October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Did you know that breast cancer is the leading cause of death among women of working age in our country? Every day, between 10 and 12 Mexican women die from this disease. Although the incidence is higher after age 55, there are increasingly more cases of women between 35 and 45 years old suffering from this condition. The number of cases in our country has grown alarmingly in recent years, so, as we do every year, we dedicate a month to raising awareness and emphasizing the importance of prevention. Early detection is essential to receive the right treatments and care and to overcome this terrible disease. To detect breast cancer early, it is necessary to be attentive to different signs and symptoms in our bodies. Remember, the earlier it is detected, the better your chances of fighting and overcoming this disease. The most important signs are: To this day, the specific cause of this disease is still unclear. However, some studies show a link to smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, obesity, excessive use of contraceptives, and above all, a person's genetic predisposition. This is why it is extremely important for all women to be aware of the signs and maintain constant communication with their trusted doctor. At GDI, we are confident that each of us can be a spokesperson for the breast cancer prevention message. Therefore, committed to this fight, we support and strengthen this global awareness initiative through information and education on fundamental topics such as early detection, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment for this terrible disease. Through early detection, together we can save thousands of lives.
Innovation in times of COVID-19
Turning a crisis around opens doors to opportunities. That's why, in a time like the one we're living through, we're seizing the COVID-19 pandemic as a great opportunity to innovate. Now, when we talk about innovation in this critical era, where the health emergency has practically brought the world to a standstill, affecting companies at all levels—small, medium, or large international corporations—we find ourselves on high alert. Faced with this situation, many questions arise. How can we maximize the value we contribute to society? What are your differentiating competencies and how could they be used in new ways, creating competitive advantages? What will the future look like? These are just a few examples. In response to all these questions, at GDI we work as a team, seeking to integrate our clients' needs with the demanding requirements of a resilient environment, with our primary objective being to retain our clients. Understanding this as a significant investment in the future, we sought ways to support you, maintain active communication, listen attentively to your current needs, and pay close attention to feedback on the products and services you've already received, as well as the new ones we're offering. This allowed us to identify the ideal environment to work, renew, and innovate on technological platforms that will enable us to stay at the forefront and achieve greater market share. The evolution of these integrated platforms will allow us to automate most business practices related to the operational and production aspects of our company, facilitating and centralizing information with our strategic partners. At GDI, we've implemented several digital updates for you, our business partners. We at GDI are confident that these innovations will streamline our business relationship with our clients—our strategic partners—and strengthen it for future challenges. Now, let's remember that this crisis will end, all of this will pass. Therefore, let's not lose sight of the bigger picture and keep in mind that, while not everything is under our control, our attitude and our decisions are, and it will be up to us to make something productive out of it or not. At GDI, we aim to emerge stronger from this and be part of the solution.
