How To Develop a Continuity Plan

4/11/2022 (Permalink)

How To Create A Business Continuity Plan

Storm season in Burnt Store, FL, can bring unpleasant surprises. That's why it's important to have a business continuity plan in place before disaster strikes. The more flexible you are prepared to be, the more likely you are to weather the storm successfully.

Identifying Needs

When flooding renders your current facilities unusable, you need to have a disaster plan in place. It starts with knowing the bare bones of what you need to make your company run smoothly. Make a list of specific critical functions as they pertain to your business:

• Manufacturing and production
  
• Inventory maintenance
  
• Customer outreach and service
  
• Relocation logistics
• Third party partnerships

You also need a list of the resources available to accomplish these tasks. This will help you identify any gaps between your potential emergency needs and where you currently stand.

Forming Team

It's not enough to know the basic functions and resources of your business. Your continuity plan must also match specific people or positions to each task. Who will act as your liaison with the storm damage restoration specialists you hire to complete repairs? Who informs customers and partners of your temporary relocation? Who keeps track of production and ensures that it stays on schedule? Outline these details in your plan and train your team on how the implementation should go.

Testing Process

As with any contingency plan, you won't know if your business continuity strategies will work unless you test them. Your initial run-through exercises should reveal areas that need to be ironed out. Addressing these problems before you actually need them is the key to having a plan that works.

No one likes to think about the effect that a storm or natural disaster could have on a business. However, knowing you have a plan in place that actually works can ease your mind about the impact of potential losses. Having a business continuity plan just makes good sense.