We are thrilled to be hosting a networking reception at DSEI 2023.
Please do join us to hear what’s new within the Framework incuding the Baseline Assessment Tool and our latest signatories to the programme. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our SC21 Award Winners.
Places are limited so if you would like to book your place – please register via a Microsoft Form here.
A new Baseline Assessment Tool (BAT) is helping SMEs assess their performance and understand where improvement is needed as they embark on their SC21 journey. It’s the initial phase of an enhanced SC21 programme and also now part of a larger Supply Chain Solutions Framework.
REQUEST ACCESS TO THE TOOL HERE
ADS SC21 Competitiveness Director, Colin Hart explains more:
Over the last 17 years the SC21 programme has helped over 1000 businesses improve their competitiveness and their bottom line and we are pleased to be able to offer a new Baseline Assessment Tool along with some new tools and techniques across a broader framework to enable businesses to become future fit.
Being led by industry for industry has always been a strength of the programme, and building on that foundation we have been expanding the solutions we can offer to participants to meet the future needs of supply chain performance not only in terms of traditional capabilities such as reliable delivery and zero defects but also sustainability, digitalization, and innovation.
The tool has been designed by industry supply chain experts from the aerospace, defence and automotive sectors, together with input from national and regional partners under the SC21 Competitiveness pillar of the Supply Chain Solutions Framework and developed by Vauechain Technology Limited.
Valuechain Technology Limited is proud to be in the business of connecting and managing supply chains through collaborative online software. Our strong emphasis on Quality, Delivery, and Cost performance management drives us to create effective solutions. With great pleasure, we announce our partnership with ADS for whom we’ve developed the latest online SCS Baseline Assessment. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to supply chain excellence.
KAEFER in the UK & Ireland serves a large and growing range of industries with asset integrity services. These services include access solutions, insulation, inspection & testing, protective coatings, asbestos management and more – generating an annual turnover of c.£250 Million. The company currently has 8 operating centres across the UK and Ireland, employing approximately 3,000 highly skilled and experienced people.
Keafer Ltd have been supporting Babcock International for a number of years by providing painting, blasting and scaffolding services.
Kaefer operates with a strategic Lean team. Babcock Faslane and Kaefer Corporate introduced them to SC21. Babcock Faslane are their regional partners, and JLC Consultants Ltd their SC21 partners.
Kaefer Ltd has strategic goals which include continuing growth in the UK naval sector, expanding the range and scope of service on all sites through the development of operational excellence.
Kaefer Ltd is keen to develop their SC21 journey across all sites. Faslane will embed the Bronze learning before seeking to progress to Silver level performance.
Kaefer has found that their Lean Champions act as ambassadors for ongoing participation with the ADS SC21 Continuous Improvement Programme, utilising the structures and gap analysis to deliver improvement and innovation.
Kaefer has experienced several benefits from the programme:
A quote from their Business Manager, Alan Westhall: “Our SC21 Journey has facilitated our site teams in becoming better leaders; engaging with our staff and operators in focusing on improvements and a delivering actions.”
Active Electronics head office is based in High Wycombe and is supported by a procurement subsidiary in New York together with a sales office in Brisbane Australia. Active has become a trusted source for electronic components and offer tailored supply solutions with quality systems and processes second to none. Active has a global sourcing ability and have the expertise and equipment to identify counterfeit components to ensure our customers only receive genuine products.
Active Electronics Plc was established in 1974 and has become a leading Service Provider for electronic components and assemblies to the Aerospace, Defence and Hi-Rel Industries.
The steps Active Electronics has taken to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of the business continue to benefit them. They continue to develop new business partnerships which seek to enhance and complement our existing product ranges. The strategy to concentrate on programme led opportunities has continued to bear fruit and the order book increased by 16% during the year and is at an historical high, giving good visibility and confidence going into 2023.
Active Electronics recognised the benefits to an aligned OTIF and RFT across the industry making co-operation with the majors a simpler task. This is the reason why they decided to be part of the SC21 programme.
For their participation, they aligned Metrics across the organisation and built better relationships with their major stakeholders.
Active Electronics’ MD Clive Homewood said: “[SC21] Has given Active senior management the opportunity to focus on itself and help improve every aspect of the organisation.”
