Record breaking SC21 success at High-Tech as it secures new Rolls-Royce orders
This year the family run business celebrates its 30 year anniversary and over that time the company’s total commitment to quality and on time delivery has seen steady growth plus a reputation for delivering high quality machined parts on time in full.
This focus on customer satisfaction has gained key approvals within the industry from the likes of Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems as well as winning the coveted GKN Aerospace SC21 Supplier of the Year award in 2010.
The company are actively involved on SC21 which has been instrumental in the way High-Tech operates and demonstrates an on-going commitment to Continuous Improvement.
SC21 is a change programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace & defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chains. It was launched in 2006 and High-Tech Engineering’s Managing Director Steve Tickner immediately recognised it as being a key improvement tool. High-Tech immediately signed up and also joined the SBAC SIG (special interest group) for performance & development.
Consultant, and SC21 Practitioner, Dave Bull was engaged to undertake the SC21 diagnostics that provided the input to High-Tech’s first CSIP (Continuous Sustainable Improvement Plan).
The improvement activities identified in this initial CSIP were implemented during a 12-month programme that culminated in High-Tech becoming the first precision engineering company in the UK to gain SC21 bronze recognition in 2008.
Not content with the existing high levels of sustained delivery and quality performance High-Tech continued on the drive for excellence and became the first organisation to demonstrate SC21 sustainability. During this process the company extended their SC21 business group, and gained a substantial amount of new work, once again actively assisted by consultant Dave Bull.
Improved Business Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence scores coupled with the improvements in quality and delivery resulted in the presentation of an SC21 Silver Recognition Award the following year. High-Tech was the first company to sustain and improve their award recognition in this way.
Company MD Steve Tickner said at the time "The SC21 journey has fundamentally changed our company and is continuing to do so. The CSIP has given focus and some additional formality to our ongoing improvement process. It has also become something that is visible to employees and customers alike.
As the company enters its 30th year it has maintained these high SC21 standards and is now celebrating a record breaking sixth consecutive SC21 Silver Award, being the first company in the UK to achieve this.
This outstanding performance is acknowledged by Phil Curnock from ADS who says: “ADS is delighted that High-Tech continues to sustain its performance within the SC21 programme. High-Tech continuously and relentlessly focuses on delivering for the customer, and that is reflected in securing their sixth consecutive SC21 silver award. I congratulate them for all their hard work and dedication.”
“To be the first company in the UK to achieve six consecutive SC21 silver awards is a huge credit to everyone here,” stated managing director, Steve Tickner. “It is delivering real benefits for the company and our customers, who are confident they will receive their orders on the specified day and to a very high quality.”
Steve added “Actively engaging SC21 has revolutionised the way we operate, and has embedded a culture for improvement throughout the business. It is without question one of the best management decisions we have made.”
Dave Bull, director of DB Concept Solutions, who has assisted High-Tech Engineering every step of the way through from the initial in-depth SC21 diagnostics right through all seven years of SC21 awards, says:
“For any company engaged in the SC21 programme, it is highly challenging to even attain one Silver award let alone six! The standards are incredibly high and involve a significant commitment in terms of time, effort and action. High-Tech Engineering has relentlessly pursued quality and delivery to show their customers a real commitment to continuous and exceptional performance.”
Despite all this success over the past 30 years High-Tech continues to look to the future proactively, innovating and developing techniques to meet the current economic challenges and customer requirements.
In fact, 2015 has already seen the company gain NADCAP accreditation in dry film lube application, whilst significant new orders have been secured from Rolls Royce.
This extra business has been the direct result of a significant cost down project, developed in tandem with Rolls- Royce, which involves an improved manufacturing cell based around new technology. Firstly High-Tech identified an opportunity to take advantage of significant cost savings machining Titanium and working closely with Rolls-Royce the new cell has been designed to incorporate a complete manufacturing process, with 100% inspection, part marking, finishing and bonding. Automation and a robotic arm for spraying have been incorporated along with machining technology to ensure an optimum cycle time on parts is achieved.
High-Tech will also be maintaining its ongoing commitment to SC21 ably assisted, once again, by the expertise of SC21 Lead Practitioner Dave Bull of DB Concept Solutions. The company fully expects to extend its record breaking sequence of consecutive Silver awards to an unparalled seven by the end of the year.
