Case Studies
A collection of case studies from MAS East
Process optimisation prepares GE Aviation for the future
GE Aviation in Newmarket is a tier 3 supplier of integrated hybrid circuits and cockpit display units. 90% of its business is in aerospace and defence, of which 60 percent is for inter-company use. GE requested MAS assistance to plan the relocation of the Hybrid production area from where it currently resides in several disconnected areas into a single dedicated area.
NBS Cryo - Putting a Freeze on Inefficiencies in the Process
NBS Cryo Research Ltd is a successful business which has grown year on year delivering cryogenic freezers to laboratory and pharmaceutical customers worldwide. NBS requested MAS assistance to make the manufacturing task more flexible and to improve overall effectiveness while ensuring that production rates better match real demand rates and meet customer service expectations.
Park Air Systems - Tuned in for Growth
Park Air Systems, a world market leader in the design, manufacture and installation of communication systems for Air Traffic Control environments asked MAS East to help deliver performance improvement in the radio build cell and in the area used to integrate the radios into complex, bespoke integrated systems.
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.
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.
Knights make it to order
Norman Knights manufacture a range of film fronted and cellophane bags principally for the confectionery, sandwich and coffee markets. Products are made to order, requiring short lead times and responsive manufacture to achieve excellent customer service. The company had recently moved from supplying from stock to a ‘make to order’ business so to enure customer satifaction levels were sustained, long established working practises needed to be challenged.
Cruising to increased capacity
Oyster Marine is an international market leader in the design and manufacture of luxury cruising yachts and the winner of two Queens Awards. Oyster pride themselves with the craftsmanship, care, skill, experience and heritage that goes with every yacht. This recipe for success has seen an increase in orders, so much so, there is a need to create more capacity…
First in secondary glazing
Based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, Selectaglaze is a market leader in the manufacture and installation of secondary aluminium glazing systems which provide improved noise and thermal insulation, and extra security against physical or terrorist attack. Faced with increasing orders and the need for more space, MAS-East were invited to advise on improving the processes and material flow through the fabrication area.
5S setting the standard in new factory
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 turnover increase of 60% in the last two years, achieved by providing high quality and reliable customised products through a committed team of people. The decision to move into new premises in 2007 provided the opportunity to embed a culture of lean thinking and to excel in customer service by reducing lead times and improving product quality. As part of this large-scale project, Michell Instruments asked MAS-East to help create a 5S exemplar within the manufacturing area that could act as the beacon for the rest of the organisation.
MAS East and Business Link work together to ensure whole business improvements
Villiers Brothers Ltd was founded by three brothers Harry, Tim and Hugo, in 1993. The company has 16 employees and design and manufacture exquisite furniture and lighting for discerning clients who expect unique design coupled with exceptional craftsmanship, customers include architects and hotel designers both nationally and internationally. Business Link visited the business and asked MAS East to work alongside them and the client to review how best to gain integration of the management information and company manufacturing systems to improve efficiency and integrity of data.
