Contract electronics manufacturer breaks barrier

Strong market growth and a series of recent business innovations have enabled Axiom Manufacturing Services to break through the GBP 2 million a month turnover barrier.

Strong market growth and a series of recent business innovations have enabled Newbridge-based contract electronics manufacturer Axiom Manufacturing Services to break through the GBP 2 million a month turnover barrier.

Placing the company within reach of a GBP 21.5 million annual turnover for the first time this year since its transformation from a manufacturer of branded electronics products, Managing Director, Shaun Ashmead attributes its growth to a combination of factors, including the adoption of a more solution-based approach.

"As expected, this year has really been a welcome turning point for the business".

"By focusing on understanding our clients' markets better and adopting a more vertically integrated approach, we have been able to provide our clients - mainly original equipment manufacturers across the UK - with a holistic, total manufacturing, design, waste and loss elimination supply chain solution".

Axiom, which manufactures components, subassemblies and products for use in the medical, industrial, defence and aerospace sectors, reached the landmark turnover figure within four years of adopting the performance improvement methodology known as the EFQM business excellence model.

The Model effectively enables Axiom to approach every aspect of its business from an innovation, quality and improvement perspective, whether implementing quality standards, staff development and training or its entire procurement to end-of life manufacturing process.

This has led to Axiom achieving a number of firsts over the past few years, from being the first company to attain the prestigious BSI accreditation to IPC standards for lead-free manufacture to emerging as the Champion of Champions in the annual UK Green Apple environmental Awards.

Added Ashmead: "Axiom has established itself as a leading player in the contract electronics sector because it has qualities that many of the bigger companies cannot compete with".

"It is agile and can move quickly between markets when there is a business opportunity, thus providing its customers with a highly flexible, secure and tailor-made manufacturing solution".

Since 2001, the company has implemented key performance indicators across all areas of the business to measure and improve performance and generate improved profits.

In addition the company introduced a number of environmentally conscious programmes to eliminate waste and improve working conditions at the plant.

These include monitoring emissions, utility and transport usage, encouraging more than 50% of its customers to recycle and re-use packaging and getting every member of staff to participate in and undergo environmental training.

Axiom now aims to instil the same values to its original equipment manufacturer clients and sees itself as well placed to take advantage of new opportunities presented by the introduction of the EU legislation regulating hazardous waste (WEEE and RoHS directives).

The company currently employs 220 people at its 28,000m2 plant in Newbridge, South Wales.

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