Mini Gears: Success through technology investment and internal management (Part 1)

Mini Gears is an experienced manufacturer in precision engineering in Stockport, UK. Recently, the company has invested 1.3 million pounds to build infrastructure systems and renovate modern machines.

The explosion of industrial revolution 4.0 has changed the market. The customers of Mini Gears have increasingly stricter requirements on product speed and quality. Accordingly, in order for Mini Gears to remain competitive, the change is inevitable.

An improvement roadmap has been approved by the management of Mini Gears, including two main activities: Innovating technology and strengthening internal management.

The first step in the roadmap is to build an infrastructure that can accommodate the requirements of new technologies. A system-based software called Keyence has been installed to improve management efficiency. “Within four months of Keyence’s installation, our night shift was 15% more efficient. This allows us to produce with higher productivity”, said Mr. Durkin – Managing Director of Mini Gears. “For aerospace work, one advantage of using Keyence is that all manufacturing details are recorded for later use as typical lessons. 100% of key indicators will be measured and recorded to control the safety level.”

Besides Keyence, the company has also invested in a new Gleason Pfauter GP300ES gear forming machine to shorten the production lead time. “This machine enables us to finish cutting a higher quality gear layer instead of gear grinding, inner and outer helical cutting without having to purchase expensive helical guides and, for gears inside, we will be able to calibrate to tighter tolerances, eliminating the need to buy grinders, ”Mr. Durkin confirmed. “In addition, by cutting the internal components, we control the size of the plating and heat treatment.” Although Gleason was purchased primarily for aerospace product manufacturing, it is also available when it comes to manufacturing some of the premium components in the defense and surgical equipment industries.

Modern technologies and machines have brought a new breath to the Mini Gears. However, in order to maintain the efficiency of the improvement process, the resource management issue needs to be addressed meaning that Mini Gears needs a reform of its internal management apparatus.

(To be continued)

Productivity and Quality Office