Scottish manufacturers achieve industry excellence for aerospace, defence and security sectors

Martin Aerospace in Lanark, Axon Cable from Dunfermline, RD Taylor of Glasgow, Linlithgow-based Fasteq, ZOT based in Musselburgh, Plexus in Kelso, Ireland Alloys of Blantyre and Castle Precision Engineering Ltd in Glasgow have all demonstrated, sustained performance levels above the minimum bronze award criteria of 90 per cent on-time delivery with quality standard levels at least 98 per cent.

SC21 is a UK-wide industry excellence programme overseen by ADS and delivered in Scotland by Scottish Enterprise’s Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS). SC21 aims to improve the competitiveness of the aerospace, defence and security industry by raising the performance of its supply chains. The programme has been running for four years across the UK, with significant momentum in Scotland achieved over the last two years.

Scottish Enterprise director of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, Nick Shields, said: “Companies are more and more realising the importance of achieving excellence in quality and customer satisfaction - the reputation associated with these qualities is ultimately what wins new business and contributes to growth.

“In the last two years we’ve seen a real increase in the number of companies actively participating in SC21, which is testament to our collaboration with ADS and large scale, global manufacturing companies such as SELEX.

“This year, alone, has seen a record breaking number of companies in Scotland achieve the SC21 bronze award – last year just one company, Castle Precision Engineering Ltd, successfully achieved the standard – and I would like to congratulate each and every one of them for their hard work and commitment to winning this outstanding achievement.”

SELEX Galileo, a global manufacturing leader in defence electronics markets which has one of its key sites based in Edinburgh, is a strong supporter of SC21 – 100 of its 1000 active company supply base are signed up to the programme – and is why it offered to host the UK-wide conference in Edinburgh.

SELEX Galileo senior vice president, radar and advanced targeting, Alastair Morrison, said: “Our Supply Chain is the largest single part of our cost base and is therefore a crucial part of our business success. As one of the 19 founding members of SC21, we are committed to increasing the competitiveness of all suppliers. These task force meetings provide us with a valuable opportunity to measure our progress and take the necessary actions to increase our efficiency.

“We were keen to host this event to demonstrate our commitment and support for SC21 and Scotland’s SME community, and offer the opportunity to strengthen existing networks and forge new ones. The end objective is increased efficiency which is essential to our future success.”

Scotland is home to around 330 aerospace, defence and security companies which collectively could achieve £30 million of productivity benefits by investing in SC21 and undertaking business improvement projects. To date, 27 manufacturers are active in Scotland on SC21.

ADS project manager of SC21, Phil Curnock, said: “ADS is delighted that the programme is delivering benefits to companies in Scotland and demonstrating how important the aerospace, defence and security sectors are in helping to re-balance the economy. “