AWS . Press

AWS signs up to Aerospace & Defence supply chain initiative

AWS Group – Contract Manufacturing Solutions

AWS Electronics Group has recently signed up to the SC21 initiative that is organised by the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC).

Supply Chain 21st Century (SC21) is a change programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the UK Aerospace & Defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chains. International competition, together with the challenges posed by the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), necessitates rapid improvement in the effectiveness of our supply chains. At the same time, industry must ensure that it delivers competitive solutions for customers whilst maintaining profitable business growth.

The lead for the initiative comes from 16 prime contractors who are referred to as the key customer working group. Two of which, General Dynamics UK and Augusta Westland, are key customers to AWS. SC21 key customers working group has developed and sponsored the launch SC21 implementation plan, encompassing some 120 aerospace and defence businesses which includes AWS Electronics Group.
In the launch phase, these have been selected because they either service multiple key customers in our industry and/or provide strategic capabilities. This plan represents the initial phase of implementation and will grow as more customers and suppliers progress into SC21 implementation
As a signatory AWS are committed to developing all aspects of its supply chain to ensure they remain competitive and able to deliver increased value to customers.

SC21 signatory companies are committed to:
[] a new SC21 business culture: no matter what our role or position in a supply chain, we are determined to effect fundamental business transformation. We will work openly and transparently, through sharing information and working collaboratively, to deliver benefits across the industry. We will avoid duplication and waste.

[] delivering innovation: we will build on success to enable our industry to be a leader in the development of competitive value chains. We will pursue the most competitive solutions for our customers, by accessing innovation and specialist expertise. We will encourage innovation and investment of all types throughout the supply chain, achieved through providing a more trusting and open environment.

[] through-life solutions: total through-life cost is of paramount importance to our customers. We will involve all functions of the supply chain, for example: procurement, engineering and finance, throughout the project, product or service lifecycle. Transparency will be encouraged, with more planning and forecast data made available using bid conferences, project conferences and other means of communication.

[] delivering the SC21 plan: as a signatory to this action plan, we accept that our adherence to the commitments will be tested annually and that our performance will be measured and published. We will help in the development of this plan by sharing experiences.

[] leadership: we will encourage colleagues in the industry, including our customers and suppliers, to join SC21 as both signatories and active participants.

[] ethical practices: we will ensure that all business is conducted in a principled manner, with the highest degree of personal and business integrity.

[] increased pace of change: our rate of change and improvement will be at an accelerated pace. Signatories will work together to harmonise how supply chains are developed, how accreditation occurs, how performance is measured and how relationships are improved.

Further information on SC21 can be found here

AWS Electronics Achieves AS9100 Approval

AWS Electronics have achieved AS9100 certification for the manufacture of Wiring Harness and Cable Assembly to Aerospace Customer Requirements. The company is also due to complete full accreditation for Surface Mount Circuit Board Assembly and complete box build applications before the end of 2007.

Already established and active within the Aerospace and military sectors, achieving AS9100 has been a major business priority. Alan Yearsley, Quality Manager for AWS said, "Our customers have been urging us to do this for some time so that they can place new business and expand their scope of supply with us."

AS9100 allows AWS to join a small but elite group of UK manufacturers who possess the skill base and financial stability to service the Aerospace sector.

For more information visit AWS web site at www.awselectronicsgroup.com Or call Mike Fairclough, Sales Manager on 07799 412 771.

Comprising AWS Electronics, Cemgraft, Jantec, Instem Technologies and Electroconnect in Slovakia, AWS group offers single source manufacturing for the most demanding and technically sophisticated electronic products, with the added benefit of lower cost offshore manufacturing where appropriate.

Serving diverse markets such as Medical, Rail, Aerospace, Defence, Communications, Security and Surveillance, Marine, Food and Emergency Services, many customers who trust AWS to deliver are instantly recognisable, both at home and internationally.

Instem Technologies aquired by AWS Group

AWS Electronics Group has acquired Instem Technologies Ltd in a deal that positions them as the largest UK independent Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider.

Both companies provide specialist manufacturing services to high profile customers in a range of high value, high technology markets where technical collaboration, quality and on time delivery are key drivers.

AWS Group Chief Executive Paul Deehan said "This is great news for AWS and for our customers. As a group with annual sales now in excess of £40m we have further increased our capability and breadth of services. The acquisition is strategic, as it allows us to provide flexibility and capacity for the sales growth being created within both businesses."

