Aerospace

Technical Metals achieves first SC21 OE Gold Award

Posted 16 October 2020

Technical Metals Limited (TML) based in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, has been recognised with its first Gold performance award as part of the 21st Century Supply Chains (SC21) Operational Excellence (OE) programme for improving operational effectiveness and achieving supply chain excellence.

Above: Technical Metals Ltd., offer engineering solutions via a multi skilled engineering cell that offers CNC machining, CNC routing, turning and milling, machining a wide range of aerospace components, extruded material and bespoke parts to customers’ drawings.
Courtesy TML

The programme helps small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), who supply major manufacturers in the aerospace and defence sectors, to make operational improvements, reduce overheads and improve their potential to grow. This in turn helps the whole of the UK’s aerospace and defence industries raise their ability to compete in international markets.

Established in 1984 and taken into private ownership in 1995, TML provides a range of cosmetic finishes and CNC machining for the global aerospace sector. They first started their journey on the SC21 OE programme in 2016 first achieving Bronze award and improving to achieve the silver award three times from 2017.

To achieve a Gold performance award, in a 12 month rolling performance indicator, companies need to consecutively deliver at least 99.00% of the products or services on time and to the required quality, for a minimum of 99.99% compliant products or services.

Since joining the SC21 OE programme, TML’s customer on time in full delivery was below 90%, which has since improved year on year to achieve Gold performance standards. The quality of their products has also improved with their reject rate decreasing from 10% to 0.07%. They have carried out training in-house and externally, with in-house training including cross training employees in the range of their processes, making them more efficient in the event of absence and sickness. The external training undertaken includes four employees embarking on CMI Diploma Level 3 in the principals of leadership and management. Through the programme, TML has become more aware of the risks posed, and have taken the necessary actions to mitigate risks, therefore strengthening their relationships with the customer.

The SC21 OE programme is coordinated and governed by ADS, the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

ADS Director for Northern Ireland, Leslie Orr said: “Northern Ireland is home to a very strong cluster of aerospace supply chain companies who are committed to delivering a high standard for their customers and it is because of that drive for excellence that we have the highest percentage of Gold performance awards across the UK.

“Congratulations to TML for all of their hard work over the last four years, they have made great progress through the SC21 Operational Excellence programme. Their commitment to improving their processes and standards has produced outstanding customer delivery results to see them reaching the highest possible level for the first time.”

Technical Metals Limited’s Managing Director, David Sales said: “Against a background of a global pandemic and economic uncertainty we are delighted to be awarded SC21 Gold during these extremely challenging times. The award is an acknowledgement of the professionalism and skill that we apply to all elements of our business and recognition of our staff, customers and suppliers. The diagnostics will continue to assist us with our Continual Sustainable Improvement Plan. Having received the Queens Award for International Trade in April and EFQM 5 Star in June of this year this third award in six months is very welcome.”