By Wojciech Brozyna – MD of Aluprof UK
Time does have a real tangible value in business, especially where various processes are integrated to produce a single completed product or service. Usually with more processes involved the greater number of cost streams will be influenced if a delay is experienced. We have all heard of the ‘Just In Time’ (JIT) principle of manufacturing and the production of motor vehicles is one of the most well-known adopters of this Japanese production techniques. In this manufacturing process, a single screw, worth less than 1p can hold up a complete production line with costs in their £1,000’s for every minute of lost production.
In addition to having the product or service in the right place at the right time, or what we know as ‘logistics’, is the ability to have the correct product specification, in the right quality. If the 1p screw head will not fit the tooling on the line, again the production line will grind to a halt.
It is upon these key principles of ‘logistics’ and ‘specification’ that Aluprof have become one of the quickest growing architectural aluminium systems businesses not only in the UK, but across Europe and in overseas markets.
From the initial outline designs of a new project, it is crucial that specification assistance is available at the right time. By having a wide range of products and also flexibility within the product range by way of a comprehensive profile portfolio, initial guidance to the specifier can instil significant confidence in the product proposed being right for the application. In the UK, London has by far the highest density of architectural practices many of who work on overseas projects as well as the UK. It is important that any architectural systems house wishing to work closely with specifiers in London has a dedicated office offering support to architects in the South East.
When it comes to agreeing the specification detail in design is crucial for a specifier, not only how the product performs but how it looks in the building once installed. The ability of the systems supplier to quickly and easily change parts of the product to meet the specifiers vision, is key to gaining and importantly maintaining the specification. Furthermore, to offer the ability to quickly design and cut new dies for aluminium extrusion to achieve this in a timely manner is recipe for specification success.
In addition to the importance of ‘logistics’ and ‘specification’ in order to keep costs to budget, is the ability to look at ‘Value Management’. For any given project there are ways to reduce costs in the supply chain without the need to reduce material specification, these techniques include the ability to offer bespoke lengths of profile to reduce profile off-cut wastage and the ability to have some of the product manufactured prior to shipping to the fabricator installer. Every project becomes bespoke in its mix of profiles, bespoke lengths, colours and hardware, the key is to manage the process efficiently through fabrication and delivery to ensure JIT installation on site. Aluprof work with some of the top facade companies in the UK and Ireland to achieve both detailed specification and tightly programmed installation on site to meet site programmes.
It is normal for European manufacturers to ship product to a UK warehouse facility, often in a bespoke finish and or length and once the order is complete for it to be delivered to the fabricator installer. One of the key advantages in logistics for Aluprof UK comes from their ability to transport material orders direct to fabricator installer customers in the UK from their extensive production facility in Bielsko-Biata located in Poland. These deliveries take place twice weekly in the UK to ensure the product is in the right place at the right time. This method of single drop delivery negates double handling through a UK warehouse and enables complete orders to be phased into shop floor production plans to meet programme.
Programmes often change due to circumstances outside that of the fenestration supply chain, when this occurs it is important to ensure that the chosen systems company can have the flexibility in design and supply to meet these challenges. In order to assist with these potential issues, Aluprof’s extensive fabrication facility in Bielsko-Biata can be engaged to help maintain the supply of fabricated product to site.
Since setting up the Aluprof Project Office at the Business Design Centre in London, the company has rapidly grown their specification influence in the UK with their high performance architectural aluminium systems. Further expansion of the company’s headquarters in Altrincham now provides specifiers with meeting facilities and an extensive showroom of commercial systems to view. With overseas growth across Europe spreading into the Middle East and firm roots already in the East of the USA, the company is becoming a global player in facade supply. Further information is available on the companies website at aluprof.co.uk or direct from their UK office in Altrincham on 0161 941 4005.