The AWS Group now comprises 4 UK sites and one in Slovakia:

[] AWS Electronics - Newcastle Under Lyme (NuL)
[] Cemgraft - Newbury
[] Jantec - Bedford
[] Instem Technologies - Stone, Staffordshire
[] AWS Slovakia.

The close proximity of the Instem site at Stone to AWS NuL (some 8 miles) means that AWS now dominates electronic manufacturing in the North West. Instem have specialised in high complexity box - build assembly and have customers in a wide range of industry sectors including mining, scientific and medical.

Deehan added that the attraction of Instem was a customer base that compliments AWS existing clients and also additional capacity. He predicts that with the AWS growth forecasts and current order book he needs the extra capacity that Instem brings both in terms of people skills and facility. Both sites will be at increased capacity in the coming months. We plan to develop a senior management team to manage both sites as one entity so we can get the benefits of flexibility and reduced overhead costs that this brings.

Deehan concluded that all Instem and AWS stakeholders including employees, customers and suppliers should see this as positive. We are reversing the trend for electronic manufacturing downsizing that is prevalent in the UK and specifically in the North West, our markets and customers are special, requiring high levels of technical collaboration and skill.

Advice on the acquisition was provided by teams from Birmingham-based Jasper Corporate Finance LLP and lawyers Cobbetts. David Tucker at Jasper Corporate Finance, who is also a non-executive director at AWS, points out that the deal highlights that AWS has clear market strategy to obtain work in the high value segments of the electronic market and that this is clearly working.

The group offers single source manufacturing for the most demanding and technically sophisticated electronic products, with the added benefit of lower cost offshore manufacturing where appropriate.

Serving a wide range of markets and industry sectors such as Aerospace, Defence, Communications, Security and Surveillance, Advanced Technologies, Marine, Medical, Rail, Food and Emergency Services, many customers who trust AWS to deliver are instantly recognisable, both at home and internationally.

For more information visit AWS web site at the AWS Group Website

A most excellent award

AWS is proud to have been given an award by Euro/DPC for Excellence in Manufacturing. In attaining this award AWS achieved the highest score given to a PCB assembler. AWS has consistently delivered a wide range of complex PCB assemblies to DPC's exceptionally high standards. Last year AWS just lost out on this award but maintained its focus on continuous improvement in achieving the targets of excellence required to raise the to pole position.

Euro/DPC is a wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary of the multinational Diagnostic Products Corporation, which makes immunodiagnostic equipment and reagents for measuring hormones, drugs, viruses, tumour makers, bacteria and other substances present in body fluids and tissues.

AWS Electronics is a CEM based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, with 230+ employees, £12M+ turnover and plans for continuing sustained growth. AWS offers an end-to-end service solution to its clients and has built on its core manufacturing capabilities in design, sourcing, accreditation, after-sales support and obsolescence.

AWS is a Family Now

The AWS Electronics Group will be at the Nepcon show (stand J22) to announce its growth into a £30M group with three leading-edge operations in the UK and a factory in Slovakia. With some of the major multinationals leaving the UK, Paul Deehan (Chief Executive, AWS) identified a major business opportunity: "Many businesses are looking for state-of-the-art manufacturing, backed up with excellent engineering input and outstanding operational support, from a company large enough to be a true partner and to have specialist resources on which to call when appropriate."

While all three UK sites offer whole-service contract manufacturing, each one is the Group's Centre of Excellence for different aspects. The Cemgraft factory in Newbury is the Centre of Excellence for surface mount and rapid prototyping. This site offers SMT to 01005, multiple micro BGAs and CSPs, volumes to 100k p.a. Its Fast Track(TM) dedicated rapid prototyping facility gives a 2-10 day turn-round on even the most complex boards and products. They also offer full turn-key manufacturing including development support and product assembly. The AWS Electronics factory in Newcastle-under-Lyme is the Centre of Excellence within the Group for complex unit assembly and cable / harness assembly. This site also offers surface mount (SMT) to 0402, multiple micro BGAs and CSPs, volumes to 30k p.a., extensive through-hole board assembly and electric, electronic, electro-mechanical, hydraulic and micro-bore unit assembly, full turn-key manufacturing including development support and whole-life support. The Jantec factory in Bedfordshire is the Centre of Excellence for repairs, refurbishment, reverse engineering and design. Their whole life support includes design, programming, development support, prototyping, low volume manufacture, comprehensive whole-life support including diagnostics and repairs of complex and safety critical equipment. Where appropriate, the Group also offers offshore manufacturing in its Slovak factory or its Chinese and Indian partners, backed by full UK-based engineering and operational support.