Tannlin’s foundations lie in the design and manufacture of the world’s first stencil laser cutting systems. Initially for the production of laser cut stencils, Tannlin’s capabilities expanded encompassing advanced laser cutting systems, custom laser cutting production cells, high accuracy laser processing and electronic assembly support products. Innovation is at the heart of the business creating innovative customer solutions through continuous investment in people, research and development. The company supplies laser cut stencils to a broad spectrum of industry sectors, both commercial and military.
25 years as a leader in developing and selling state of the art, high precision, laser cutting machines and automated production systems, supplying product manufactured on these systems.
The organisation first engaged with the SC21 program in August 2021 and has progressed through the Manufacturing and Business Excellence Assessments, building their CSIP, awarded Bronze 2022.
For their future they plan to grow both their Systems and Products divisions, by developing in-house expertise, innovative system solutions, and continuously improving the service levels their people deliver.
The organisation sees the SC21 program as a significant tool impacting our ongoing continuous improvement strategy to deliver operational and organisational excellence.
The organisation has a long history of product and service development and delivery performance. Their products and services are consider to be best in class. The senior management team are determined to further develop their systems, behaviours, processes and ways of working in order to attract the best talent.
Tannlin recognises the scope and range of learning facilitated by the SC21 Program compliments their existing approach to continuous improvement. The SC21 platform gives them a focussed toolset that we believe will accelerate the delivery of improvements in operational and organisational excellence.
The company had been working on elements of Lean Continuous Improvement activities prior to engaging with the SC21 program: including reducing product lead times, process times and identifying/removing lean wastes. Engaging with the program has facilitated engaging the wider organisation in improvement activity. As they continue their SC21 journey they will see evidence across the wider range of elements opposite.
Other benefits they have experienced are:
A quote from Scott McPherson, Manager of Tannlin’s Operations and Systems Department:
“We believe by making the SC21 programme a key part of our wider strategy for continuous improvement, it will enable us to use our resources more effectively and see measurable benefits quicker. The CSIP has been integrated into our Business Improvement Processes”
Since 1979, Plexus has been partnering with companies to create the products that build a better world. They are a team of over 25,000 providing global Design and Development, Supply Chain Solutions, New Product Introduction, Manufacturing and Sustaining Services. Plexus is an industry leader that specialises in serving customers with complex products used in demanding regulatory environments, transforming their concepts into branded products and delivering them to the market.
Plexus were awarded Silver status in May 2023.
Alan Buchanan, General Manager for Plexus UK said, “Our continuous improvement philosophy allows us to proactively expose problems and find ways to fix them. Our innovative and flexible approach ensures we continue to deliver customer value and spark positive change. Achieving SC21 Silver status is another significant milestone for Plexus in the UK. It will support our ability to deliver for our customers.”
Douglas Turnbull, Continuous Improvement Leader Snr. added, “At Plexus, we’re proud of what we deliver in terms of operational excellence. SC21 allows us to share our experiences and continuously learn with like-minded collaborators.”
They have experienced the following benefits since implementation of SC21:
Righton Blackburns are a leading supplier of high quality metals and plastics to the Aerospace, Defence, Oil & Gas and Marine sectors. Operating from twelve Service Centres nationwide, and utilising state of the art warehousing facilities and logistical expertise, they can provide their customers with a reliable and efficient delivery service from locally held stocks for standard, non-standard or customer specific materials.
They are an established stockholder for over 100 years, and a merger with Blackburns Metals in 2018. They supply alloys, steels and plastics to Aerospace, Defence, Oil & Gas and Marine sectors.
Righton Blackburns have now rolled out SC21 to Plymouth, Portsmouth, Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds service centres.
For the future, they intend to continue to develop closer working partnerships/relationships with key customers in the Aerospace and Defence sectors. Righton Blackburns strategy is to achieve a minimum of silver award status across all SC21 participating service centres.
SC21 has become a core strategy across the Righton Blackburns group of service centres. The Manchester Service Centre has targeted and achieved silver award status since 2020. Righton Blackburns Manchester has observed the benefits that other Righton Blackburns Service Centres have achieved using the SC21 methodologies and how they have successfully implemented operational improvement programmes in the warehouse and office processes. The RMM and RelEx tools are also very useful for developing closer working relationships with their key customers such as BAE Systems.
