Fabricator Focus
99 % OTIF and Accurate Delivery Reports are Driving Customer Satisfaction
» SHEERLINE HAS REVEALED HOW vertical integration , internal communications , and a focus on providing an agile service have enabled it to achieve a world class OTIF ( on time , in full ) of 99.1 % in February , followed by 99 % in March – helping maintain high levels of customer satisfaction .
While benchmarking OTIF to assess performance is not uncommon for manufacturers , Sheerline tracks a particularly harsh standard , monitoring at full order level , not by item .
This means that if a single item is missing from any order ( that may contain dozens of items ), the full order counts against the overall OTIF score .
Delivery reports are sent the day before orders are due to be delivered and contain everything the customer needs to know . This includes an itemised list of the products being delivered , which is split by their orders . Not only does this give customers full visibility of what is being delivered and when , it also helps them to plan their production effectively , splitting everything down by individual customer projects if required .
Attention to detail and going the extra mile is something Sheerline has become known for thanks to initiatives such as this . The driving force behind this achievement is the key goal shared across all departments : customer satisfaction .
Alongside its single site , vertically integrated state of the art manufacturing , this enables Sheerline to offer incredible 5-day lead times on standard colours across its entire range .
Steve Musgrave , Sheerline Operations Director , commented : “ Receiving an OTIF of just over 99 % in February is an enormous achievement for the team , but we cannot let complacency set in . Our challenge now is to improve further and then maintain those levels , so customer satisfaction remains high .”
“ We ’ re passionate about continuous improvement , striving for perfection and the highest possible standards across every element of the business , which is why our processes receive the same attention as our products . Ultimately , the result is happy customers , who know what they ’ re getting , when they ’ re getting it , and that they can depend on us ,” he added .
www . sheerline . com
DHF ADVISES ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATIONS
» EPD DEMONSTRATE THE RESULTS of a Life Cycle Assessment ( LCA ), detailing ‘ cradle to grave ’ environmental impact of all processes involved with the manufacture of a product . This can include extraction and processing of raw materials , transport , all elements of the manufacturing process , dismantling and waste disposal .
“ Although it is not yet compulsory to use EPD in the UK , the market is increasingly self-regulating as manufacturers seek to demonstrate carbon transparency and market their products accordingly ,” explains DHF ’ s Commercial Director , Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens . “ Participation in the EPD programme is essential if the construction industry is to meet the growing demand for greater sustainability . We are delighted to be able to support our members by offering generic EPD .”
Back in June 2017 , DHF was widely considered ‘ ahead of the game ’ in launching 14 generic EPD ( in collaboration with ARGE ) - locks , door and window handles , hinges ( single axis ), lock cylinders , sliding door gear , window fittings , door closers , panic exit devices , shutter hardware , letter boxes , padlocks , glass door gear , electromechanical hardware , and push button locks - and since then , the federation has been educating and informing its members about the role and growing importance of EPD in the sustainability process ; a complicated subject , DHF has been plugging the ‘ information gap ’. This has effectively enabled members of the Building Hardware Group to meet changing market conditions .
“ EPD provide manufactures with positive credentials that are key differentiators in today ’ s market , and a powerful way to raise an organisation ’ s profile and demonstrate environmental commitments ,” continues Patricia . “ In short , they enable the manufacturer to provide quantified
data on their product ’ s environmental impacts , such as embodied carbon , ozone , acidification and more , surpass customer demands and specifications with increased transparency , promote a product ’ s reputation through internationally recognised standards , support innovative product development , such as improving efficiency for energy , materials and transport costs , enable whole life cycle management , and become recognised by building assessment schemes . In addition , they can inform building information modelling ( BIM ) software to make comparisons and assess design options that improve a building ’ s environmental performance .”
www . dhfonline . org . uk
60 JUNE 2024 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM