Customer: Small Engineering Ltd
Location: Wimborne, Dorset
Industries: Tiny Components for all sectors
Contact: Justin Smith, General Manager
ISO Accreditation was near impossible with the previous Excel and Word based system, but Fitfactory was the perfect solution.
Overview
Small Engineering was founded in 1984 by Martin Small and employs six people with a turnover of around £500,000 per annum.
Based in Dorset, they are a sub-contract precision turning company, using CNC sliding head lathes. They specialise in manufacturing parts in stainless steel, ferrous & non-ferrous and plastic materials from 0.5mm to 20mm diameter, machined to order for the Medical, Dental, Oil and Gas, Watchmakers, Special Fasteners, Aerospace, Micro-Electronics, Formula One and Computer sectors– in fact, wherever tiny components are required.
Historically, Small managed the business on Excel spreadsheets and Word documents, which worked satisfactorily until 2006 when they applied for ISO 9001 Accreditation and needed to find a different and more effective system.
Selection Process
Small Engineering scanned the market and looked at one or two systems, without making a decision Then one of their customers who uses Fitfactory’s system recommended they look at it. Justin said they found this to be the perfect solution – the system was ideal for their type of business, flexible and easy- to-use and exactly what they needed.
Implementing Fitfactory
The installation went well and Justin had one day’s training, which he found adequate – although further training is available – as the system is so simple to use. He said if he needs help, he has only to pick the phone up and they are there with support and advice. He added that, working remotely, Fitfactory will usually solve any problems within ten minutes!
Impact on Business
With regard to the impact Fitfactory has had on the business, Justin said, “The system is brilliant. It allows easy access to all information and data has to be entered only once for traceability to all their management and internal systems. Old orders are very easy to find. It has sped up their process and made us more efficient, thereby being very cost-effective. It is invaluable for operating with the ISO:9001 Accreditation.”
He continued, “Fitfactory is a great company to work with. I can’t fault them.”