The process mapping was deployed in their Office sales & Admin processes with good results. The workforce has become more motivated/involved in the business processes. There are plans in place to utilise the very useful RMM tools in conjunction with key customers, and also process map the warehouse order picking. Their internal performance measures/KPIs have also been standardised. The CSIP format is now part of the quarterly management review process. Righton Blackburns Manchester have been nominated for a supplier award by BAE systems.
Righton Blackburns Manchester has experienced, between others, the following benefits:
Keysight Technologies Inc. is the world’s leading electronic measurement company, transforming today’s measurement experience through innovations in wireless, modular, and software solutions. Keysight delivers solutions in wireless communications, aerospace and defense and semiconductor markets with world-class platforms, software and consistent measurement science. The company’s nearly 12,600 employees serve customers in more than 100 countries.
Founded in 1939 , HP spun off its measurement business to form Agilent in 1999. Agilent spun off its electronic business, to form Keysight Technologies in November 2014.
They have completed their 1st diagnostics in October 2013, with Airbus Defence & Space as their sponsor. Keysight were awarded Silver status since October 2013. They hosted 12 key customer meetings where we share progress against plan.
Terry Giles, Customer Services General Manager said that Keysight’s strategy for the future is “to continue to engage early with industry innovators to transform and deliver differentiated design, test, and optimisation solutions in high-growth industries.”
“Their aim is to continue to exceed performance metrics with SC21 and to position Keysight working collaboratively and adding value across all key primes.”
Also their intention is to “continue to expand multi-vendor services & asset management solutions”, continued Terry.
They will work “to strengthen customer engagement, that has led Keysight to successfully win new contracts”
SC21 helped them to “improve delivery and quality performance metrics, where Keysight are now consistently achieving above target performance”. They also have “improved employee engagement and motivation across UK sites.”
They have experienced the following benefits since the implementation of SC21:
Kate Tinkler – Customer Success Manager and SC21 Program Lead
Terry Giles – Customer Services General Manager
Part of the ASG group, Phoenix CNC Engineering Ltd is an Engineering company specialising in Precision 3 and 5 Axis CNC Engineering excellence. Phoenix has continued to expand in a competitive market by working closely with our customers to share risk and provide as required bespoke innovative solutions. We manage our customers order to continually deliver quality products at a competitive cost with collapsed lead-times and 100% on time delivery our key differentiator.
Phoenix have undertaken a SC21 Competitiveness and Growth diagnostic and have an agreed action plan which can be used in conjunction with their SC21 Operational Excellence CSIP.
Signed up in 2018 and progressed to Bronze award in 2021, they are working towards Silver now.
Phoenix strategic intent is growth through investment and developing capability whilst continually improving on performance, their objective being to continue to “Delight” their customers.
The benefits they have experienced implementing the programme are:
A quote from their Group Quality Director, Cliff Yates: “As a nominated key supplier to a Blue Chip clientele, Phoenix has the ability to consistently manufacture and supply quality machined parts fully certified, on time, right first time.”
Company Video on ASG Group – Precision Engineering, Machining, Turning, Grinding (asg-group.co)
Propak Sheet Metal has been in the fore-front of the precision sheet metal industry for over 40 years offering a fully integrated precision sheet metal manufacturing and finishing service, all carried out in-house.
The company signed up to SC21 scheme in 2009 and since then they have maintained Silver and Bronze recognitions. Their involvement in the SC21 was driven and encouraged by some of their prime customers, Thales in primes and of course BAE Systems, MBDA and Ultra Electronics.
Propak has experienced the following benefits in adopting the SC21 programme:
Bruce Bennett, founder of the company, said:
“Welcome to Propak Group. Propak Sheet Metal original founded in 1977 to serve the print and imaging industry. We have since grown to offer a fully-integrated precision Sheet Metal Fabrication.
Although we are very traditional in what we do, we recognize that we need to keep an open mind to be able to cope with the multiple waves of tremendous marketplace changes over the years.
Our dedication to progress that drives our growth and efficiency has been widely recognised by our customers and, we are committed to operating responsibly and we are dedicated in leaving a positive legacy in our community.
We work closely with our customers and we always listen to their needs. Serving a variety of sectors for over 40 years we ensure that our facility is equipped with the necessary equipment, to deliver this huge diversity of products without compromising on quality or performance. Our motto is simply ‘give customers what they want when they want it’.“
Bruce F. Bennett
Managing Director and Founder
Propak Sheet Metal Ltd