Manufacturing and Engineering Magazine Volume 425 - January 2016 | Page 15

AEROSPACE MICRO SPRING & PRESSWORK
well established customers often helping to
reduce the length of the supply chain. The ability to produce prototypes quickly and to have
varied manufacturing cells allows us to respond
to any quantity of order requirement,” furthers
Hawes. And most recently MSP has provided
evidence to this flexibility through recent works
where a Prime's first tier supplier specifically
requested the speedy delivery of a small quantity of components for an AOG situation. “The
problem was that the drawing required the part
to be made from patented material. The patent
holder had sold their square section drawing
equipment. We re-engineered the part,
obtained the necessary drawing concessions
and manufactured in 5 weeks.”
Through working as part of the Midlands
Aerospace Alliance (MAA), MSP has also seen
the benefit of membership with a body entirely, and wholly dedicated to the prosperity of
Midlands-based aerospace industry. Most
specifically, as Hawes explains, the MAA has
supported the company through persuasion of
key Primes and Global 1st tier groups in both
interact with, and listen to small and medium
sized suppliers; thus, the playing field becomes
far more open and accessible, with less barriers to entry.
Additionally, key to supporting MSP's operations over the past years has been the continued support of key supply chain members, to
which the company can attribute a degree of

“Our reputation within the industry
gives our customers the confidence
to discuss issues with us at design
and development stage”
its capability. Hawes enthuses: “Although
Aerospace projects are long term the leadtime requirements for prototypes and small
batches increasingly gets shorter and shorter.
Commercial demands for increased efficiency
are compounding so we need all our suppliers
to be agile, flexible, willing to accept change
and quick to respond. The suppliers who
respond in this way are given our full support
and their assistance is much appreciated.”
Through this keen investment into emerging, advanced technologies and the dedication
to quality, flexible solutions which the company displays, MSP's continued success is all but
assured. And through the further support
offered to the company via the supply chain,
MSP's competitive advantage is absolute.
www.microspring.co.uk

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