Case Studies
Rowe Hankins - The Brief
Rowe Hankins goes ‘Lean’ and speeds up production with the help of The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and PDA.
The Brief
Rowe Hankins Components Ltd was established in 1986 as a specialist distributor and manufacturer of electro-mechanical components. Since then the Company has also branched out into manufacturing, producing sensors, displays, protection equipment and switchgear.
The Company is going through a transition from being a distributor to a manufacturer, therefore the company needs to reorganise their processes, particularly in their manufacturing operations to become more efficient. Lean Manufacturing was identified as being a valuable approach to accomplish this.
Through the MAS Scheme and with the help of Martin Braun, Consultant with PDA, Rowe Hankins undertook a 10 day Lean Manufacturing Project during which a Value Stream Map was compiled. A cross-functional team, facilitated by the Consultant, developed an improved layout and implemented it. In addition to this the Consultant trained operators in the 5S programme of workplace organisation and the Company are putting this continuous improvement tool to good use.
The Results
The results were:
• Productivity improved by over 30%
• Travel distance has been reduced by over 70%
• Space requirements reduced by 40%
Toni Hankins, Managing Director says..
Toni Hankins, Managing Director says ‘We are against the general trend of decline in manufacturing in the UK so we need to be very efficient. Lean philosophy introduced in all parts of the Company is one of our main strategies, coupled with an intimate knowledge of a niche world market, will make us successful. The MAS Programme as delivered by Martin Braun was well received at all levels in the Company and has instilled a real ‘buzz’ about the place.’