Clearview National November 2019 - Issue 216 | Page 62

HARDWARE
UK manufacturing investment
With Britain’s manufacturing industry reporting all-time lows in outlays amidst Brexit
uncertainly, Yale is bucking the trend by investing heavily in its UK manufacturing offering.
» » ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY
industry trade body EEF, investment by UK
manufacturers in new plant and machinery
slowed to 6.5% of turnover from 7.5% in
2016 . This is a trend that has continued
into 2019, with uncertainty over the UK’s
exit from the EU holding back planned
investment in many cases.
Yale Door and Window Solutions, however,
continues to invest in UK manufacturing to
the benefit of its customers. The company has
continued to invest in automation at both its
Willenhall and Cheltenham sites, allowing it
to bring product manufacturing back to the
UK from overseas.
The move brings with it the close quality
control measures that Yale prides itself
on. With both sites accredited to EN ISO
9001:2015 for quality management, the sites
will contribute to the rising quality standards
in UK industry.
Yale is also in the process of expanding its
warehouse to 254,008 ft2, approximately four
times the size of the previous building, and
moving it to a more UK central location to
help provide best-in-class services, all in time
for winter 2019.
As well as these investments, Yale is also
introducing a new CRM system across the
business that will enhance customer service,
communications and account management,
improving the customer experience.
The CRM system will put customer
experience at the heart of the business, helping
to maintain strong relationships with both
new and existing customers. With a single
client focus throughout all units, each new
offer, product and service will be immediately
visible and available. The automated system
will also ensure a greater alignment in project
and trade sales processes.
Paul Atkinson, Sales and Commercial
Director of Yale Door and Window Solutions,
comments: “We have always been passionate
about maintaining and building on a UK
manufacturing base, especially with the
current uncertainty surrounding Britain’s exit
from the EU. There are multiple benefits to
manufacturing in the UK; being closer to the
market we operate in means we are able to
respond to customer requirements and
fluctuations much quicker.
“There are also research and development
benefits for our customers when it comes
to new products. For example, we recently
announced that we were upgrading to stainless
steel on all of our multipoint lock faceplates
as standard, with the whole manufacturing
process taking place solely at our Midlands
head office.
“We also see a benefit in supporting the
local and UK economy; by maintaining and
growing manufacturing at our Willenhall and
Cheltenham sites we believe this will help
contribute to the UK job market. In a similar
vein, Yale is proud to be an official member
of Made in Britain, which aims to bring
together the entire British manufacturing
community.”
www.yaledoorandwindowsolutions.co.uk
62 » N OV 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M