Arrowsmith Engineering became only the 5th company in the UK to receive the Goodrich ECEPs Lean self sustain. Status award. Reg Machin Goodrich Supply Chain Manager presented Arrowsmith with the Self Sustainment certificate in recognition of achievements under the Goodrich Supplier Development Programme. Arrowsmith have achieved this recognition for reaching high levels of sustainable Lean manufacturing processes which were achieved after Goodrich supplied 2 specialist Lean trainers to facilitate and train the Arrowsmith employees over a 3 year period.
Arrowsmith introduced 5s and TPM to every CNC, manual and Measurement machine in the company. Five Team Leaders were trained and promoted and 10 employees have received classroom training in lean techniques. The company progressed through the 4 stages of the program :
• Goodrich leading – supplier participating
• Goodrich facilitating – supplier leading
• Goodrich Consulting –supplier leading
• Supplier leading – Goodrich consulting
The work force are now leading on all new lean projects and have maintained all the improvements introduced over the last 3 years. The program has dovetailed excellently with the SC21 program that Arrowsmith had signed up to in 2008 and last month Arrowsmith hosted a MAS SC21 event at its Coventry head quarters, opening their doors to 25 industry visitors travelling from as far afield as Devon and Bedfordshire to view their progress. Three companies signed up for the SC21 program after the visit.
Goodrich have now sponsored Arrowsmith on their continuing SC21 journey and have assisted in setting up a SC21 Business Group consisting of 5 of Arrowsmiths most prominent customers – Rolls-Royce PPES, Pattonair Derby, Meggitt(MABs), PFW Nuneaton and Goodrich PPES. “ To have the input, support and advice from such prominent and impressive Aerospace companies is a huge boost for Arrowsmith”
Arrowsmith have very much welcomed strategic growth with their customers and have actively sort their customers advice in where and how to continuously improve – to ensure they continue to be a preferred supplier in the customers supply chain. “We believe the modern Aerospace supply chain is a partnership between all the parties involved and we have to provide a World class service”
The award is recognition of 3 years of genuinely hard work, thousands of man hours and about £1m capital investment. Arrowsmith now believe they are in a position to offer the Aerospace industry a world class service.