GDI, one of the Best Mexican Companies
For the past 10 years, Deloitte, Citibanamex, and Tecnológico de Monterrey have promoted the Best Mexican Companies initiative, or MEM. MEM seeks to recognize and support medium-sized private companies in our country that stand out for their high level of performance in business management. Furthermore, Best Mexican Companies is part of the global “Best Managed Companies” program, which aims to recognize the operational excellence of private companies worldwide. Since our inception, at GDI we have been convinced that companies are one of the most important drivers of change in our society and our country. In Mexico, there are more than 5 million companies distributed throughout all the states of the Republic; of these, more than 4 million are small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), contributing 52% of the GDP and employing nearly 30 million people. Today, we are very proud to share that for the third consecutive year, GDI Grupo Diamante Internacional has received the Best Mexican Companies distinction. As with every edition in which we have participated, MEM was a collaborative effort across all our departments and involved a thorough analysis of our entire business model. From preparing all the necessary documentation to receiving feedback from our coaches at Deloitte, Citibanamex, and Tecnológico de Monterrey, MEM helped us reaffirm our strengths, mitigate existing threats, and develop future plans to capitalize on all the opportunities available to us. This recognition keeps us excited about the challenges ahead. In the coming years, we will continue expanding our reach and improving every day to continue offering the best corporate image and security consulting services through uniforms and workwear to the most important companies in Mexico and Latin America. Finally, in a year as challenging as 2020 and given the uncertain economic and political landscape we are experiencing, this distinction reaffirms the excellent work we have done in recent years. Being recognized as one of the Best Mexican Companies of 2020 is the result of the tremendous work and outstanding effort of each of our employees, who every day contribute their part to provide a better tomorrow for their families and build a better Mexico together. To each member of the GDI family, to our people in Mexico City and Tehuacán, congratulations on this distinction! Without you, the journey we have undertaken would not have been possible. Award ceremony video: https://youtu.be/X167Smy7r-A Fermín and Miguel Ángel, Directors of GDI Grupo Diamante Internacional
Appropriate attire for the automotive sector
In a business like car manufacturing, the work clothes worn by employees are important. That is why the choice of clothing and uniforms to be used within the different operational areas in automotive plants must be done with prudence, always keeping in mind the care of the employees and facilitating the execution of their activities. The automotive industry is made up of a long chain of roles and types of work. The process begins in the manufacturing environment with operators, technicians and engineers, continues with quality supervisors and ends with executives who sell the final product. Each of them with specific clothing needs. In the first instance, the mandatory complements that help mitigate the danger factor within a plant are: Within the same plants, the automotive industry has quite functional textile alternatives, from denim and reinforced cotton, to modern fire-resistant fabrics. Currently, companies have the option of choosing from a wide range of items such as industrial pants, short or long-sleeved shirts, overalls and work jackets, among others. Taking this into account, an employee cannot enter a factory wearing their everyday clothes. The clothing must be special, as it was designed to be a second layer of protection for the limbs, protecting the skin from liquids such as oil, grease or paint, as well as scrapes from metal pieces or abrasive tools. In general, the automotive trade tends to involve the handling of various substances, such as grease or exposure to molten metal residue. It is thanks to work clothes that the worker can get as dirty as necessary without it affecting his personal appearance. Some garments include resistance to industrial washing or easy stain removal, giving both the employee and the employer the assurance that the garments will be up to the task. In other words, spending hours assembling auto parts is tiring for an operator, and if what they are wearing does not allow freedom of movement, the job becomes irritating. When work gets tough, the workwear market (generic name for clothing that covers and protects the human body) offers various options that make workdays more comfortable and therefore more efficient. Another important point is that, when considering options, companies frequently wonder which clothing brands they should choose. This is because the integrity of the employees is paramount, but, without forgetting that they must have better durability than other types of clothing, since they are garments of continuous and rough use, the sense of belonging that the employees should feel when wearing the uniform is also taken into consideration. Taking this into consideration, GDI is your best option when choosing clothing for your employees, as we are experts in various sectors, and the automotive sector is one of them, making the right clothes, from administrative clothing to special uniforms for your plants. Providing a comprehensive service, ranging from safety, comfort and a design that differentiates your brand, without forgetting the care of the ecosystem. Contact us to see the catalog of garments for your sector.
How to achieve Business Sustainability
Corporate sustainability encompasses the efforts a company makes to sustain its economic activity, considering social and environmental factors, and ensuring responsible resource management. What are the five principles that any company aspiring to achieve business sustainability must adhere to? How can corporate sustainability be achieved? In this regard, organizational culture plays a key role in establishing internal practices for the efficient use of resources, considering all the aforementioned variables. The company must take into account the value chain (inputs, processes, and outputs), and it must also consider the constant evaluation of actions that involve resource expenditures in order to improve and manage them better, thereby maximizing efficiency and, consequently, the company's profitability. Another important aspect concerns how corporate sustainability is communicated and how consumers and clients validate it. When companies successfully communicate their actions toward achieving greater sustainability, consumers can question, accept, and/or support them. In short, developing a sustainable business is no easy task. It requires willpower, talent in business management, and a broad and deep understanding of the environment, allowing us to identify the elements that must be carefully considered during the production process. At GDI, we understand that this is hard work, but little by little we have undertaken the task of implementing the necessary measures to become sustainable, starting internally with our employees in their daily work. We are committed to having a company that is environmentally friendly and responsible towards everything around it. We are the future, and therefore we must comply with everything that safeguards the well-being of the company and the ecosystem.
