Key supplier recognised for supporting JLR’s growth
THE quality of Jaguar Land Rover’s vehicles is reflected in its worldwide sales success.
However, the suppliers which provide the vital components that go into shaping that success are equally important – and often unsung.
But becoming one of those suppliers is not easy and successful firms have to undergo rigorous scrutiny before they are excepted.
One of JLR’s most successful suppliers is Coleshill-based Sertec Group. The group has undergone major expansion on the back of JLR’s growth – a strategy highlighted earlier this year with the group’s acquisition of Wild Automotive.
The company’s commitment to quality has now seen its Tyseley operation awarded Jaguar Land Rover’s quality accreditation JLRQ.
While the carmaker imposes stringent standards on its suppliers to ensure parts and components are of the highest quality and meet cost and delivery targets, it also ensures processes, procedures and environmental standards area adhered to.
The 110,000 sq ft Tyseley factory was acquired from DPE Automotive in 2011 and has since undergone major changes in manufacturing footprint, plant, equipment and personnel.
In particular, the site benefitted from a £4.7m investment in robotic weld technology, specifically for the production of aluminium assemblies. This enabled the manufacture of millions of parts for the Range Rover and its Sport derivative and subsequently parts for Jaguar’s XE and F-Pace models.
The resultant growth for Sertec has seen the factory increase the number of employees from 168 in 2011 to almost 350 permanent and 100 temporary workers and this site alone will turn over £77m next year.
Satisfied by the investment in quality, JLR has now deemed the factory is worthy of recognition.
On receiving the award from Jaguar Land Rover’s STA Director Mark Smith, Group Managing Director Dave Steggles said: “We are very proud indeed that the Tyseley plant has followed in the footsteps of our factory in Coleshill with this accreditation and I thank everyone involved in making it happen.
“But we must work tirelessly to adhere to our policy of continuous improvement. Performance excellence is our mantra and we must ensure that quality is maintained in everything we do.”
The Sertec Group continues to grow and currently has eight UK-based facilities, two European sites and a tooling engineering operation in China.
