Adopting 'lean' manufacturing brings in orders
Having adopted the latest 'lean' manufacturing methods, A historic UK railroad track forging and fabrication manufacturer has won new orders worth over GBP 300,000.
A historic North East UK manufacturer with links to the region's proud railway engineering past has embraced the latest business productivity techniques to win new orders worth over GBP 300,000. Henry Williams has been based in Dodsworth Street, Darlington, for 95 years, making track products, signalling and control equipment for the rail industry. To keep pace with changing industry needs, the Henry Williams Forgings and Fabrications Division has worked with the innovative North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA) to ingrain the latest lean manufacturing methods into its business - the same techniques employed by the hugely successful Japanese car industry.
Such has been the success of the month-long NEPA intervention at the Darlington plant, that the division has won two substantial new orders from its main customer National Railway Supplies - for stainless steel cases - as it is can now meet 100% of its delivery targets to this important customer.
Henry Williams' Electrical Projects Division fits the electrical and communications signalling equipment into the stainless steel cases.
The company's Forging and Fabrication Division also supplies products to the mining, oil and gas and highways sectors.
Its products also include signalling units for railways, galvanised steel and aluminium trackside signs, litter bins and emergency roadside telephone boxes.
NEPA seconded an engineer to run a 'health check' at the company, analysing its business processes, efficiency and suggesting productivity changes and savings which the firm has taken on board.
Stephen Jones, Henry Williams forge production engineering manager, said: 'Previously, we were only getting about 50% of our product out of the doors on time because of poor organisation.
Since NEPA introduced practical and simple processes to the company, on time delivery is now 100%.' The new processes were a great help in allowing the company to get the best out of investment in a new forging plant and CNC equipment.
Jones added: 'The ability to get more product out through the door has enabled us to win two valuable and significant new contracts for National Railway Supplies to produce hundreds of new line side cases.' Simon Dawes, fabrication production engineer, said: 'This new business is very important to us.
Our customers' business needs are changing and we have to change as well to ensure we remain competitive.' The Dodsworth Street factory employs about 100 people.
Mark Rutherford, One NorthEast head of Business Productivity, said: 'The NEPA team take real pride in their work and the ultimate reward is to see companies thrive after their intervention.
Henry Williams is a forward thinking company which has worked tirelessly to meet the changing demands of its customers to ensure it remains competitive.
These new orders prove that their willingness to embrace new thinking and productivity methods has paid off.'
