GKN Aerospace Supplier Awards recognise exceptional service
- Farnborough Airshow the venue for GKN Aerospace's 4th Supplier Awards, where 5 companies gain awards.

At a breakfast reception at Farnborough International on Wednesday 21st July, 2010, attended by some 33 companies, GKN Aerospace recognised the exceptional level of service of 5 suppliers from its global supplier base.

Rob Soen, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain, GKN Aerospace explains:
"With GKN Aerospace's global presence these awards recognise the increasing demands and expectations placed on international supply chains. The award scheme enables us to acknowledge and publicly thank those suppliers who have made a truly exceptional contribution in the last 24 months."

Regional Supplier - Europe was awarded to All Metal Services Ltd who supply aluminium cut plate and extrusions to the Company.
"All Metal Services continue to set the benchmark for performance and operational excellence, being consistently competitive, innovative and flexible in their approach, always ready to explore new commercial solutions and add value." commented Soen.

Regional Supplier - North America was awarded to Onamac Industries for outstanding customer service in the supply of aluminium and steel parts for programmes such as the Boeing 777 and F-35.
"Onamac has worked closely with us showing complete dedication to GKN Aerospace in achieving a 100% quality rating and on time delivery" said Soen.

GKN's SC21 Supplier of the Year was awarded to High-Tech Engineering Ltd for sustained, consistent 100% quality and on time delivery of machined components for a wide range of commercial and military aircraft programmes. GKN Aerospace is a founding signatory of the A|D|S UK 21st Century Supply Chain initiative (SC21) and is pleased to recognise those companies that have committed to the requirements of the SC21.
Soen explains: "High-Tech has always shown total commitment to our expectations and continuously supports our needs including working to drive down lead times and costs. They were the first precision engineering company in the UK to gain SC21 bronze recognition and are the first and only company to sustain and improve their performance levels, moving from Bronze to Silver."

Magellan Aerospace (UK) Ltd received the Environmental Achievement Award. "Magellan has taken the lead in investigating the use of non-solvent based paints and in investing in new anodic treatment processes aimed at reducing the environmental impact of their manufacturing activity. They are currently involved in developing a new treatment facility in India, ensuring the plant meets rigorous world class standards for protecting the environment." explains Soen.

The award for Innovation and Lean Supplier went to Doncaster Bramah, a supplier of precision components and assemblies.
"Doncasters worked with us on an exercise to map processes and analyse material flow. As a direct result, and by working with them subsequently to introduce various lean manufacturing techniques, we achieved a significant reduction in process cost - a real achievement by anyone's standards." remarked Soen.

Soen concludes: "Today GKN Aerospace is a market leader in composite and metallic structures, transparencies and related niche technologies. Alongside our sales growth in recent years we have increased our purchasing activity by some 30% to approaching £750m. We are focusing on developing suppliers who will become an integral part of our extended supply chain, offering them partner engagement across both technology development and investment."

At the breakfast awards ceremony GKN Aerospace also announced the launch of a new initiative which will begin deploying lean principles with supply chain partners during the course of quarter 4 2010. This will ensure long term engagement and benefit across GKN Aerospace, its customers and supply chain.