Matt is a highly experienced supply chain and logistics professional who joined Sonic Healthcare UK earlier this year as Group Supply Chain and Logistics Director.
Matt leads the teams responsible for making sure the materials, equipment, and logistics needed across the organisation are in the right place, at the right time.
It is a complex operation. More than 700 suppliers from across the world provide the thousands of consumables used across our sites, including reagents, sample containers, and other essential laboratory materials. The team also manages stock and distribution from the main warehouse in Elstree, supporting the smooth movement of supplies across the business.
Their work extends well beyond materials. The team supports the supply and maintenance of technical equipment, laboratory furniture, office requirements and the wider infrastructure needed to run tests, support clinicians and ultimately serve patients. This includes the coordination of around 100 couriers, who play a vital role in keeping services moving every day.
In total, Matt’s team numbers around 300 people, all contributing to the operational backbone that enables our laboratories and sites to function effectively.
Improving Efficiency
As the company continues to grow, so does the need for strong systems, clear processes, and efficient ways of working. For Matt, a key focus is helping to build the structure needed to support the organisation’s next stage of growth. That means looking at how teams operate, where processes can be improved, and how the business can make better use of information across sites and functions.
As part of this work, Matt has been working with SHUK at a group level to support the introduction of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which will roll out globally towards the end of next year. The system will bring greater transparency and across the supply chain, helping teams make more informed decisions.
Challenging Times
For an organisation that depends on such a wide range and volume of materials, continuity of supply, and suppliers, is critical. The team must manage this against a constantly changing external backdrop, from new requirements around Net Zero, carbon reduction and packaging waste, to potential disruption caused by cybersecurity breaches and geopolitical events.
“Our role is to make sure we have the right materials available when they are needed, while managing stock in the most efficient way possible,” says Matt.
“That can mean holding stock at our Elstree warehouse, moving supplies into labs as required, or working with suppliers on direct deliveries where that is the better option.”
“What we need now is even greater traceability and visibility across the system. The new ERP will help us become a more efficient, better connected organisation.”
For Matt, the scale of the operation has been one of the most striking things about joining the business.
“I’ve been really impressed by the scale and capability across the organisation,” he says. “It is a complex and highly operational environment, and it takes a huge amount of work from many different teams to keep everything moving. Ultimately, it is all about supporting the service we provide to clinicians and patients, and I feel proud to be part of that.”
Motoring On
Matt doesn’t have a lot of spare time, but enjoys being outside, cycling and gardening, and being a busy family man.
He also admits to being a motorsport fanatic. Fitting perhaps for someone who has to control a lot of moving parts at speed!