As you grow, you will be looking to add significant value to your specific production activities and associated processes. As an outsourcing partner, PP C&A will be able to assist in numerous ways.
From early design concepts, design for manufacture and assembly (DFMA), supply chain design & optimisation, to product standardisation, design approval processes and machine build, test and logistics – a complete end-to-end contract manufacturing solution is on offer.
As your outsourcing partner with a comprehensive set of manufacturing disciplines and connections, PP C&A will develop a strategy that builds in plenty of benefits. Benefits such as manufacturing cost and lead time reductions, flexibility and agility in the supply chain, a more modular and configurable approach to design, and finally; build, install and commission efficiencies with improved product performance and reduced machine downtime.
Many leading machine builders consider contract manufacturers for part of the overall build solution, PP C&A can support you in the same way but can also accommodate a complete machine build & test service should this be required.
A combination of production and engineering capabilities to suit your specific needs can be accommodated to deliver the desired result.
Such a solution can broadly be divided into module build, part machine build or full machine build – – whichever provides the optimum solution for you.
Get a quick glimpse at key capabilities by interacting with the solutions wheel below.
PP C&A is always inspired by the many benefits of building partnerships as part of a wider strategy to support the trend for outsourced design, engineering and more specialist competencies required by OEMs involved in complex machine building.
Cooperation within a framework of customer specific needs and optimisation of those needs, alongside the ability to adapt and drive innovation is sought after now more than ever.
PP C&A’s technical partnerships with innovative technology suppliers, testing & approval bodies and industry associations facilitates the continuous development of the company, capturing emerging opportunities at speed thanks to an ‘on request’ pool of expert knowledge and know-how to dip into.
If leveraging the benefits of partnerships developed at PP C&A could help on your growth journey, then PP+ may be of interest. PP+ is an expansion of the traditional outsourcing model that considers the customer’s growth objectives and offers a single-source solution to industry-best resources and guidance.
Navigating the maze of approvals is one that you really don’t want to be attempting alone. PP+ Growth Module Partner, Product Approvals Ltd is a specialist consultancy and testing solutions company.
The PP+ outsourcing model gives access to several ‘Growth Module Partners’ that sit within the realms of industrial design and offer a luxury of different design disciplines.
Within weeks, KPM is already reaping the rewards of the PP+ ecosystem of specialist Growth Module Partners.
One of the UK’s leading strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialists is aiming to help domestic businesses cross the well-publicised ‘valley of death’.
It’s important to understand the nuances of disruption if you’re to go on making the right strategic choices, and of course, making your mark with your product or innovation.
PP C&A is a proud and long-standing member of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, also known as the MAN Group.
The MAN Group is a network of manufacturing companies designed to share technical excellence in mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering processes.
As a customer and partner of PP C&A, access is open to numerous manufacturing disciplines from a single source and a more stable solution for complex, multi-discipline engineering projects.
The MAN Group consists of seven specialist manufacturers, one engineering design agency and the knowledge transfer of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).
Aluminium casting
CNC & conventional machining
Contract electronics manufacturing
Electrical & electronics assemblies
Forging
Metal stamping
Plastic injection moulding
Tube bending & manipulation
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There should always be a process of consideration when selecting the right outsourcing partner and understanding how that partner delivers against your requirements. That’s why PP C&A introduced the 3D process. It clearly defines the whole journey into three specific stages: Discovery, Decision, Delivery.
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This collection of case studies examines some of the recent strategic outsourcing partnerships delivering against several business pains for machine builders and OEMs. This guide collects case studies published during 2021.
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This guide highlights key technical supplier relationships covering a broad set of categories, from industrial design support and access to academia, and automation and legislation partnerships, to packing and shipping finished goods, all designed to add sought after value to customers.
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Too many times companies allow a product design that engineers in unnecessary cost, creates a cumbersome supply chain and poor efficiency of build. Such companies then spend time and energy, post-design, attempting to reduce costs. It is often too little, too late.
A typical pain point for many can be alleviated by PP C&A’s proven expertise in value engineering at the initial design stage with the customer, and optimising the supply chain to create both competitiveness and resilience, eliminating ‘hidden costs’ and risk.
Supply chain ownership requires valuable experience and the necessary competence, in order to streamline the supply chain, improving efficiencies and associated costs at the same time.
Businesses often overlook the very real cost advantages associated with this transfer of supply chain responsibility. It’s not just the cost in time saved by outsourcing order placement (the average estimation of which is circa £90 per PO raised), but also in the corresponding tasks of booking goods in, packaging disposal, parts storage and movement, delivery note processing, paying supplier invoices and so on. The costs build with every additional administrative task within the arrangement.
When considering strategic outsourcing to unlock growth potential, the production and operational benefits that are often first examined should never be considered in isolation. It is important to not overlook the very tangible commercial opportunities, because they can make just as much impact to the bottom line.
Reduced costs associated with tactical purchasing – day to day “placing & chasing” functions within the purchasing resource can be focused on strategic activities.
Minimised goods in and internal logistics processes.
Reduction in physical space for inventory – creating additional added value spaces (e.g. additional production).
Improved working capital and cash conversion cycle times
Access to alternative suppliers and product solutions that can provide additional technical benefits.
Combined customer and supplier purchasing needs, which opens-up an opportunity to leverage volume-based cost reductions.
