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UPVC Panel providers   We are low volume manufacturers - can you please give me details of UPVC panel (skins) providers? A...   More...

Training   We are a small company can we get help from either the goverment etc, on the cost of training....   More...

Trickle vent clips   I am trying to trace the source of white upvc slide fixed clips which attach to trickle vents and ac...   More...

PVC-U door manufacturing   I am currently trying to break into the PVC-U door panel production area of the market but I am havi...   More...

FENSA   Although we are registered with Fensa, we have only just received the final pack along with details...   More...

Health and safety   what are your recommendations as far astraining our workforce for the new construction site card sch...   More...

UK HOUSING STOCK   I am a researcher at the University College London and I am interested in finding data/information r...   More...

More trickle vents   Good morning David, I have read your response to the question of trickle vents requirements & ADL....   More...

Vents and Document L   what is the current requirement in Doc L concerning trickle vents?...   More...

Document L   We are a trade supply only company, with the coming of Doc L in April should we register with Fensa...   More...

Factory Layout   Advice on how I change our factory layout to improve production flow?...   More...

Logistics   We make and distribute hardware to the general window industry, (timber and PVC). The whole subject...   More...

I don’t believe it, 30 windows per man per week!   In the industry magazines I read about companies who are getting well over 30 windows per man per we...   More...

Capacity Increases   I can get more orders than I can make. How do I find out what my real production capacity is at pre...   More...

Lean Production and World Class Manufacturing   I am the production manager of a window making company producing around 425 items each week (doors a...   More...

Developing People and Setting targets   We are a rapidly expanding window manufacturing company. Many of our senior people have been with u...   More...

Risk Assessments   At my local business club we had a talk about how important risk assessment is for small businesses...   More...

Make or Buy-in   I Reckon I am standing still only making a modest living and could be better off if I give up manufa...   More...

Material prices seem too high   I don't expect an answer, but I seem to be paying over the current going rate for profile. What is...   More...

Production Targets   I have been in the window business for 12 years now. It is tough in this part of the country, as co...   More...

How to Increase Production   I am in a quandary. My current weekly output is between 150 and 200 items (both frames & doors) usi...   More...

32 results from articles

Following Eddie   Over the years manufacturing has treated storage and distribution as a Cinderella. Late and incompl...   More...

Surprise, Surprise!   There are few situations more frustrating than discovering that results you expected to be good are...   More...

The Generation Game   The PVC window industry has been operating at full bore for some 20 years and many senior people are...   More...

Squeezing the last drop   The head of a successful window company, concerned that the rate of productivity improvement in his...   More...

Seven secrets of effective distribution   One of my Christmas gifts was a set of videos of old black and white Ealing films from the 1950's....   More...

Seven secrets of reducing costs   “I don't know how they do it, they must be losing money,” the Managing Director said, co...   More...

Seven secrets of continuous improvement   A friend recently had heart surgery. His family were concerned but they were encouraged by the fact...   More...

High quality and low cost   During a discussion with a manufacturer he asked: “Can there be high quality and low cost at...   More...

The problem with absenteeism   I have been asked lots of times about how to tackle absenteeism among employees. It is a question t...   More...

Make or buy-in   Make or buy-in is a continuing issue with fabricators as pressures on cost and delivery increase. La...   More...

Speed up   Speaking recently to some Managing Directors and owners of companies in our sector they have recogni...   More...

Seven secrets of managing projects   As a youngster the annual trip to the seaside was a big event not least of all to my father who woul...   More...

The machinery minefield   Recently a fabricator asked me about machinery. He said: “I've just spent a packet buying a su...   More...

Waste not, want not   In the last few days a fabricator asked me: “What's the right level of profile waste for a fab...   More...

Emergency First Aid For Quality   Quality is an ever-increasing concern for fabricators, as this typical question highlights: “D...   More...

Are you on the right road?   Some ambitious window companies are beginning to recognise that there are two roads to success: a fa...   More...

Seven secrets to reducing lead times   I vividly remember my father buying our first television set. He went to the local electrical shop,...   More...

Getting more for less   Many of the questions I'm asked are about improving factory output. This recent question is typical:...   More...

Seven Secrets of quality   A few weeks ago my wife took a garment back to the shop she bought it from because she wasn't happy...   More...

The bones of a good Bonus Scheme   Incentive or bonus schemes are always an issue with fabricators. Typical questions I 'm asked are:...   More...

Next generation initiative for next generation fabricators   Of all the issues facing fabricators, manufacturing is key. If you can't get your production right e...   More...

Seven secrets of TPM will keep your machinery working   The safety and reliability of Britain's railways was so poor last year that the network practically...   More...

The Seven Secrets of Partnership   The days of power-based bargaining between customers and suppliers and relationships involving in-bu...   More...

Constructing the Lean Machine   I have a great admiration for the late John Cooper’s engineering and development ability. Father an...   More...

Driving the Lean Machine   A year ago I visited the Morgan Motor Company at Malvern to see the classic Morgan cars being built....   More...

Revisions to ISO 9000   Several of the key standards within the existing (1994) version of the ISO 9000 family of Quality Ma...   More...

Grey Matter Before Greenbacks   One thing is certain in the window industry in 2001; the market will get tougher. The continuation...   More...

Rome wasn't built in a day   I have never been to Rome to see some of the remains still there from the time of the great Roman Em...   More...

Changing Vrooms   Change is nothing new; it just gets faster all the time. Ask any Formula One team owner and driver....   More...

To the Brink and Back   A Company that has been family owned for two generations has had a history of performing OK and no b...   More...

The Lean Machine   Lotus founder, the late Colin Chapman, has many times been dubbed a genius. Chapman was an enthusia...   More...

He who benchmarks wins   No, its nothing to do with the Iranian Embassy attack or other exploits of the SAS. But it could be...   More...