2005 Manufacturing Excellence

Yeovil based Westland Transmissions Ltd, a division of AgustaWestland, was presented with the prestigious Change Management Award at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards ceremony held at the Dorchester Hotel in London last Wednesday. The aim of the awards is to recognize and celebrate world class manufacturing performance in the UK.

"This is a fantastic achievement and due recognition for all the people that have worked so hard during this period of change. They have truly focused on the main business issues of supply chain performance and eliminating non-conformance. The key to winning this award was showing our ability to work together as a team focused on these issues as well as gaining significant support and investment from the parent company AgustaWestland, I am very proud to have been able to receive this award on their behalf, "said Ron Sams, Operations Director at Westland Helicopters, and formally General Manager of Transmissions, after being presented with the award.

The awards are organized by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and supported by the Department of Trade & Industry with entries from 118 companies throughout the UK this year. The awards evening was the culmination of an extensive selection process including the submission of a benchmarking report, a one day assessors visit to the Westland Transmissions facilities at Yeovil and a formal presentation at the headquarters of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in London.

The award recognizes a period of continued and sustained business improvement at the Company. It achieved improved delivery performance to its customers while meeting all financial targets. To achieve these goals, the company changed the way the business operates, including methods of manufacture and working practices while developing further team working and relationships with its suppliers.

Alan Johnston, Managing Director UK of AgustaWestland, who also attended the awards ceremony, said, "Westland Transmissions has achieved considerable success by improving what they do to meet customer needs. The award is recognition of the type of change required to support business transformation. Following the theme of schedule adherence, Westland Transmissions has demonstrated what can be achieved by meeting all its goals."

FMI: www.agustawestland.com