Recently floor sweepers at the BHP Central Pilbara Warehouse went out of service, one with a motor fault and the other likely needing a full service. Downtime was already impacting cleaning and maintenance schedules, and offsite repairs would only add delays and costs.

The buyer turned to the Local Buying Program and engaged Customer First Contracting, a capable Indigenous supplier based in Newman. The team’s local knowledge and responsiveness made all the difference. They inspected the sweepers onsite, ordered parts as needed, and planned repairs without the need for offsite servicing—minimising disruption and getting operations back on track quickly.

This engagement wasn’t just about fixing equipment. It was about supporting a local Indigenous business and creating more procurement opportunities. Through the Local Buying Program, BHP was able to connect with a reliable local business via a transparent, user-friendly platform that makes it easier for registered suppliers to view opportunities and submit pricing.

By choosing to work with Indigenous suppliers, BHP is giving smaller businesses a chance to compete and thrive alongside larger companies. It’s a practical example of identifying improvement opportunities and building trust with the communities that support BHP operations.