Academic insight helps to grow manufacturers profits

A NORTH Yorkshire manufacturer has increased its profits by more than 10% thanks to business advice from York University.

York Management School spent two years working with Catterick-based Oakdale Contracts, which makes garden landscaping products such as decorative paving and walling, to examine how the business could work more efficiently.

By the time the partnership had finished, the company’s pre-tax profits had risen by13% and its sales turnover was up by eight% with further increases expected over the next three years.

A new greener method of manufacturing concrete has also been identified and is now in the process of being patented.

Changes included alterations to the company’s computer systems, the way materials are sourced and the invention of a greener way of manufacturing its products.

A grant was also secured to support the increased use of robotics.

Michael Jonas, managing director of Oakdale Contracts, said: “For the last two years the partnership with The York Management School has given us access to new thinking and enthusiasm about our business which has clearly produced positive results.

“I would urge far more businesses to find out how knowledge transfer partnerships could benefit them.”

He said that the systematic review of the company identified costs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds that could be reduced, such as opting for open-source software – a decision that has produced savings of more than £30,000 alone.

A research assistant from the university who worked full-time with the company as part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) has now been offered a permanent post.

Dr Kiran Fernandes, from The York Management School, said: “This was a great opportunity for The York Management School to put its expertise into practise and to support a local employer at the same time.

“Working together has led to Oakdale becoming a leaner and more agile business which is now better positioned in the marketplace and offered valuable experience to the university’s staff and students.”

The partnership started when Business Link referred the business to the University of York’s Research and Enterprise Office.