Adept VP Ltd
Adept VP Offices
“We are delighted with the support.” Jim Brindley, Managing Director, Adept VP Ltd
The Manufacturing Challenge
Leicestershire based Adept VP has been manufacturing for over 20 years in the vacuum forming sector. They specialise in producing a variety of vacuum formed products in sectors such as; point of sale display, automotive, educational, packaging, aerospace and the leisure industry. Adept have the technology (including 5-axis routing) and expertise to offer a comprehensive vacuum forming service and pride themselves in a strong commitment to quality. Adept specialise in offering their expertise by putting their customers first, tailoring each project to meet individual requirements regardless of the size of order. They will take control of any project right from the initial design concept through to the finished product.
However, as with many businesses today, Adept has been faced with challenging decisions to make as they adapt to ensure their long-term survival. They believe they need to be exploring ways to restructure, implement new systems and survive this time of economic uncertainty. Many of the systems are paper based and much of management time has been spent on handling quotations.
MAS Action
Adept VP’s Managing Director, Jim Brindley, had previously taken advantage of a business transformation grant from MAS, and when MAS Advisor David Wright visited the company to review the impacts of the grant, he identified that Adept could benefit from additional MAS support.
Looking at their requirements, it was clear that I personally could assist them to improve their internal processes.”
David continues; “Adept needed to review its pricing structure. Additionally, they needed to create new demand and remove the dependence on major customers. There was also a requirement to improve the capture and processing of enquiry, quote and sales information in order to have better visibility of the company’s business performance and to focus on high value work.”
The decision was made by Jim to utilise David’s knowledge for several days of support. David highlights the activity that he undertook with Jim: “We reviewed profitability of different sources of business with regard to the current demand generation process from end to end. We identified and classified existing clients alongside developing a contact strategy for existing and new customers. We defined and agreed a new demand development strategy for the company and undertook a review of the quotation, stock and production control processes.”
Results
Jim explains the impact of the support provided: “A mistake that we have probably made was that we failed to fully acknowledge the increased pressures, demands, and workloads that fell on some of our remaining employees (including myself). In these times of downsizing retained workers are inevitably left doing the work of two or three individuals. Although, we are a long established company we have often been too busy to look into new computer systems to the extent that we perhaps ought to have done, and of course we need to keep our costs to a minimum, David has been able to show us how to generate information using user friendly and cost effective systems. We are in the early stages of our project, but immediately we have realised the benefits. We are delighted with the support and find David very knowledgeable in a wide range of topics. His ideas and thoughts also have a motivating affect.”
Jim and the team at Adept are now continuing with their journey with the support of MAS and specialist advisor David Wright.
