Press Release

British manufacturer Hayter shares its success

17th March 2008

Hayter Limited has been recognised for its achievements and focus on best practice at a recent visit to its Bishop’s Stortford manufacturing facility. The visit was delivered as part of the Manufacturing Insights visit programme which is funded by the London Manufacturing Advisory Service.

A pioneer in its field, Hayter is a household name with both serious gardeners and commercial users. With key customers in the premium consumer, local authority and commercial contractor market segments, the company’s investment in new products and its attention to detail has led to a succession of awards and recognition.

At the recent best practice visit, Hayter shared with other companies from the region how it has improved its “flow” through entire Value Streams, processes and environment whilst reducing costs. The company has undertaken a structured programme of continuous improvement using a range of lean tools and techniques such as ‘Kaizen’, ‘Five S’, Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and In Process Quality Validation. These activities have led to tangible results such as a reduction in consumer assembly line changeover times from in excess of half a day to less than ten minutes. This has given improved flexibility enabling better response to demand, and a reduction in takt time from four to two hours for large commercial ride-on machines.

To introduce the new approach Hayter worked closely with EEF South on the development and delivery of appropriate in-house lean training for its entire workforce.

These, along with many other improvements have allowed the company to increase its product range and improve competitiveness. Last year the company acquired the Allen Hover Mower business to expand its consumer and commercial business with complementary products and technology.

So what next for Hayter? Derek Boulton, Managing Director of Hayter Limited, commented “this is an ongoing journey; continuous improvement and lean provide us with a way to remain competitive, improve our products and processes to meet the needs of our customers in an increasingly challenging market. We are now looking to work with our whole supply chain from vendors through to distributors and dealers, take waste out of the value stream, (wastes like Inventory & Lead Time) , allowing us to take a holistic view of the production of high quality mowers.”

If you would like to attend the next best practice visit day at Hayter Limited, please call Manufacturing Insights on 023 9246 8978 or email info@manufacturinginsights.co.uk to book your place.

Several other successful manufacturing companies in London and the South East may also be visited via the Manufacturing Insights programme. For details visit www.manufacturinginsights.co.uk or call 023 9246 8978.

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Media enquiries:
Catherine Ditcham
Account Manager
Harvest Marketing Communications
Tel: 023 9244 9655

Supplementary Information
Manufacturing Insights
Manufacturing Insights is a best practice visit programme managed by Onsite Insights Limited on behalf of the Manufacturing Advisory Service – South East and the London Manufacturing Advisory Service (see below).

The programme is specifically for manufacturing companies based in London and the South East of England with the aim of improving manufacturing in this country. The programme works by arranging for successful companies to host two or three visit days a year, when managers and leaders from other manufacturing companies can visit and enjoy site tours, presentations and discussions which address the challenges facing the manufacturing industry today and sharing ideas and solutions.

Further information about Manufacturing Insights or Onsite Insights can be accessed by phone: 023-9246-8978; by email: info@manufacturinginsights.co.uk; or via the websites at www.manufacturinginsights.co.uk and www.onsiteinsights.co.uk

London Manufacturing Advisory Service
Originally set up by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), MAS is now a programme of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

The London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) provides straightforward advice and practical support to improve manufacturing competitiveness.

Funded by the London Development Agency and delivered by EEF South and Pera,. The LDA regards London MAS as one of its key initiatives aimed at providing support to the manufacturing sector.

Manufacturers can reach London MAS Specialists by calling the Information Desk on
0845 850 4400, by visiting www.mas-london.co.uk or by emailing info@mas-london.co.uk