Suffolk-based Wrightform, a laser cutting specialist, has created eight new jobs after demand for its services swelled by 25%.
A string of new orders over the last twelve months has boosted Wrightform’s turnover to £2.5m and prompted it to create eight new jobs.
Wrightform offers laser cutting, punching, shearing, bending, fabrication and machining services for prototypes, single parts and low to medium volumes.
The company’s successful response to increasing demand from its customers, which operate in the oil & gas sector as well as automotive and food processing, is thanks in part to help from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).
Wrightform’s deputy general manager Jane Everett-Page commented: “We are delighted with the growth we’ve enjoyed, but when it happens so quickly you have to make sure you can handle it effectively…basically ensuring both new and existing customers receive the same high levels of quality and performance.”
Ms Everett-Page admits that this was a challenge for Wrightform which quickly found its existing manufacturing systems could not absorb the influx of new work.
The decision to ask for help from MAS in restructuring internal processes and growth strategy was fundamental to the success the company has enjoyed over the past year she acknowledged.
She continued: “They quickly sat down with us and mapped out the journey from taking the initial enquiry through to the dispatch of goods. This allowed us to identify the bottlenecks and areas where communication failed, two issues that were overcome by comprehensive action plans to tackle root causes and introduction of KPIs.”
MAS also introduced Wrightform to a number of lean processes and continuous improvement techniques to improve efficiency and effectiveness on the shopfloor.
As a result of these process and operational improvements on-time customer delivery at Wrightform has increased 15%, cycle time of proofs reduced by 50% and the company also now boasts an impressive 99% right first time score.
Reviewing these achievements MAS Advisor John Coubrough said: “Like many companies who have experienced major surges in demand there is a tendency to throw more people at it and firefight…this can cause serious issues.
“Wrightform was beginning to experience this scenario, but acted quickly to tap into external advice and guidance.”