Supply chain award boosts Hermitage

With assistance from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), the sheet metal, fabrication and CNC machining specialist has introduced 5S, PDCA methodology and KPIs to help it review performance and make necessary improvements. Since the recruitment of a new production manager, the Hertfordshire company, which employs 30 people at its 12,000 sq ft facility, has seen lean manufacturing techniques become commonplace across the shopfloor and an improvement in quality and on-time delivery scores. It says the Silver SC21 Award will strengthen existing relationships with customers like BAE Systems, Grant Instruments, Lockheed Martin and Ultra Electronics. Managing director David Spencer (pictured) said the company, established in 1965, now achieved "levels of quality and delivery that were impossible four years ago, along with inventory reduced by two-thirds and 35% growth". MAS Advisor Robin Cheyne said Hermitage had secured "a standard that many companies ten times its size fail to come to terms with".