A small West Midlands business that designs and manufactures bespoke electrical and electronic assemblies for a diverse range of industrial markets has been named Barclays Factory of the Year for 2008 in the Best Factory Awards (BFA) run by Cranfield School of Management.
Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd, based in Walsall, also scooped the Best Electronics & Electrical Plant, the Skills Development Award and the Best Small Company Award. It employs 180 people at the Walsall site and this year sales have grown by over 20%.
The Best Factory Awards run by Cranfield in partnership with the magazine Works Management, brings together the best manufacturers in the business to share best practice and to celebrate their achievements. The awards recognise UK manufacturing excellence, particularly companies with pioneering work practices.
Cranfield School of Management’s Dr Marek Szwejczewski, who is Director of the Awards, said: “Power Panels set the standard in manufacturing excellence.
“It has invested steadily to achieve guaranteed repeatable quality – the by-product of this has been production efficiency. It is clear that it lives and breathes ‘adding value’ for the customer. The company helped one customer double output without the need for any additional space or people – a remarkable achievement! The entire operation is structured around one beneficiary – the customer.
“Another thing which sets this company apart is its commitment to invest in its own people. Power Panels takes hard-working people and turns them into a committed workforce, whose skills and attitude put them at the very top of the industrial tree. The company’s success is testimony to the fact that investing in people is vital and can reap rewards for the business.
“An SME achieving such success is great news for the future of UK manufacturing and hopefully something that others can learn and benefit from.”
When Power Panels first entered the BFA in 2005, it was a force to reckon with, winning: Best Small Company, the Supply Chain Award and The Judges’ Special Award. The company has continued to go from strength to strength.
Works Management editorial director Ken Hurst said: "Earlier this month the government launched a revitalised manufacturing strategy, which includes a new quango to improve the image of manufacturing and a school’s campaign to promote manufacturing career prospects to young people. The first thing I would do is to introduce the quango and the kids to the BFA winners – they’re real life examples of manufacturing at its best."
The full list of winners, and highly commended plants for 2008:
Barclays Factory of the Year: Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd, Walsall.
Best Process Plant: Saint Gobain Glass UK, Eggborough, East Riding of Yorkshire: The plant manufactures flat glass for the construction industry, including float, coated and laminated glass products.
Highly commended: Kodak Ltd GCG.
People Management Award: Aimia Foods, Haydock, Merseyside: The plant operates extensive co-packing and outsourcing facilities for the vending and food service industries and is an independent specialist in hot and cold drinks.
Skills Development Award: Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd, Walsall.
Highly commended: Saint Gobain Glass UK, Eggborough, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Best Engineering Plant: Gates Power Transmission, Dumfries: The plant manufactures synchronous timing belts and components for both the Automotive and Industrial markets.
Highly commended: Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd, Worcester.
Best Electronics and Electrical Plant: Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd, Walsall.
Highly commended: Siemens Traffic Controls, Poole.
Supply Chain Award: Plexus Corp (UK) Limited, Kelso, Roxburghshire: The plant manufactures complex, high-tech products. It operates in a variety of markets including wireless infrastructure, medical, industrial, commercial, defence, security and aerospace.
Highly commended: Gates Power Transmission, Dumfries.
Best Household and General Products Plant: Aimia Foods, Haydock, Merseyside.
Highly commended: InterfaceFLOR, Halifax, West Yorkshire and The Wrigley Company, Plymouth, Devon.
Best Small Company: Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd, Walsall.
The Judges’ Special Award: APPH Runcorn Landing Gears, Runcorn: The plant produces hydraulic systems for the aerospace industry and specifically aircraft landing gears.
Most Improved Plant: Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd, Cramlington, Northumberland: The plant manufactures and packages a wide range of innovative pharmaceutical products.
Highly commended: Bakkavor Pizza, Spalding, Lincs.
Innovation Award: Skymark Performance Films Ltd, Scunthorpe, North Lincs: The plant specialises in the production of hygienic, breathable and bespoke packaging films and co-extruded films.
Highly commended: Plexus Corp (UK) Limited, Kelso, Roxburghshire.
Energy & Environment Award: InterfaceFLOR, Halifax, West Yorkshire: The plant produces environmentally-responsible modular floor coverings and other textiles.
Highly commended: Saint Gobain Glass UK, Eggborough, East Riding of Yorkshire.
Health & Safety Award: Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd, Cramlington, Northumberland.
The awards were presented on Friday 19 September at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
All entrants receive a free benchmarking report to help them measure themselves against their competitors, and to help them improve and innovate.
Notes to editors
Cranfield School of Management is one of Europe’s leading university management schools renowned for its strong links with industry and business. It is committed to providing practical management solutions through a range of activities including postgraduate degree programmes, management development, research and consultancy. www.som.cranfield.ac.uk
Works Management is a leading industry journal, 61 years old this year, and renowned for covering best practice in the manufacturing sector. It is published by Findlay Publications.
The 2008 Best Factory Awards are presented in partnership with Barclays and sponsored by: Autodesk, DAK Consulting, Grant Thornton, The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, Siemens, SOE IPlantE, TBM Consulting Group, Toyota Material Handling and Unite the Union.
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Marie McCormack, Press Office, Cranfield School of Management
on: +44 (0) 1234 754425 or marie.mccormack@cranfield.ac.uk
Photographs
Photographs of the award-winning plants and the awards ceremony can be downloaded from www.bestfactoryawards.co.uk from 1pm on Monday 22 September.