Taking old technology and creating value from it

“Trying to buy the same electronic components today that were designed into an aeroplane 20 years before the iPhone came along can be incredibly challenging,” said Matthew.

“The challenge in our business is how do we transfer someone else’s noncore technology which might depend on tribal knowledge, incomplete data and underinvested facilities, and successfully move it into our operation and start generating value from it while simultaneously protecting their, and our, reputation. Boeing isn’t just going to stop producing 777s while we re-organise a components supply chain.

“It’s our expertise in executing these work transfers that helps make Ontic successful. Our ability, knowledge and experience in transfering manufacturing technology, solving engineering and supply chain challenges, bringing them into our facilities without an interuption in production is what we do best,” he said.

It’s those challenges which make Ontic a good and diverse place to work. The company has very high levels of employee engagement, which was evident from the enthusiasm and expertise of the sta tasked with accompanying delegates on a tour of the company’s new facility at Staverton, near Cheltenham.

Keynote speakers at Manufacturing Live were Harriet Woollerton, programme director at The National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme, a £20 million programme to develop 80 aerospace technologies in the UK aerospace supply chain and Colin Hart, competitiveness director at ADS, the UK trade association for advancing leadership in aerospace, security, defence and space.

They presented a supply chain solutions framework aimed at raising the workforce capability of the UK’s small and mediumsized enterprises with a view to boosting growth and exports.

This is a single, simple access, cross-sector programme led by industry which includes modules on competitiveness, sustainability, innovation, finance, business development, digital capabilities and people.

SC21 is a continuous improvement programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industries by raising the performance of its supply chains. Launched 14 years ago, it has grown into the largest Supply Chain Improvement programme in these sectors.

Mark Evans, partner at accounting, consulting and technology firm Crowe, which sponsored the event, said: I spend most of my time working with manufacturing clients. I love visiting them and encourage my team to do the same. We also think manufacturing is under-represented on the national political agenda and one of our managing partners regularly lobbies government to encourage tax allowances for those who are investing in people and equipment.

“We support these events hosted by The Business Magazine because we believe in sharing knowledge. Sometimes it’s not what we can do professionally, we simply might know someone who might be able to help. It’s all about that interchange of information.”