Northern Ireland’s RFD Beaufort wins top business award

RFD Beaufort wins the PwC Award for Most Improved Company at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards
24 November 2011

Dunmurry–based RFD Beaufort, part of the Survitec Group, was rewarded with a top award at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards, held in London last night (Wednesday 23 November).

The award ceremony was compered by Alistair Campbell, and attended by Mark Prisk MP, Margaret Beckett MP as well as a host of other top business names.

Moya Johnston, MD of RFD Beaufort Limited said:
“This is an excellent achievement, to be recognised as one of Britain’s top manufacturing companies. I am very proud of our record which is a testament to the commitment of all our staff.  Our goal remains to take a lead in the marine and aerospace survival technology industries and we are working hard to develop the business further in the current market environment. I am extremely proud to be taking this back to Dunmurry with me, I know all our people deserve the accolade and they’ll be absolutely delighted.”

While Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said:
“RFD Beaufort’s win is encouraging for manufacturing in Northern Ireland and UK manufacturing more generally.
“The Manufacturing Excellence programme is not just about celebrating manufacturing success around the country, but about providing practical advice for businesses to support them on their journey during these difficult economic times.”

RFD Beaufort won the PwC Award for Most Improved Company at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards. Glasgow’s Howden Compressors and Silverston-based Flybrid Systems were both commended in this category.

RFD Beaufort, part of the Survitec Group of companies, is a global market leader in the manufacture of safety and survival products to the marine and aviation industries. The business was established in 1920 and has been manufacturing in Northern Ireland since 1952. It is committed to providing customers with the highest quality safety and survival equipment in the world.

The global economic downturn that began three years ago had particularly severe effects on RFD Beaufort. With shipyards reducing their output and aircraft production slowing, two of the company’s core markets were in decline. This was followed by the Government’s Strategic Defence Review, which reduced defence spending and put a further dent in RFD Beaufort’s revenues.

To counter these potentially devastating developments, the company began a radical modernisation programme in 2009 to radically improve its management processes. Over the past two years the business has brought in profound structural, cultural and behavioural changes, yielding tangible improvements in service and quality for their customers, development for their employees and profitability for the business.

The Manufacturing Excellence judges were particularly impressed that, despite these major changes, staff throughout the business, from the managers’ offices to the shop floor were uniformly positive, supportive and enthusiastic about the reform programme, which is set to leave RFD Beaufort perfectly placed to weather the economic storm.

RFD Beaufort’s change programme has resulted in significant growth in both the marine and aerospace sectors with export sales increasing by almost 35%. Customer on-time delivery and employee engagement ratings have also been critical success factors in the programme.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence programme is the most successful and long established manufacturing support programme in the UK, and the only one that provides a detailed benchmarking and assessment process to help improve manufacturing businesses.

As part of the Manufacturing Excellence programme, companies can get a free consultancy package worth £20,000.  Companies that enter are asked to conduct an in-depth self assessment and those who complete one or more of the eight parts receive a free, bespoke and confidential benchmark report. The best companies in each module receive a free visit from a team of expert assessors who verify the audit responses and offer practical advice and suggestions for the business.  The winning companies in each category then receive an award at the Manufacturing Excellence Awards.

Manufacturing Excellence is supported by PwC, Autodesk, PP Business Improvement, The ERA Foundation, Lombard, WMG, Arup, and Barclays Corporate.