports the numbers