Member Article

JDP helps manufacturers boost efficiency

A leading Shropshire architects practice is fast becoming a major hit with industry after helping a string of manufacturers improve productivity and efficiency.

Johnson Design Partnership (JDP), which employs seven people at offices in Bridgnorth and London, has completed more than five high-profile contracts in the last two years for firms looking to maximise the performance of their factories by utilising space and workflow better.

Vic Johnson, Founder of JDP, explained: “In this day and age, manufacturers are increasingly looking at ways where they can become more competitive and one of the areas they can positively influence is the efficiency of their operations.

“This is all about making sure the factory is working at its most effective in terms of the flow of work and ensuring space is fully utilised.”

He continued: “Our expertise in planning and design means we can work with companies to review their existing layout and then come up with a bespoke solution that saves them time and money.

“More than five manufacturers have already taken advantage of this approach and we’re about to start work on two further projects shortly.”

Johnson Design Partnership offers a full service, meeting first with the management team to identify issues, before reviewing good in/goods out, workflow and any production bottlenecks.

It will then create a full digital survey of the whole plant using special laser technology that allows it to measure within an accuracy of 1mm.

When this is completed, JDP will then discuss possible options with the company, using the detailed information to provide an idea of efficiency gains and performance improvements.

This allows the client to explore alternative scenarios without the expenditure of putting them into actual practice.

Vic continued: “I suppose an architect isn’t always the first port of call for manufacturers looking to achieve savings.

“However, we’ve proven in the last five projects that by combining latest technology with clever design and planning we can do just that, speeding up production and, in some instances, reducing waste.

“It’s a risk free approach to getting the most out of your factory, so it’s no surprise an increasing number of firms are looking to use our services.”

A recent example of the Johnson Design difference was the consolidation of two manufacturing plants into one, which helped retain production and jobs in the UK.

The company, a leading supplier to the auto sector, called in JDP to carry out a full feasibility study using its digital surveys and AutoCad to provide comprehensive layouts of all the machinery and possible work flows.

This was completed over an eight-week period and ensured the right decision on location was made, saving about £500,000 in time and cost savings and providing a platform for the business to expand.

Record year

Johnson Design Partnership enjoyed sustained growth during 2012, with turnover hitting a record high of £330,000.

The company, which is ISO9000:2000 and ISO14001 accredited, offers a complete project management service from feasibility work and planning to detail design, monitoring and contract administration.

In addition to work in industrial, it also boasts a proven track record in ‘grand designs’, education, healthcare, retail and landmark infrastructure projects.

For further information, please visit www.johnsonltd.co.uk or contact 01746 768191. You can also follow @jdpltd on twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .