Ideas from within helping to drive change and savings

When staff come forward with their own ideas to save your company money, you know you are on to a winner writes STEWART BARNES of Quolux in his latest Gamechanger column

IN the last 12 months Peter Miles, managing director of international group of companies Forge Motorsport, has led a transformation of the business since he completed the Quolux LEAD programme.

Six-figure investments in CNC machinery, establishment of a new management team as a springboard for succession and a whole new way of communicating has swept through the business.

All are adding to the game changing approach visible in the business.

With their headquarters in Gloucester, Forge Motorsport is a second-generation family business founded in 1996 with the simple ideals of innovation, clever design, and manufacturing to the highest quality.

Its mantra is to provide innovative products and the best customer care and after-service worldwide.

Over the last two decades, Forge has developed the largest range of replacement aftermarket blow off/recirculation valves, intercoolers and actuators in the world.

Utilising a state of the art inhouse CNC machine shop and a highly-skilled team of dedicated engineers and fabricators, the company supplies Forge branded products worldwide and to their sister

companies Forge USA in Orlando and Forge Asia in Taichung in Taiwan. Forge Motorsport proudly states Made in Great Britain on all its products.

The firm is honoured to supply the leading names and race teams in the world of Motorsport including Formula 1, World Rally Championship, Rally X and Le Mans, as well as supplying several original equipment manufacturers.

Peter recognises engaging staff is a surefire way to increase business performance.

He attended a special LEAD masterclass on innovation delivered by Target PR chief executive Sarah Bryars, who had just completed her MBA (Leading Business) – the practical qualification Quolux created in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire. Peter listened to how Target had introduced an ideas scheme linked to recognising staff’s efforts.

He immediately saw this was a scheme that could be modified and introduced into Forge.

Impressively, just before the formal launch of the scheme, one of the company’s engineers identified that instead of manufacturing parts from expensive aluminium billets which created much waste, if the aluminium was delivered pre-formed it would save time in machining and reduce waste significantly.

The idea was put forward to Peter and a small team that had been formed to consider all ideas.

They immediately saw the value in the suggestion.

The company worked with the supplier to implement the changes and the first batch of new components have arrived at Forge and are being worked on by the operative who had the original idea.

Thousands of pounds of savings are forecast.

Peter said: “It’s both amazing and humbling to observe ideas and innovations being formed by your staff.

“I’m really looking forward to witnessing the fruits of the new ideas scheme.”