Engineering support for business

Expansion led Darlington engineering firm Mech-Tool to turn to Teesside University for help to streamline business processes.

The Darlington firm fabricates modules for the offshore and renewables markets, as well as offering solutions for clients to protect people and equipment from explosion, fire and noise hazards.

After increasing its services for customers and expanding its workforce, Mech-Tool sought consultancy support to review the way it operated.

The company knew that to remain competitive and be responsive to market changes, it had to be proactive and adopt best practices in industry, ensuring company procedures were standardised and documentation integrated across the business.

Mech-Tool called on Teesside University’s industry support unit Teesside Manufacturing Centre (TMC) to look at strategies to move the business forward. TMC reviewed the firm’s business systems, highlighting key areas where the organisation would benefit.

TMC worked with the company to prioritise areas of improvement and identified the need for a system which could pull all information together relating to different functions of the organisation.

Kevin Harland, operations manager at Mech-Tool, said: 'It was eye-opening when the report was carried out and we were able to get pointers which would benefit us as an organisation.'

The consultancy led Mech-Tool to embark on organisational change and redefine processes. The company is now looking at systems to enhance the management of daily operations across the organisation.

Kevin added: 'Teesside University went that extra mile and from our point of view it was a very worthwhile exercise, bringing in someone who can look at the business in a different way, with a fresh pair of eyes and ideas. Although acting as consultants, it’s your goals and results from your point of view which the University focuses on.

'Developing relationships within education is important and we’ve developed a partnership with the University. The more industry gets involved in the academic sector the better.

'The University is equipping students to go into the industry with the skills they need. As a result qualified graduates are coming through who can help to take the business forward.'

Ruben Pinedo-Cuenca, of TMC, worked as project manager with Mech-Tool. He said: 'The company was seeking support to identify a strategy for the business moving forward. They’re really pleased with the outcome, we have developed a close relationship and we are still working with them on other projects.

'Although collaboration through consultancy can be short, we look for long-term partnerships and relationships.'

The consultancy was carried out through the University’s EPMS (Environmental Process Management Services) project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Notes This project is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, securing £300m investment.

The project will make a major contribution to the ambition of the ERDF Competitive Programme 2007-13 and by increasing the numbers and survival of business start ups in the region and increasing business productivity.

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