Machinery & Manufacturing
SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE ON LEAN MANUFACTURING JOURNEY
» LEADING SPECIALIST fabricator Mercury has successfully reached its first milestone as part of its lean manufacturing journey , establishing a dedicated metrics room that is now an integral part of its multi-site operation . This accomplishment is marked by the company ’ s first ‘ GREEN ’ day across all three manufacturing factories , a remarkable achievement after just 12 weeks of implementing the strategy .
Alan Hockey , Manufacturing Manager at Mercury , said : “ The establishment of the metrics room and the successful realisation of our first ‘ GREEN ’ day across all factories signifies our dedication to continuous
improvement and operational excellence . This is just the beginning of our journey to deliver even greater value to our customers and uphold our reputation as a leading specialist fabricator .” Mercury ’ s commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement has led to the launch of its lean journey . Establishing the metrics room plays a pivotal role in this endeavour , serving as a central hub for data collection and manufacturing analysis . By leveraging data-driven insights , the company aims to optimise its manufacturing processes , enhance efficiency , and ultimately deliver continued value to its customers .
Alan commented : “ The system evaluates performance metrics against predetermined thresholds , categorising them as either ‘ REDS ’ for areas that require attention and improvement or ‘ GREENS ’ for areas that meet or exceed targets . This approach enables the company to focus its efforts on areas that will yield the greatest impact on efficiency and quality .”
He continued : “ Achieving our first ‘ GREEN ’ day across all three factories marks a significant milestone in our lean journey and demonstrates the effectiveness of the new metrics room and the commitment of the entire team .”
Mercury is a trusted name in the fenestration industry , known for its commitment to delivering a high-end product portfolio to support all market sectors . Products include aluminium windows , sliding doors , bifold doors , designer doors , aluminium sash windows , curtain walling and internal screening . They are also a longstanding Spectus vertical sliding sash window fabricator and manufacture both standard and mechanical joint options .
www . mercuryglazing . co . uk
New approval for state-of-the-art in-house paint plant
» GARNALEX ’ S IN-HOUSE STATE-OFthe-art powder coating plant has been recognised for its ’ quality assurance processes after being awarded a QUALICOAT coating applicator approved licence – the world ’ s leading quality label for aluminium coatings .
This is especially significant as Garnalex is currently the only manufacturer in the East Midlands to hold the coveted licence . As well as helping them stand out from the competition , the licence gives customers peace of mind as they know the company ’ s products are of the highest standard .
To gain the licence , Garnalex underwent QUALICOAT ’ s rigorous approval process , which involved a detailed application outlining every step of the company ’ s powder coating process and submitting samples for testing .
Being an approved licence holder means Garnalex has and will continue to adhere to QUALICOAT ’ s specifications for its ’ plant , equipment , coating materials , and finished products . QUALICOAT has a continuous monitoring programme in place .
For licence holders , this ensures they keep their approval , while their customers continue to benefit from the highest standards possible . This is in line with QUALICOAT ’ s mission to maintain the standards and quality of coatings for alloys and architectural applications .
Since investing £ 1.3 million to bring powder coating in-house , Garnalex has gained control over its ’ quality assurance processes while Sheerline ’ s customers have benefited from improved quality delivered in as responsive and agile way as possible .
Ross Hartshorn , Technical Production Director , said : “ Since bringing our powder coating in-house , our paint plant has gone from strength to strength , gaining multiple industry recognised accreditations , including the QUALICOAT coating applicator approved licence .”
“ This is all part of our strategy to ensure we maintain our edge and keep both Garnalex and Sheerline ahead of the competition . The team have worked hard to ensure we gain this approval – it ’ s a fantastic result , particularly as we are the only manufacturer in the East Midlands to hold this quality licence ,” he added .
www . sheerline . com
92 SEPTEMBER 2023
CLEARVIEW-UK . COM