To remain competitive Hydro Cable increased its efficiency and reduced delivery times.

The challenge

SMAS carried out a business review of Hydro Cable and found that manufacturing time had to be reduced if the company was to continue to compete for new business and achieve their ambitious expansion plans.

Hydro Cable were put in touch with SMAS through their account manager at Scottish Enterprise Grampian. SMAS were brought in to help improve efficiency across the business, primarily reducing delivery time.

The company

Dedicated to designing and manufacturing sub-sea cables, Hydro Cable has dramatically improved efficiency by working with SMAS. In fact, they are now moving to new premises to manage the increased demand.

Founded in 1982, Hydro Cable specialise in the design, engineering, manufacture and distribution of underwater connectors and fibre optics. Their main clients include the Ministry of Defence, oil and gas suppliers, and some aerospace companies.

Around 70 people are employed by the Aberdeen-based company, which has clients across the globe.

How SMAS helped

Managing Director Doug Whyte said that SMAS brought “real and practical tools to help us manage and measure things.”

Some of the effects of SMAS’s intervention include:

• Efficiency improvements of 20%.
• Delivery time being halved, from eight weeks to four weeks.
• A dramatic increase in productivity.
• A significant reduction in the defect rate.

SMAS were able to improve efficiency by looking in detail at the internal supply chain. This ensured that customisation took place at the most appropriate time. Value-added productivity improvements were measured at around £146,000.

By reducing the lead time, Hydro Cable are able to take on more work from clients. This helped to safeguard jobs in what is a highly competitive industry.

Morale was also improved through the work with SMAS. As Doug Whyte said:

The great thing is that SMAS, as an outside facility, gets people from all levels of the business involved. Some people aren’t always happy about things getting dictated by management.

Outcomes

The work by SMAS has helped Hydro Cable improve efficiency and reduce lead time. This means they are an even more attractive prospect for customers, which should support their expansion plans for the next four years.

Hydro Cable are now working with SMAS again, to ensure that their new premises work as efficiently as possible. This includes bringing in the 5S manufacturing philosophy, which should cut down on waste and improve the flow of work.

Doug Whyte was quick to suggest the other business could benefit by working with SMAS. He said:

I certainly would recommend them to other companies. We are a manufacturing business and SMAS have real expertise in the manufacturing sector.

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