Manufacturer set to expand in the aerospace sector after accreditation
A Shropshire manufacturer is now aiming to expand its presence in the aerospace sector following the achievement of an accreditation.
Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which operates a factory in Telford and employs 70 people, has recently attained AS9100 certification.
Under the leadership of manager Ian Radford, the company engaged all its staff in the process, improving its quality management system and forming problem-solving teams to drive continuous improvement across various engineering disciplines.
ACE supplies precision components to 25 aerospace companies, producing parts for undercarriages, interiors, and engines.
Recent projects include manufacturing heat exchangers, actuators, ice protection systems, and components for galley trolleys.
With this certification now secured, ACE is set to boost its aerospace sector revenue by an additional £1m.
Radford, said: “You can’t rest on your laurels when it comes to quality, so we’ve decided to build on the AS9100 accreditation by appointing Ryan Williams as Assistant Quality Manager. Ryan has significant knowledge of ‘lean manufacturing’ and will play a key role in our ongoing internal auditing, providing day-to-day support that will allow me to focus on the business strategy and how we can embed continuous improvement even more in the business.
“Quality clinics have been important in changing the culture of ACE and people are now encouraged to identify mistakes we can learn from and areas we can do things better. This ‘openness’ has already led to us achieving considerable cost savings.”
