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YEAR IN BRIEF

Restructuring of the division into a business unit structure, initiated in February 2006, produced a strong focus on markets and customers from each business and good progress on improvement programmes.

Improving customer delivery service levels was a key priority with every business achieving better results and an overall lift of 10 percentage points to above competitor benchmark levels. Major initiatives included the rationalisation of duplicated product lines resulting in stockable items reducing by more than 50 per cent, information systems development and the upgrade of facilities, including state-of-the-art distribution centres for Blackwoods and Protector Alsafe in Queensland.

Productivity improvements continued to be made in support areas through process redesign, as well as the rationalisation of a number of small branches.

Sales growth was pursued with the addition of 36 new account managers across the division and product range extension, including the launch of Protector Alsafe Training Services. This was supported by new catalogues and websites for Blackwoods, Protector Safety, Bullivants, Blackwoods Paykels and Packaging
House, as well as network upgrades.

Each business strengthened its product sourcing and marketing through increasing the capability of category management teams. The division’s existing direct sourcing programme took a significant step forward during the year with the opening of the Shanghai-based Global Sourcing Office.