Part of the VCE Business Management exam will focus on how businesses can successfully manage and operate through change and 2020 has provided plenty of that! The Midfield Group have been commended as exemplars of how the meat industry should operate during the COVID-19 crisis and, as part of the TAP, a Webex was convened with our Business class and two of The Midfield Group management team. Alistair Sharp (Production Manager for Processing Operations) and Mick Williams (Midfield Training Manager) described the family owned, non-corporate, ‘paddock to plate’ business model that employs 1,500 people across our region including 1,000 at the Merrivale processing site. They detailed the processes that were put in place at the beginning of the year when the implications of COVID were realised and outlined the swift, proactive and aggressive steps that were recently taken to halt the potential spread of COVID through our region when a meat inspector inadvertently could have spread the virus across regional processing sites. Students heard that strong leadership lead to decisive action to cease operations, to contact trace and test all staff and that adherence to protocols and staff buy-in lead to no COVID on site. Management have also implemented new technology including a Smart Badge tracing device system and the potential of virtual induction processes for new staff. A Deakin University study indicated that Midfield had over 8,000 contacts in the community through its processing plant, transport, on farms, etc so it was imperative to control the potential spread of COVID internally and externally. What a great practical example of effectively navigating through change for our students! Comments are closed.
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