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News Release from: GTMA | Subject: GTMA World Class
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 December 2002
GTMA World Class is key to world market
One of the GTMA's most successful initiatives has been the promotion of the World Class Series of Standards in Toolmaking, Precision Machining, Metrology, RPD and Tooling Technologies.
Quality, Quality and yet higher quality That is what both consumers and OEMs are demanding today
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 2 Sep 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Only a few years ago, quality issues were seen as the prerogative of the "men in white coats" locked away behind the glass doors of the standards room.
Now OEMS are increasingly demanding that their suppliers make the achievement of quality targets an essential part of the process.
As vital links in the supply chain in a wide range of manufacturing sectors, from aerospace to packaging, GTMA members are closely involved in raising quality standards and one of the GTMA's most successful initiatives has been the creation and promotion of the World Class Series of Standards in Toolmaking, Precision Machining, Metrology, RPD and Tooling Technologies.
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This programme has been designed to assist GTMA member companies to make improvements in: productivity and lead times, work in progress, supply chain costs and defects and cost of quality.
Participation in the program involves three distinct phases: during phase 1 the company achieves an in-depth understanding of the requirements of a World Class business and uses the standard as a self-assessment tool.
Phase 2 includes the practical implementation of a project or projects to reduce costs and moves the company closer to World Class standards.
The final phase involves undertaking the complete GTMA self-assessment program.
The GTMA World Class Panel has recently secured SEEDA (the South-East England Development Agency) funding for a World Class self-assessment program for GTMA members located in the South East of England, using resources from the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
The SEEDA area extends from North Oxfordshire, across to Milton Keynes and includes Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Berks and Bucks, but not London.
No matched funding or contribution is required from GTMA members in this area and all companies will be individually invited to receive the grant which is valued at GBP 2500.
The process starts with a one day review and planning session facilitated by an MAS Manufacturing Specialist at the company's premises to identify areas for improvement and to plan the delivery of the remainder of the programme.
The detail of each programme varies from company to company, but will typically lasts up to six days spread over a period of several months.
A pilot project, involving three companies was completed last year with most encouraging results, which is why the decision has been taken to roll the programme out across the SEEDA region.
The GTMA is now making great efforts to have the initiative extended into other Development Agency regions.
The levels of improvement that can be achieved using the World Class Series can be quite astonishing.
Yorkshire-based Claro Precision Engineering, for example, has just been awarded its World Class Standard for Precision Machining.
The company, already renowned for its high levels of efficiency, decided two years ago to undertake the World Class journey.
The self-assessment process demonstrated that there were a couple of areas where improvements could be made, particularly in terms of the layout and lighting of facilities and these issues were subsequently addressed.
Innovations in customer service were also introduced including the creation of "kits of components" for clients who required them.
Technical Director, Tim Godolphin, believes that in the difficult times the whole industry has experienced, the introduction of World Class standards has helped the company not only hold its own but also to grow.
"It's vital to get every last drop of efficiency out of our production systems and equipment," he explains, adding, "We have been delighted to achieve an increase in turnover of between 25-30% over this two year period, with the same number of people.
We put this down to the increases in efficiency that the World Class Series has helped us to achieve." Tim also finds that one of the most positive aspects of the process is the pro-active involvement of everyone in the company and the resulting increases in motivation and morale.
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