Achieving excellence through
accelerated learning
Achieving excellence through
accelerated learning
Based in West Bromwich – Burcas Ltd have traditionally been driven by their automotive work. But just over two years ago they set their sights on the defence and aerospace sector and needed help to gain AS/EN9100 certification as a first step followed by full engagement with SC21. They turned to the Manufacturing Advisory Service and TEC to provide the necessary support and external expertise to make things happen.
“Building and maintaining relationships is one of the biggest challenges companies face today. Thanks to MAS-WM and TEC, we are now able to provide our aerospace customers with a better service immediately and a commitment to ongoing improvement in the future” said Steve Bounds, Works Manager, Burcas.
Preferred providers TEC established that Burcas needed to implement a modern, visual and process-driven AS/EN9100 system to consolidate step-change improvements in their overall Quality, Cost, Delivery and Responsiveness performance. It was also necessary to engage with their key suppliers. The phased project using the principles and practices of lean and six sigma was undertaken over 18-months focused on aimed boosting the effectiveness and efficiency of internal and suppliers’ operations. A key objective was to harmonize and streamline all of the supplier-interfacing systems and the internal processes that supported them.
“Burcas was one of the first companies to sign-up for the World Class Supply Chain initiative and it is this foresight that will put it in a prime position to exploit the multi-million pound opportunities that will come up in the aerospace industry over the next five years” said Cliff Johnson, SC21 Project Manager, MAS-WM.
Burcas adopted a practical approach that involved one-to-one mentoring and business support from industry experts TEC. This assistance helped the company implement a host of process improvements and a new communication system – all geared towards improving the already impressive quality standards, delivery adherence and relationships with suppliers and key customers. All three ‘streams’ of SC21 were deployed in concert –
The result reinforced the adage that “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts”.
“The outcome has been a highly effective aerospace supply chain cluster with Burcas established as a specialist machinist and ‘kitting’ integrator for aerospace customers” said Mike Burrows, Managing Director, Burcas. He continued “Securing AS/EN9100 certification and fully engaging with the SC21 campaign is driving our business in the never-ending journey to excellence and will ensure that we retain key contracts and, importantly, win new business”
SC21 diagnostics
Burcas established their ‘current state’ by undertaking the SC21 diagnostics – and then developed a prioritized CSIP to identify major improvement projects for themselves and their suppliers
Internal and supply chain involvement
A major success factor was to integrate and streamline all supplier-interfacing systems with the internal processes that supported them. Performance at the ‘SC21 levels’ can only be attained and sustained with the full involvement of the supply chain.
AS/EN9100 + Lean + Six Sigma
The outcome is a highly effective aerospace supply chain cluster with Burcas established as a specialist machinist and ‘kitting’ integrator for aerospace customers. TEC deliverd all three streams of SC21 proving the the 'whole is greater than the sum of the parts'.
Burcas case study