Member Article

World-leading technology company wins prestigious national award

Thermacore Europe Ltd, based at Wansbeck Business Park in Ashington, Northumberland is one of just a handful of companies throughout the UK to win a prestigious national award for its manufacturing operations.

The company is a global leader in thermal management technologies and operates in a wide range of markets including military, aerospace, computers, communications, energy conversion, transportation, medical and test equipment.

Thermacore has been presented with the Silver Award by SC21 – Supply Chain 21st Century, a change management programme designed to improve competitiveness and performance within the aerospace, defence, security and space industries.

The initiative is run by ADS Group Limited, the UK trade body for the four sectors.

Backed by strategic support and funding from the Business Growth Service, Thermacore has met the criteria to scoop the SC21 Silver Award for driving through supply chain excellence. The company has been able to improve on-time delivery for its global customer base, reduce waste and achieve more than £100,000 of annual cost savings.

Mark Robinson, Thermacore Europe quality HSE manager, explains: “The programme has been hugely important to us. We have been working closely to identify areas of improvement with our local SC21 mentor; the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), to achieve this important standard.

“The award rates overall business performance, manufacturing excellence and building strong customer relationships. Receiving endorsement from an independent, industry-recognised scheme confirms we are on the right track and demonstrates our supply chain efficiencies to current and prospective customers.”

The company originally received bronze recognition three years ago, and submitted its bid for Silver in June this year. Mr Robinson says it is about continuous improvement and maintaining high standards.

“We have advanced significantly in recent years thanks to the dedication and commitment of the whole team in Ashington and our colleagues at other sites within Thermacore Europe. We do it because we always aim to provide our customers with the best service possible and we now have the foundations in place to work towards Gold status,” said Mr Robinson.

In order to win the award which has three progressive stages – Bronze, Silver and Gold – a company’s personal progress, quality and delivery performance is monitored over a 12 month rolling period.

To achieve the Silver Award, delivery success rates must be between 95% and 99% and quality rates between 99.5% and 99.9%.

Sarah Barnard, SC21 projects manager at ADS Group Ltd, said: “Thermacore Europe represents one of the UK’s Aerospace, Defence and Security industry’s best performing organisations, demonstrated by their recent achievement of the SC21 Silver Award.

“With sustained high levels of quality and delivery and also outstanding business and operational excellence credentials, Thermacore is a striking example of how UK companies are competing within an important global trade sector.”

ADS work with signatory companies, regional trade associations, strategic partners and accredited training providers to administer the SC21 programme nationally which helps reduce set-up times, improve lead time reduction and increase sales per employee.

This year Thermacore Europe celebrates 45 years in business. The company is a global leader in the design, development and manufacture of thermal management solutions and technologies with customers including NASA and the European Space Agency. It employs more than 180 staff across five facilities in the UK and USA and currently employs 65 staff within its Ashington site.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Round Table Solutions Ltd .