Case Studies
Flexing growth through strategic planning at Keaflex
Having previously completed a number of operational improvement projects with MAS South East, Keaflex once again worked with us to develop a strategic plan looking at areas including new business development, purchasing and customer service through the MAS South East Strategic Planning Programme.
Specialised Laser Products
Rotherham-based Specialised Laser Products used MAS for expert help and advice to identify cost savings, reduce stock and Work In Progress (WIP) to generate cash and limit its effects on the business.
Driving Through Efficiency Improvements
Wilcox Commercial Vehicles Ltd is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and premier aluminium body builders in the field of commercial vehicles, covering a range of different rigid/trailer designs to effectively cater for almost any kind of load transporting requirement. Wilcox requested MAS assistance to improve its operational efficiency in an effort to reduce production costs.
Improved supply and delivery at Repro Engineering
Repro Engineering, CNC precision production engineers, worked with MAS South East to improve the frequency and on-time in full (OTIF) of products delivered to one of their key customers, whilst raising overall quality throughout the supply chain.
Camel Glass & Joinery
Camel Joinery is situated in Wadebridge and manufactures bespoke joinery. Improved layout reduced non-value added activity by a minimum 10%.
CULTURAL SHIFT HELPS DRUG FIRM BREATHE EASIER
Bosses of hard-pushed Nottinghamshire manufacturing firms might be forgiven for dismissing a prescription to change their work culture as the most obvious option for reducing overheads and improving their state of health
Engineered plastics manufacturer achieves visual improvements
Redco Ltd is successfully delivering growth and has a target of improved turnover by 20-30%. Redco recognised that to support this business growth it was paramount to maximise throughput efficiencies in manufacturing to meet there aspirations and create a model which can deliver a 20% increase in capacity of engineered plastic components.
Perfect Sense
Michell Instruments Ltd is the international leader in the field of moisture and humidity measurement solutions across a wide range of industries and applications. It has seen a significant increase in turnover during the last three years, achieved by providing high quality and reliable customised products through a committed team of people. MAS-East was asked to help to meet increasing demand by improving productivity.
On the right frequency
Radio-Tech Ltd is one of the leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of wireless technology to the emerging remote metering and monitoring markets. Their products are used for applications as diverse as Energy Management, Intelligent Street Lighting, Legionella Monitoring, Rail Temperature Monitoring and Bespoke applications. MAS-East was asked to help increase efficiency with a view to delivering improved profitability.
The wind of change
JDR Umbilical Systems design and manufacture sub-sea cables for offshore oil, gas and wind energy platforms. These cables form an essential element of offshore renewable energy projects and sub-sea production systems and demand for these high-tech cables continues to increase. To support a necessary increase in capacity, a unique partnership project involving JDR, MAS-East and Renewables East commenced. MAS-East and Renewables East, a support organisation supporting the offshore, renewable energy market in the UK, were able to provide joint funding meaning no charge to JDR Umbilicals systems for this initial pilot project.
Developing methods to improve production control
Icarus Training Systems Ltd is the world’s leading supplier of evacuation slides, slide rafts and rafts for airline cabin crew training. With more than twenty years experience in the development of specialist training solutions, the company offers a single source solution for the procurement of training equipment for airlines both large and small. In addition to the wide range of inflatable products, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio of accessories which include inflation systems, safety nets, medical manekins and many more.
Developing strategic plans for future growth
The company is a manufacturing operation supplying customers with cable assemblies, connectors and associated air cabinets. Customers include: BBC, Network Rail, Virgin Media and GCHQ. A co-located, and separately owned, business provides related cable installation services. Growing Sales and a very high utilisation of the factory facility is achieved with an existing staff of 20 including the MD, management and office functions. The company has no debt and the MD aims to grow the business.
Strategic growth lights the way forward
Fotolec Technologies Ltd had very successfully developed the technology and process to manufacture plastic coated fluorescent lamps for the food industry and other applications. Demand continued to grow and it became clear that a strategic plan was required to determine the appropriate actions and investment required to sustain growth. Having MAS-East already involved in establishing Lean principles in the manufacturing areas Fotolec asked them for support in developing a Plan for Strategic Growth which considered the needs of key stakeholders, the capability of business processes, and the development of the people and the organisation.
Farécla products will go on shining
Originally conceived in 1953, the Farécla team has honed its skills and created a world-class range of surface-finishing compounds, which as existing customers will testify, have been adding lustre to a variety of surfaces for decades, particularly within automotive and marine sectors around the world. Farécla requested MAS assistance to improve productivity through reduction of changeovers and improved operation of the production cycle.
Customers can count on Vacuumatic
Vacuumatic is the world leader in paper counting technology, providing solutions for the security and commercial print sectors, converters and paper mills. Vacuumatic asked MAS-East to help with the transition to its new Super 30 and Vicount 3 counting machines,using Lean Manufacturing principles to allow them to only produce to order – at the pull of the customer!
Billington's Food Group...sweetening the supply chain
Billingtons is a well established household name in sugar and part of the Silverspoon family of companies; importing unrefined cane sugar from around the world and packaging for the consumer at its Ipswich operation. With an increasingly competitive market and facing the challenges of our current economic climate, Billingtons was faced with ever increasing costs associated with managing its logistics. However, through the eyes of MAS, the company saw some significant opportunities to improve.
Strip Tinning Ltd
Birmingham based windscreen manufacturer, Strip Tinning Ltd, is reaping the benefit of close co-operation with the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM) that has seen it improve productivity and dramatically reduce costs.
Aspen Pumps Up the Volume
Aspen Pumps, the market leader in design and manufacture of condensate pumps for the air-conditioning industry, has worked with MAS South East to complete Lean Facilitator and Lean Awareness courses, undertaken Six Sigma Green Belt training and received support to gain ISO:14001 certification.
M G Welding
M G Welding Plant Ltd, based in Dudley, manufacture and refurbish welding manipulators for hire and for sale to domestic and international markets. When they were approached by their customer to develop a machine they grasped the opportunity.
JDR Umbilical Systems
JDR Umbilical Systems design and manufacture sub-sea cables for offshore oil, gas and wind energy platforms. These cables form an essential element of offshore renewable energy projects and sub-sea production systems and demand for these high-tech cables continues to increase. With the help of MAS-East and Renewables East, a support organisation supporting the offshore, renewable energy market in the UK, JDR Umbilical Systems created capacity through improving process flow within the workplace
