26 February 2010
Big SQEP up for Company Member Alumasc
Diecasting Society member Alumasc Precision ended 2009 in celebratory mood when it received the Bronze level Supplier Quality Excellence Program award from Caterpillar, making it one of the company's top three or four suppliers internationally.
Won in association with Perkins Engines, the SQEP award recognises Alumasc's significant progress in achieving sustained quality and delivery targets set by the international machinery and engines manufacturer, which has a major presence in the UK.
At the award presentation, Perkins director and general manager Allan Arnott praised the company for the way in which it has embraced SQEP and worked to make consistent improvements to its performance.
The company - which includes Alumasc Precision Components and Dyson Diecastings - also attracted positive comment from Mark Lucas, senior materials controller for Perkins Engines, who commended staff for the way in which they have embraced key supply chain initiatives, such as reducing time required for planning, reducing delivery discrepancies, striving for a good response rate and building strong working relationship.
In response, Alumasc Precision MD Warren Roberts was quick to commend the workforce, many of whom were at the presentation. As well as highlighting the team work and flexibility of approach that enabled the company to achieve the SQEP milestone, he drew attention to the company's excellent safety record; not a single day had been lost due to accidents in 2009.
"The challenge now is for us to maintain these supplier metrics over the coming months so that we can aspire to the Silver award in the future," he said.
Contributing to that ambition and to the wider development and growth of the Alumasc business is the introduction of the latest tools and techniques in both processes and management style. Magma simulation software, for example, is just one of the advanced new product introduction methods that have been embraced, and process control is applied rigorously across all manufacturing disciplines.
Such innovation is not without cost of course, so the support of the financially strong Alumasc Group plc parent is invaluable. Despite recent economic and market conditions, it has helped both companies to maintain a commitment to growth with existing partners and new customers in new markets alike that has brought plenty of successes.
Dyson has built on its established relationship with Aston Martin to win work for a suite of aluminium substrates that support interior wooden veneers in the new Jaguar XJ series; and Precision Components, in addition to Caterpillar, has secured projects for Mak (Caterpillar's marine engine brand), Aston Martin, diesel engine manufacturer Deutz and Rotork, the world-leader in valve actuators and gear-boxes.
(Article taken from January/February 2010 The Diecasting Society)
