JC shows its ‘metal’ with major sales boost

JC Metalworks, which employs almost 100 people at its Bishop Meadow Road facility, has secured a string of new contracts to supply precision metal parts for point of sale and products being used by high street brands, restaurants and clients involved in the automotive, retail and Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) sectors.

Backed by expert support from the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), the company has completed a strategic business review that identified the need for a more cohesive approach, a programme of upskilling across the workforce and the implementation of new lean manufacturing processes.

This has resulted in the £1 million surge in business and is just the start as the firm plans to achieve £10 million turnover by 2020, a £3.3 million increase on its current £6.7 million order book.

Nick Oakland, managing director, commented: “There’s a lot of opportunities in retail POS and we are now pro-actively targeting those with very good effect. Our flexibility, manufacturing capabilities and ability to get involved in design makes us a natural fit and the recent new contracts underline this. These are technically demanding projects that need a strategic approach with the client.”

He added: “It’s all about building relationships and ensuring customers know our full range of expertise and how we can support them going forward. We are now up to £6.7 million annual sales and want to increase this year-on-year between now and 2020. If we can hit the £10 million as anticipated we’ll definitely need more staff; there could be as many as 20 new jobs.”

JC Metalworks has been working with the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP) since the beginning of the programme in October last year.

As part of the strategic review, the company was introduced to expert John Collins and his team at PCA, who supported the firm with internal organisational structure, developing training plans and creating a new approach to sales.

A ‘5S’ manufacturing strategy was also devised and implemented, which has resulted in better ownership on the shopfloor and initial improvements in capacity and efficiency.

Mr Oakland continued: “MGP was really easy to access and it has introduced us to some very good people. It has also opened our eyes to the other support that is out there and we are already embarking on some additional initiatives to support the development of our website and branding.

“I’d recommend other companies get involved. The grant, and more importantly the knowledge it brings, can make a major difference to your business.”

JC Metalworks, which also runs its own apprenticeship programme, has invested over £250,000 into improvements over the last 18 months.

JC Metalworks www.jcmetalworks.co.uk

Manufacturing Growth Programme www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk