Makefast Marine hardware manufacturers
Operating from a purpose built 15,000 sq ft facility in Newtown, Mid Wales, Makefast is a leading UK based designer and manufacturer of marine hardware, as well as higher added value, higher specification products.
Makefast supplies a comprehensive range in the UK, – with export sales to the USA, Japan, South Africa, Australia, Canada and mainland Europe.
Quick-release pins, u bolts, deck hooks and eyes, hose clamps, blocks, eye plates, snap shackles, clewboards, sail hardware, Makefast's unique range of products is designed, developed and manufactured in-house, maintaining top quality, a rapid turnaround, and excellent customer service. Established 25 years' ago, the company is in the process of expanding, and currently employs 32 staff.
WHY WORK WITH MANUFACTURING ADVISORY SERVICE (MAS) WALES?
Makefast requested that MAS Wales carry out a DTI Benchmark operation
at its facility in Newtown, in order to analyse the company's performance
in comparison with other SMEs operating in a niche market. The purpose
of the exercise was to identify areas of good performance, as well as to pinpoint where improvements needed to be made.
“The process provided an excellent opportunity for the company to identify its strengths and weaknesses,” explained production manager, Mike Mills. “It takes a third party to makes objective assessments on how the business is operating, and where its successes lie, and which areas need working on.”
BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH MANUFACTURING ADVISORY SERVICE (MAS) WALES
As a consequence of the benchmarking procedure, Makefast was able to
implement a number of improvement projects:
• The benchmark process revealed that, although customer satisfaction was very good, efforts could be made to bring the company into the top three per cent.
As a consequence, a multi-disciplinary working group was established to look at a number of issues relating to customer satisfaction, such as improved communication channels.
• The process helped Makefast define a target for increasing revenue per employee
• As production runs in the company are small, regular changeovers have to be made. These need to be swift if high levels of productivity are to be maintained. Makefast is now improving speed and efficiency in this area
• Stock holding levels are being re-assessed
• Makefast has involved the whole plant in the improvement process, so everyone has a stake in making the company more effective.
MAS Wales consultants have all had experience of working in the manufacturing sector, and therefore understand the imperatives that drive it. We steer clear of the 'one size fits all' approach, and our advice is tailored to suit each individual company we deal with, so we are able to make a difference.”
ABOUT MANUFACTURING ADVISORY SERVICE (MAS) WALES
MAS Wales is based at the Waterton Technology Centre in Bridgend, and offers its services to all manufacturing businesses throughout Wales. BIC Innovation, Mid Wales Manufacturing Group and MEC Cardiff University will add specific regional expertise in the mid, north and south areas of the country, backed up by a substantial resource of manufacturing experts. MAS Wales receives funding from the DTI and the Welsh Assembly Government.
Further information is available from
Manufacturing Advisory Service Wales on 01656 750 691
www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing/mas/www.maswales.org.uk
