The formal launch of its enhanced subcontract manufacturing capabilities
have been announced by Harwin. The company has always undertaken contract
manufacturing work and has a policy of replacing all its production
equipment - stamping, turning, moulding and plating - every five years, so
the company always has a state-of-the-art facility which is required to
support the manufacture of its high-reliability interconnect components.
Because the company is now seeing a lot of manufacturing returning to the UK
from so-called 'low cost' manufacturing regions, predominantly the Far East,
Harwin has decided to actively pursue more business.
Mick Osborne, the company's new sales manager, said: "One of Harwin's main
strengths is our commitment to retaining all key connector manufacturing
processes in-house, here in the UK in Portsmouth. This means that we can
offer very short lead times, and be very flexible and responsive to our
customers' needs. To compete with Chinese and Eastern European producers we
must have the latest production equipment - and a highly skilled and
flexible workforce. That combination of capabilities is also very attractive
to other companies who are looking to outsource, but who don't want to risk
of incurring hidden supply chain costs that are often experienced when
working with a manufacturing partner on the other side of the world.
"Our modern BS EN ISO 9001:2000 manufacturing site has been designed,
equipped and staffed to produce the highest quality parts - many of which
carry BS certification - and it is this resource that we are now offering to
the market in general. Our background as a connector supplier to customers
in demanding, hi-rel markets including aerospace, medical and defence means
that our subcontract customers can be assured of a high quality of work and
service."