An effective business continuity plan
The COVID-19 outbreak forced business leaders and owners to make short-term decisions to ensure the continuity of their operations; however, these measures had to be modified due to the extended quarantine. Given such significant contingencies, it is crucial that organizations identify the areas of the business that could be most affected and, based on this, develop an effective business continuity plan to help maintain normal operations in three key areas: The first stage involves having a business continuity plan in place, which allows for an understanding of the main risks to operations and the supply chain. Based on this understanding, it will be possible to allocate sufficient teams to address the crisis and then focus on supply chain assessment and risk management. The second stage is essential to determine whether management and corporate governance can make key decisions quickly enough, planning for financial and business scenarios that range from a swift recovery from this situation to a slowdown in growth or a possible global recession. In the short term, risk mitigation actions must be considered for operations and the supply chain, assessing the impact on transportation. In this regard, organizations must ensure communication with their customers and key stakeholders, review and evaluate the impact of talent planning and management, and review potential impacts depending on the sector in which they operate. Finally, in a third stage, it will be necessary to continue building an agile global supply chain with full visibility of all its links, as well as understand and implement digital and process automation to mitigate the consequences of potential disruptions that, as we have seen, can affect companies due to external factors, developing and implementing enhanced risk management practices. At GDI, we had to adapt and create strategies to continue our work and garment production. We implemented improved strategies and communication with our customers and suppliers to establish raw material receiving times and realistic delivery times. We always considered the situation and daily changes to avoid jeopardizing operations and experiencing a downturn. At GDI we are constantly seeking better strategies to determine what actions to take in future situations.
Uniforms to avoid risks
Ensuring worker safety in the workplace is a serious matter and must be prioritized, especially in the gas station sector, where refueling activities at service stations present risks of chemical and physical contamination. Attendants, people working near the pumps, and cleaning staff, for example, must be protected with high-visibility, flame-resistant, or fire-retardant clothing. Gas stations also employ administrative staff, station managers, and supervisors who should wear distinctive and eye-catching uniforms for easy identification. We offer clothing that provides both safety and comfort for each of these roles. RISKS OF WORKING AT A GAS STATION Gas stations or service stations are, among other things, workplaces where there is continuous contact with liquid fuels. This leads to various risks common to other jobs, such as falls, cuts from tools, and electrical hazards. But, in addition, gas station attendants face a number of specific risks that require special attention, including: And, although these are some of the most common risks at gas stations, it's important to keep in mind that many other tasks are performed at service stations, and therefore, more accidents occur. SAFETY MEASURES AT SERVICE STATIONS Gas station workers require equipment that enhances their safety while also providing them with a high degree of freedom of movement. Consequently, it is essential to use the highest quality clothing and accessories to guarantee the best work performance of the attendants and the durability of the garments, without compromising safety. They require high-visibility clothing, such as pants, jackets, and vests, so that drivers can see them and avoid accidents. And due to the nature of the work, they require flame-resistant clothing or clothing made with flame-retardant fabric; often, coveralls are used, or the pants and jackets themselves are made of this material. As an added precaution, they should wear a cap to protect themselves from the elements, special shoes, and sometimes gloves to prevent hazardous spills from coming into contact with their skin. At GDI, we provide all types of safety equipment for your personnel. We are your best option when choosing clothing for them, as we are experts in various sectors, and the gas station industry is no exception. We can manufacture the right clothing for your sector. GDI offers a comprehensive service, encompassing safety, comfort, and a design that sets your brand apart, all while being mindful of the environment. Contact us to see our catalog of garments for your industry.