When small is beautiful

Frank Johnson was drafted straight into the RAF as a young man and it was not until 1953 that his first job found him working at the then well-known machine tool and broach-making company, Lapointe. A ten-year stint with that company, first as a trainee and then passing through many different sections, led him to becoming a specialist in cylindrical grinding. A further five years gaining further experience of other grinding processes, notably with gyro specialist S G Brown, saw him acknowledged as being one of the most highly-skilled in his field. Ironically, however, it was precisely at this stage that he found himself unexpectedly and alarmingly, made redundant! There was no doubt in Frank’s mind that out there was a big and on-going demand for his particular skills and experience, but how to fulfill it in his own interest and those who were willing to pay for it was the big question.

Solution: the birth of FCJ Grinding Precision.

Slowly and then with intensifying conviction, he came to the conclusion that the only way forward was to be his own business, thereby no longer becoming a victim of the mistakes of others. He decided to invest his £250 redundancy pay in an MG 12 Myford grinding machine and rent some work space. Thus in 1968, FJC Precision Grinding was born. The rest is history. He has never looked back.

Finding the initial period of working solo more work than he could handle, additional hands were brought in and efforts made to create what he called, ‘a proper business’. After several years of this, during which period, he found he was working harder than ever simply to pay off the debts being incurred, he made a hard decision that he now believes ardently has stood him in good stead ever since. Not only were his true skills being under utilized, owing to the time wasted on administering a multi-employee company, but also the high standards he considered paramount to the success of the business, were constantly jeopardized by the low standard of labour available at that time. Says Frank: For instance, the scrap rate was devastating and, with six chaps working for me, all in all, it was quite impossible for the company to make its way profitably”.

A business strategy ahead of its time

That was when he turned his back on the then prevailing mantra that, unless a business grew, it was doomed. Instead he embraced the somewhat unorthodox idea at the time, that at least in his case, a small firm would perform far better in sustaining a decent life for himself and the family. The subsequent on-going success of the company since can be seen to have been founded on the owner’s shrewd business strategy, perhaps ahead of its time, judging from the situation the nation is in today, his attitude to work and to life itself.

High tolerance and accuracy levels

Customers often demand accuracy to the level of 3.0 microns and surface finishes down to micrometres 0.1, which are easily provided at “FCJ”. Furthermore, proven good administration brought with it ISO 9001 quality assurance, original approval 2003, now to standard 2008 status. This in turn opened the door to contracts for work on parts used by some of the country’s top aerospace companies and other hi-tech customers.

Success is a relative term but, for FCJ Precision Grinding, it has been a very real outcome. Now, more than 40 years on, it is still a small, as well as being a true family business, that has survived all the cycles of ‘boom and bust’ with equanimity and even come through the current hard recessionary period fully intact; profitable, no bank overdraft, no debts, a full order book, and ownership of the factory.

Fortunately, son Timothy wanted to come into the business and is himself a very skilled universal grinder and, just like his Dad, has self-imposed absolute standards of workmanship and where precision is paramount. It has been a rigid adherence to these twin principles that have undoubtedly led to “FCJ” building a long, impressive list of discerning long-term clients, including many of the famous companies such as Rolls Royce, Airbus, etc.

No outside sales force has been ever needed because, says Frank: “When business falls away from any one substantial customer, as must happen from time to time, I am able make a few calls and persuade others on our list to take advantage of the newly-available free capacity”. Timothy now runs the business in much the same way as his father did, that is to say, fully hands-on and speaking directly with customers as well as pricing and negotiating for new work.

Stalwart wife, Vicky, issued her first invoice back in 1968. She now deals with all aspects of the administration, including accounts, VAT, tax provisions, and the ISO 9001 procedures. Daughter, Rachel, handles customer communication and drives the smartly-liveried company pick-up to collect and deliver work to customers with whom she maintains cordial relationships that help enhance the image of a family business that cares for its customers. With the spread of customers ranging from the south coast to the midlands, a lot of work is sent direct by courier services and close attention has to be paid to the packaging of these items. The fifth member of the company, Robert Fellows, is the only one who is not a family member but, after 15 years in the business, he is a fully integrated team member and well able to handle all aspects of surface grinding and much of the cylindrical work as well.

Having kept the company small, it is highly efficient, with low overheads, and can respond rapidly to its customers’ needs. It has always been the case that such businesses are often called upon by larger ones to take up the challenge of meeting sudden surges in demand on the one hand, or producing small quantities in times of low demand that would not be economic for the ‘big boys’ to make themselves. Having avoided the undeniable temptation to buy a lot of expensive new kit (at FCJ, more than half of the 16 or so machines on the shop floor are basic grinding machines), the company nevertheless provides universal, cylindrical and surface grinding services of the highest levels of precision.

Future needs

With available work levels improving, Timothy is confidently predicting imminent replacement of several machines with the latest advanced technology as part of the constant updating policy that will enable the company to keep pace with customers’ future needs.

In the meantime, operating from its own 1600 sq ft premises, they have been able to implement significant workplace improvements. A new heating system has been installed that coped well with the harsh winter conditions this year. Additionally, the whole factory has been rewired and new environmental facilities and a kitchenette were recently installed.

As for himself, Frank refuses to retire just yet. He turns up to apply his skills every morning at 8.30 Monday to Friday and puts in a full day’s work. Life for Frank and Vicky is still a four-generation family existence and more and more time is spent these days with the four grandchildren now growing up fast.

Our country’s pressing economic needs.

There are many small family firms like FCJ Precision Grinding scattered throughout our whole country and their contribution to the national well-being in terms of needing to boost manufacturing output in the present economic hard times, should not be underestimated. Without doubt, by offering larger businesses a skilful, reliable service, backed by the collective and individual fund of highly-skilled engineering know-how, there will always be a good future for them. Big business needs these skills more so now than ever before and they should be encouraged to flourish if our manufacturing economy and our standard of living is to blossom forth once again.