A leading subcontract machining specialist has become one of the first manufacturers in the UK to secure a prestigious new automotive quality accreditation.

Muller Holdings, which employs 90 people at its headquarters in Cleobury Mortimer, has achieved the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) 16949 standard, a standard that is now being used by the main car manufacturers and tier one’s when awarding new contracts.

This replaces the TS approval and is vital to the company’s desire to build on over £7 million of orders it currently holds supplying CNC machined and high-volume parts for use in heavy-duty braking systems, engines, electronics and door brackets.

“IATF replaces TS in September and is a lot more risk based, covering risk evaluation and analysis within all aspects of the business,” explained Stephen Lock, managing director of Muller South Wales.

“We recognised the need to achieve certification within a fairly narrow timeframe and set out plans to achieve this by carrying out a gap analysis and introducing new procedures and process controls that addressed the shortfalls.”

He continued: “Comprehensive training plans were also rolled-out to get buy-in across all of our four sites in the Black Country, Shropshire, South Wales and Worcestershire. The end result has been worth it, with the IATF certification achieved before many of our major customers.”

Muller Holdings, which has increased its workforce to 130 people over the last 12 months, specialises in CNC milling, turning, multi-spindle and CNC/conventional manufacturing services.

The IATF standard, which is held by all of its four UK sites and the factory at Manesar in India, puts the firm in an ideal position to not only retain existing automotive work, but also explore additional contracts to produce parts for new model platforms in the UK and overseas.

This approach is already paying off, with £300,000 of new orders recently secured with Wabco and THK Germany.

Mr Lock went on to add: “It’s a great start to an exciting 2018, a year where we are looking to increase sales past £14 million and invest more than £500,000 in new technology.”

The firm is part of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, an eight-strong group of subcontract manufacturers and an engineering design agency who work together to win orders and share best practice and resource.

Muller England
www.muller-england.co.uk

Manufacturing Assembly Network
www.man-group.co.uk