Rolls-Royce contract for Hampson

Citation

Galbraith, P.F.A.M. (2000), "Rolls-Royce contract for Hampson", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772fab.026

Rolls-Royce contract for Hampson

Rolls-Royce contract for Hampson

Keywords: Robson Precision, Rolls-Royce, Gas turbines, Components

Robson Precision Ltd, a subsidiary of Hampson Industries plc, informs us that it has signed a contract to supply gas-turbine engine components to Rolls-Royce plc in a "New Deal" initiative that could provide a turnover to the Birmingham-based sub-contractor of £40 million over the next four years. The contract follows an earlier signing by Mibert Precision Ltd, another Hampson subsidiary, of a similar contract potentially worth £5 million over three years.

The "New Deal" introduced by the UK's premier aircraft engine builder, requires improving quality, costs and deliveries to "world-class" levels from a reduced subcontractor base. Robson, it is reported, was chosen because of the company's evidence of improvements in all areas of production and administration combined with a policy of continuous investment in modem machine tools.

Robson has provided Rolls-Royce plc with thousands of components for a wide range of aircraft engines over many years. The contract will allow the company to focus on a core base of fewer product lines with year-on-year cost reductions, at the right quality and with shorter lead times for delivery. The company also informs us that it is aggressively reducing waste in all its forms, accelerating machine tool setting times and improving quality yield.

Robson's components are often manufactured from castings, material and forgings supplied by third-tier companies with specialised skills. Achieving the aims of the contract will require a re-appraisal of sourcing and purchasing methods to ensure that the entire supplier chain adopts the same commitments to improvements required of Robson Precision.

Having moved recently to a prestigious new 60,000sq.ft factory north of the city of Birmingham, the company considers that it is already on target to supply "world-class" products. Special manufacturing cells have been set up for specific product types, to ensure a high level of skills and to provide a focus on families of components. Kanban supply systems are being established to provide customers with a continuity of supply and to eliminate manufacturing lead times.

Details available from Hampson Industries plc. Tel: +44 ( 0)1384 485345; Fax: +44 (0)1384 485346.