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GTMA's First Supply Network Lifts Off for Aerospace Sector
01 Jun 2005
The GTMA Aerospace Network, launched earlier this year, will act as a single source of suppliers and provide procurement assistance to OEM and Tier 1 companies. Julia Moore, GTMA CEO, explains: "The GTMA is always looking for ways to actively promote UK toolmaking, metrology and precision engineering by bringing buyers and suppliers together - our most recent initiative in pursuit of this objective is the creation of sector-specific Supply Chain Networks."
The first of these networks, for aerospace, was officially launched at the GTMA seminar at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), where Lawrence Jenkins, Supplier Development Operations Director, Rolls-Royce Global Purchasing, provided the audience with a clear insight into SABRe, the company's supplier evaluation system. SABRe communicates the company's requirements across its entire global supply chain using a framework that integrates a wide range of purchasing requirements including: quality, cost, delivery, responsiveness; in addition to management and environmental requirements.
Also speaking at the seminar was Dr Glenn Parry, Senior Research Fellow from the Aerospace team from WMG. Dr Parry analysed current aerospace projects and said there can be no doubt that aerospace provides a major opportunity for a wide range of high-tech UK manufacturing suppliers, many of whom already have the required skills and equipment to participate in the sector.
It is widely recognised that procurement of specialist services such as toolmaking and precision machining is often time consuming and difficult for buyers, with lengthy enquiry and evaluation time prior to placing an order.
However, the GTMA networks aim to radically improve the effectiveness of this effort. The association is also convinced that UK suppliers and potential suppliers to aerospace have the capacity to win substantially more business as buyers become more aware of the true cost of purchase from overseas competitors.
Benefits to participants in the GTMA Supply Chain Networks will include new business opportunities with OEM and Tier 1 companies, the development of stronger working relationships and partnerships and the chance to negotiate for turnkey business. The GTMA intends to further develop OEM and Tier 1 relationships within the sector and act as a "pipeline" collating and forwarding customer requirements to the network, these include both business opportunities and supplier requirements.
It is intended that further networks, for the medical and automotive sectors, will be created later in the year, for more details on the GTMA Supply Chain Networks call GTMA on 01844 274222.
www.gtma.co.uk
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