Gateshead online improvement planning and self-assessment software provider Mesma has adapted its existing platform – built for education providers around the Ofsted framework – to meet the requirements of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Merlin Standard accreditation, recognising excellence in supply chain management.The news reflects the company’s ability to embed supply chain design and commitment and then conduct and review within its clients’ quality assurance programs alongside the capacity to manage and review internal practices, often in complex operations.
Mesma enables clients such as Welfare to Work provider Working Links and others to embed self-assessment against the standard through flexible software set-up, an organisation-wide approach to self-assessment and improved visibility and control of management plans that deliver time and resource saving benefits.
The aim of the Merlin Standard is to encourage excellent supply chain management and within this to ensure fair treatment of partners and subcontractors by main contractors, supporting the development of a healthy, high performing and robust supply chain.
Launched into the education sector in 2013, Mesma enables senior management teams to focus more time and resources on teaching and learning provision and less on paperwork, helping them to complete self-assessment reports – a requirement of the Ofsted common inspection framework.
They have since adapted this approach to meet the requirements of the Independent Schools Inspection Framework, a bespoke employability framework for The Mindset and now Merlin.
Company director Carole Loader said: “The Merlin Standard is an important accreditation for our clients and offers an excellent structure for self assessment and improvement planning to improve supply chain management and brings substantial benefits for clients.
“Mesma’s platform encourages sharing of quality assurance documents and evidence sources securely held in a central and easily accessible central location, and management information that shows at a glance the key areas that require improvement. The nature of the platform means content can be shared securely with supply chain partners.”
Mesma is owned and operated by three directors – Neil Donkin, Carole Loader and Louise Doyle – who between them have more than 30 years experience in business and working in with education and employability providers, helping senior leaders and other staff implement robust quality assurance systems. More at www.mesma.co.uk