A new era of supply chain volatility has hit machinery and equipment manufacturers hard with a broad range of disruptions, from material shortages and price fluctuations to suppliers going bankrupt.
There is no magic ticket out of the mess, but it is a time when businesses with the ability to think outside the box will stand better ground and be better prepared when disruption eventually lifts.
Read the latest thought leadership content and case studies in the Resilience Book.
This book collects a series of published content on the topic of supply chain disruption from leading voices at PP Control & Automation and the wider UK manufacturing community. It details not just the disruption at play, but also the opportunity to break the cycle and take back control. Together, we’ll come out the other side buoyant with greater resilience than ever before.
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PP C&A has a proven track record of working with many of the world’s leading OEMs and understand the importance of managing the detail.
Cross functional project management teams can assist you every step of the way, to ensure the move to outsourced manufacturing is a smooth transition with the minimum of disruption.
PP C&A work with your team and consider all factors that can impact the program.
Engineering design
Design for Manufacture and Assembly
Technical compliance
Approvals and standards
Test specifications
Supply chain considerations
Packaging and logistics
Methods of order placement or replenishment
General administration
Manufacturing and assembly are critical stages in the production process of any product. These activities can be costly and time-consuming, which is why many manufacturers choose to outsource them to partners who dedicate facility space and capacity to contract manufacturing and assembly projects.
One of the most significant benefits of contract manufacturing and assembly with a strategic outsourcing partner is cost savings.
Availability of labour and skilled workers is tight in the manufacturing community so outsourcing can be a lucrative proposition. This allows manufacturers to reduce their hiring costs, such as advertising and agency fees, background checks, drug tests, and other forms of pre-employment screening, training, and employee turnover costs.
An outsourcing partner’s investment in training and development, skills and employee engagement appease labour constraints for machine builders and ensure the highest quality standards. Additionally, outsourcing can help manufacturers reduce the cost of investing in expensive equipment and facilities that may not be fully utilised.
Another benefit of outsourcing manufacturing and assembly is increased flexibility.
With the ability to quickly adjust production levels, manufacturers can respond more efficiently to changes in demand. This is particularly useful for companies that experience fluctuations in sales. Contract manufacturing and assembly outsourcing allow manufacturers to adjust production levels as needed, which can help them to maintain profitability during slower periods.
Access to specialised expertise is another advantage of outsourcing.
Contract manufacturer and assembly partners often have expertise and equipment that machine builders and OEMs may be limited to in-house. This can improve product quality and reduce development time. Additionally, contract manufacturers and assembly partners can help manufacturers to comply with industry regulations and standards, which can be a significant burden for manufacturers.
Strategic outsourcing partners will also have access to several and varied production and engineering capabilities. PP C&A has invested in the skills and processes required to ensure optimum quality and delivery in several disciplines. They include electrical control & automation, electronics assembly and box build, pneumatics, hydraulics & fluid, mechanical design and assembly, vacuum chambers and gas management, and cable harnesses.
Reducing risk is another important benefit of outsourcing. By outsourcing these activities, manufacturers can reduce the risk of investing in expensive equipment, facilities, and skills, whilst helping to mitigate the risk of supply chain disruptions, which can be costly and time-consuming to resolve.
Finally, by outsourcing these activities, manufacturers can focus on their core competencies, allocating more resources to areas that are essential to their business such as product design and R&D, or sales and marketing. This is a well-utilised approach for machine builders and OEMs looking to unlock their growth potential.
If you are considering outsourcing and contract manufacturing and assembly services, it is important to choose a partner who has the expertise, equipment, and resources to meet your needs. Additionally, it is important to establish clear communication and expectations with your contract manufacturing and assembly partner to ensure that your products are manufactured to your exact and expected specifications.
The way companies access inventory management is changing rapidly and leading the charge is Solihull-based Inventor-e.
PP Control & Automation and Hedinn are now engaged in their 13th project together and the largest yet, the construction of a new plant for Sildarvinnslan.
Play an interactive video with hotpoints that delve into the story behind the manufacturing partnership with Needham Group and the assembly of its N-Lase range of products.
A strategic manufacturing outsourcing partnership – built on trust, integrity and maximising each other’s production expertise – is celebrating ten years together with the launch of the world’s most productive EDM drilling machine.
This collection of case studies examines some of the recent strategic outsourcing partnerships delivering against several business pains for machine builders and OEMs, and how those partners are benefiting from the PP C&A approach.
Turning to the strategic manufacturing outsourcing expertise of PP Control & Automation could prove to be a pivotal decision for Needham Group as it aims to turn a £30m expansion blueprint into reality.
Inventor-e is accelerating disruption of inventory management with the help of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, a unique collective of sub-contract manufacturers and a world class engineering design consultancy.
A new manufacturing partnership between PP Control & Automation and Jenton Group has created the capacity to build new UV technology in volumes that could help protect us from Covid-19 in indoor spaces.
As the years have gone by, the relationship between the two businesses has become more interlinked, with PP C&A increasingly being asked to be involved in the design stage of new machine builds.
Watch how Ishida realised their growth potential by making outsourcing part of their manufacturing strategy.
We believe in meeting you, listening and understanding your needs first and foremost.
If you are considering PP C&A’s contract manufacturing & assembly services or you wish to review your outsourcing strategies, we would welcome the opportunity for discussion.
