SC21 successes to be celebrated at FIA
These company's have secured there awards with assistance from supply chain development company, TEC.
TEC Director Dave Bull explains: “SC21 is the industry accepted benchmark for excellence in optimising supply chains through accelerating competitiveness in the aerospace and defence sectors. By achieving these awards, the companies gain recognition from the industry for their commitment to maximise their own effectiveness and the achievement of excellent customer service - right first time and on-time every time.
“As a training organisation specialising in aerospace and defence, we at TEC know the years of hard work and perseverance that go into achieving these awards. We are proud of their success and delighted with feedback on our accelerated learning techniques, which clients have said helped unlock the potential of all streams of SC21.
“We congratulate all our clients on completing this long and arduous journey and we look forward to presenting these high fliers with their awards at the UK’s premier aviation event.”
The 10 companies are: Wesco Aircraft Europe their first recognition Silver (straight-in) and Universal Wiring Systems have now achieved Silver; FSL (3rd year), Pre-Met, TTI Inc (3rd year), Impact Finishers (2nd year), Fourmasters (5th year), were all awarded re-recognition for bronze; and Somers Forge, MMC (Mitsubishi), and Sheen Spark achieved bronze award for the first time.
Phil Postans, Technical and Quality Assurance Manager of Somers Forge, said: “We’re a firmly established company with traditional values and we realized we needed to embrace continuous improvement if we were to drive the business forward. SC21 is a broad programme which integrates management, shop floor working practices and relationships both within the company, and with some of our key customers.”
“The key thing is the softer targets such as engaging the workforce, which ensures improvements in working practices are embedded within the company, become part of our DNA”.
“It was the obvious choice to make for a company which is constantly striving to improve. We knew we needed a partner to steer us through the process, give direction and be the helping hand and driving the process and TEC do that very, very well.”
“They help to sustain the momentum, which is difficult to do when everyone is already working flat out. And the results have been outstanding. At the beginning of 2013, our OTIF was 48%; it’s now approaching 97% and our quality is consistent at 98%+. Scrap rate has improved by 80%. That says it all.”
Richard Sheen, Director of SheenSpark, a specialist in wire erosion and EDM spark erosion engineering, said: “We’ve been on the SC21 programme for a few years and experienced some obstacles at first, but using the tools and help/guidance of TEC, were able to overcome them and go for an award. Now the feedback from our customers is invaluable. They have helped us to improve our systems and processes and reduce our waste.”
Mark Holland, Sales & Marketing Director of Universal Engineering, part of which supplies electrical wiring systems to leading aerospace, defence and security clients, said: “At Universal we are committed to the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction – they are key drivers for success in the highly competitive industries in which we operate.”
“While achieving SC21 takes a lot of dedication and hard work, the investment is very worthwhile. It enables us to clearly establish project plans and develop lean production capabilities that specifically meet customer cost, delivery and programme targets.”
“TEC has been instrumental in helping us on this journey. It has provided the ongoing support and guidance staff needed and its accelerated learning technique has many benefits. It makes learning complicated material so much easier and everything learned can be applied instantly in the workplace, which means the company immediately reaps rewards of the new efficiencies.”
Neil Broad, Sales and Marketing Director of FSL, which provides fasteners to the aerospace industry, said: “We have built our reputation on quality, competitive pricing and delivering on time - 99% OTIF is now our norm. We pride ourselves on our high level of client service - responsive and proactive – and achieving SC21 shows our clients that we are serious about our commitment to them.
“TEC’s exceptional knowledge of SC21 and, indeed, the whole concept of excellence has enabled us to change for the better and make improvements that benefit the customer and the business. We are delivering on time, on budget and to plan – this makes for happy staff and customers.
“The techniques TEC uses, particularly as training is delivered in an informal and friendly atmosphere, makes overcoming the challenges much easier. I would certainly recommend TEC to anyone looking for SC21 implementation and support.”
TEC’s practical improvement method is designed to help clients to achieve and consolidate high levels of excellence and performance and empower their workforce.
The company has also trained and approved several of the Aerospace and Defence Prime Supplier Development Leaders as SC21 Practitioners in Business Excellence, Manufacturing Excellence and Relationships, as well as most of the UK’s Certification Bodies’ assessors for the recent certification updates (AS9100 rev C).
