News
Wilson Tool International is named
‘Manufacturer of the Year’
Wilson Tool International, a
its shop floor, followed by
leading independent tooling
a Q&A session to shed light
manufacturer for sheet
on its lean practices. This
metal fabrication, has been
type of knowledge-sharing
named Manufacturer of the
event has been of great
Year by the Manufacturers
benefit to Alliance members.
Alliance.
“The willingness to share
The award is given
experiences and strengthen
annually to companies
fellow manufacturers was
that best exemplify lean
a major factor in selecting
manufacturing practices
Wilson Tool for this award,”
whilst sharing their
noted Art Sneen, President
knowledge with fellow
of the Manufacturers
manufacturers.
Alliance. “It represents what
“We’re honoured to be
the Manufacturers Alliance
recognized for doing what’s
best for our company, our
Above: Wilson Tool accepts its award
is all about.”
As an educational
customers and our industry,” just targets waste reduction The company has taken
association for manufacturing
said Brian Robinson, co- – it’s a frame of mind. That’s advantage of beneficial
companies, the mission of
president of Wilson Tool. why we prefer the term programmes offered by the
the Manufacturer’s Alliance
“This award is a testament ‘continuous improvement’ Manufacturers Alliance,
(www.mfrall.com) is to
to the outstanding efforts of to lean. We have focused on including workshops,
provide peer-to-peer training,
our workforce. We’re also lots of small improvements. monthly meetings and
education and resources
grateful to the Alliance for We take it bit by bit. And it benchmarking programmes.
which allow manufacturers to
helping manufacturers like has worked in a big way,” It also hosted fifty
continuously grow, improve
us stay competitive in the Lawless commented. manufacturers for a tour of
and stay competitive.
international market.”
Just three years into its
lean manufacturing initiative,
Wilson Tool has threaded Worcester sees upturn in orders
its unique take on lean
throughout the company. To Worcester Presses Ltd, the UK separate automated production three months of 2007 and this is
be successful, it believes that
power press manufacturer and sole lines. Four 3-tonne bench presses refl ected in both the orders and
everyone must have a stake
UK representative for Taiwan-based have also been sold to a company enquiries we have received, which is
in lean efforts, from the
Chin Fong Presses, has seen an in Ireland manufacturing compo- very encouraging. One of the orders
factory floor to the executive
upturn in both export and UK de- nents for the European market. is from a company, who has decided
offices. They see it as a
mand for power presses and other In the UK, the company sold a to invest in our experience and
gradual process in which
many smaller efforts add up
ancillary equipment with orders 6-tonne geared bench press and technology rather than purchase
to make a big difference.
worth over £160,000 received in a 10-tonne re-conditioned bench from a low cost country, whilst other
According to Chris
February 2007. press to companies in the south of customers are replacing old equip-
Lawless, VP Operations at
Export orders lead the way with England, whilst a re-conditioned ment with new to increase their
Wilson Tool, this philosophy three 6-tonne friction clutch high Chin Fong 45 tonne ‘C’ frame production, a factor noted in the
is working. “Our approach
speed bench presses ordered for single crank press has been sold to market intelligence we have seen.
to any lean project is that
delivery during May 2007 to a a company in the Midlands. There appears to be some recovery
it won’t be undertaken
company in Egypt. These presses Charles Higgins, managing in UK manufacturing, which makes
unless there is complete
follow a similar machine sold to the director at Worcester Presses, said: us more positive for the future.”
participation at the front
company four years previously and “We have noticed that the market • For further information, e-mail:
end. It isn’t some slash-
and-burn procedure that
will be used as part of three new is much more buoyant in the fi rst sales@worcesterpresses.co.uk
12 May/June 2007 International Sheet Metal Review
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