24 | OCTOBER 2021
News
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
APEER AND LUMI : GETTING IT RIGHT FIRST TIME
New World Developments , Apeer and Lumi ’ s parent group , has always had the highest standards when it comes to quality control . But over the past 18 months the company has concentrated on streamlining and standardising these procedures , as its product line has grown .
As a result , customer complaints regarding loose items have virtually been eliminated , and around 98 % of Apeer and Lumi products are consistently manufactured ‘ Right First Time ’.
Apeer doors and Lumi windows are produced at NWD ’ s factory premises in Ballymena , Northern Ireland , using 100 % end of line inspection along with inline process auditing to ensure quality assurance .
“ One hundred per cent inspection has always been a part of NWD quality process however it is only in the last two years that it has been standardised and documented ,” said quality manager , Eric Crawford .
“ Currently we have two inspection instructions in place which cover over 90 % of the total manufacture , with the rest to follow in the future . The documented instructions are used to standardise the inspection process in a way that all inspectors cover all the critical care points needed to ensure door and window quality .”
All new inspectors are trained using the instructions from day one to ensure a consistent approach , while all key processes are audited at least once a week to check they are being carried out in line with the standard operating procedures .
In addition , there have been specific improvements made to
the quality control processes , said Eric : “ Fixed gauging has recently been introduced for better knocker hole positioning and cylinder hole alignment . Standardised inspection stations have also been introduced with a standard set of tools , and new high definition cameras have been purchased along with additional CCTV cameras . We ’ ve also introduced loose item / kit box content photography to resolve issues customers were having with missing parts – which we are pleased to say has virtually eliminated the problem .”
With this ongoing quality control focus , Lumi and Apeer customers and Trade Partners can be more confident than ever when
they order doors and windows .
“ Our customers rightly expect the best , and we will continue to refine our processes and raise our targets to ensure we consistently deliver just that across the board ,” said Eric .
“ At the start of 2021 we set a target of 98 % Right First Time ( RFT ) with a stretched goal of 99 %. This year has seen a steady improvement and we are regularly achieving 96.5-98 % week to week . Our focus now is on developing the internal processes , product suppliers and quality planning needed to achieve and sustain 99 % RFT to the customer .”
www . apeer . co . uk
Shelforce eyes another award after G21 nomination
Birmingham window and door manufacturer Shelforce has been nominated for Best Fabricator at this year ’ s G-Awards . The awards , which was unfortunately cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic , will take place on November 26 at the London Hilton on Park Lane .
After being crowned the 2021 Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce ( GBCC ) Business of the Year and winning the Excellence for People Development award at the same event , it ’ s been a fantastic year for the company .
In April Shelforce were the main feature on ITV ’ s Made In
Richard Jackson , Freefoam UK Sales Director
Freefoam Building Products , a leading manufacturer of a wide range of innovative products for the building industry in Ireland , the UK and Mainland Europe is delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Jackson to the new post of UK Sales Director .
Richard has been with Freefoam for the last 16 years as National Sales Manager , and as a result of the companies exceptional growth over that time , the senior management team have introduced this new post to meet the business needs in to the future and to ensure continued sales development and commercial success .
Alongside the sales growth , Richard has been the driving force behind the diversification and development of the customer
Britain , having been chosen by producers to demonstrate how sustainable windows are produced and tell the company ’ s unique story .
The company specialises in providing high-quality PVCu and aluminium products to local authority building projects but at the heart of its manufacturing services is a genuine commitment to inclusivity and supporting disabled people in their entry to employment , with 75 per cent of their workforce having a disability .
www . shelforce . com
base , with the continuous support of existing customers and the introduction of new customers , both independent stockists and national merchants . Richard commented : “ I ’ m looking forward to working with our sales team and customers to maximise market opportunities and ensure Freefoam stays at the forefront of the PVC roofline and cladding market .”
www . freefoam . com