Sony UK Technology Centre, manufacturer of professional and broadcast camera systems, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2012 Best Factory Awards (BFA).
The awards, which are now in their 21st year recognises manufacturing excellence in the UK and is run by Cranfield School of Management in partnership with the magazine Works Management.
Following a tough application process and an intense site audit, the Pencoed-based business has beaten stiff completion and is now one of the fourteen companies selected to complete for the prestigious prize of BFA Factory of the Year. Sony UK Technology Centre’s competition ranges from large corporate organisations such as Siemens and Cummins to small-medium enterprises within industries like the food and drink and healthcare.
Dr Marek Szwejczewski, Director of the Best Factory Awards commented: “All of the finalists are beacons of excellence, driven by the desire to improve and excel and are growing despite the flat British economy. Our awards aim to recognise their achievements and highlight systems and processes that others can learn from. The best factories in Britain are focused on delivering value to their customers, ensuring their employees are engaged and well trained; while also continually investing in their production facilities.”
Steve Dalton OBE, Institute of Directors, Director of the Year, South Wales winner and Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre, stated: “After such a thorough application process, it is a privilege for our site to be nominated as a finalist for the BFA Factory of the Year Award. It is great to be recognised by those who are helping to inspire, create and integrate new management thinking within the manufacturing industry.
“As a site we have worked hard to turn the site’s future around and we have had to ensure that our manufacturing skills are flexible and scalable in this tough economic climate. Myself and the rest of the team at Pencoed are always developing our knowledge and we look at ways to improve the way we manufacture our products. This can be through increasing efficiency, reducing cost without mitigating on the quality of our products or by reducing our carbon footprint. We have also had to adapt and diversify the way we do business, working with third parties to offer collaborative manufacturing solutions. By doing this we remain ahead of our competition and we secure the site’s longevity and sustainability.
“What’s more we are the only site to be nominated which is based in Wales, demonstrating we are excelling in our manufacturing techniques and capabilities outside of England. This is a huge achievement and I look forward to the final awards ceremony later this year.”
Max Gosney, editor of Works Management said: “The sheer diversity of our finalists making everything from ready-made pastry to professional camera solutions scuppers the myth of Britain as a manufacturing backwater. Operational excellence is thriving in the UK no matter what the product is rolling off the production line. Well done to all those shortlisted. The Best Factory Awards are notoriously tough, so these companies should be incredibly proud to have made it to the finals of the ultimate manufacturing awards.”
In addition to the converted Factory of the Year Award, the finalists will compete for 13 category prizes including: Best Process Plant Award; Best Engineering Plant Award; Best Electronics and Electrical Plant Award; Best Household and General Products Plant Award; Best SME; People Management Award; Skills Development Award; Supply Chain Award; Most Improved Plant Award; Health & Safety Award; Innovation Award; Energy and Environment Award and the Judges’ Special Award.
The winners will be announced at the BFA Awards Ceremony taking place on 28th September 2012 at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London.