Pre-Production is Allied’s manufacturing powerhouse. Crafting everything from precision metal parts to custom signage for departments across the business, this multi-talented team transforms raw materials into the essential components that keep Production, Engineering, and every other Allied operation running smoothly. We asked Process and Fabrication Manager, Stuart Gauld, to tell us a bit more about life in the Pre-Production department.
Mission and Purpose
Pre-Production manufactures a wide range of components, mostly for Production but also for Engineering Development, the HUB, Service, Bodyshop, Facilities, Speedway and for many other ad hoc requests around the wider Allied business.
While approximately 80% of the components we make are from metal (aluminium, steel, etc.) we also make or build a wide variety of other items which have between 2 and 100 items from nuts and bolts up to fully assembled ramps, labels, floor coverings, wooden parts and a lot of the general signage you see around the business.
We make on average 83,000 individual parts per month, and our target is to make them to the correct quality, cost and on time delivery to the customer requirements every time.
Team Members
We have a team of 52 people with a wide range of skills and experience, ranging from those with almost 29 years of Allied experience to new people with just a few months. Roles include:
- Machine Operators
- Material Handlers
- Welders
- Press Brake Operators
- Powder Coaters
- Production Assemblers
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Quality
- Admin and Management
Day-to-Day
We have many different inputs to the department creating our overall demand. A lot of this must be managed manually, meaning lots of meetings and chasing up of parts are required to ensure our various customers’ demands are met.
Then, from out of nowhere, an urgent demand can arrive from somewhere in the business and we must react accordingly, so there’s never a dull moment!
Notable Achievements
We managed to turn all parts round in the recent V710 Engineering development and test stage, from drawing board to manufacture, in record times. We are currently doing the same for another new project.
We have also recently kitted out our team of 14 welders with new air fed welding helmets which have been well received by the team.
Challenges and Solutions
Sometimes we don’t know what’s going to hit us until it’s here. Additionally, due to the ever-changing demands of the main production programme, we require to be as flexible and reactive as possible covering a wide range of individual components and variants.
Getting the balance right between resource required/available for each of the different skills in pre-production, and meeting every customer requirement, is challenging; but that’s what we’re here for, so no complaints!
Why It Matters
We continually strive for high performance and always do our best. That is the case whether that’s for a new car on the production line or a new Engineering project, an order from the hub for a part or for the speedway prior to season opening, or indeed for any other reason across the Allied business.
While we don’t directly deal with the end user on the front line, the components we make, and build, are vital to ensure the customer is not disappointed.
If you’d like to join Stuart and the team in Pre-Production, or any other department at Allied, keep an eye on our Current Opportunities page at https://careers.alliedvehiclesgroup.com/
