S4S Limited: Latest News

S4S present at the annual Sub-Con Exhibition

S4S recently made a presentation at the annual Sub-Con Exhibition held recently at the NEC Birmingham.

Steve Dobson MD of S4S gave a comprehensive talk on Sourcing and Managing Indian Suppliers to an audience of over 100 interested in Global Sourcing.

The question and answer section at the end was particularly popular and stimulated excellent feedback. A copy of the presenation is available here in PDF format

For more information about this subject contact S4S direct and quote Sub-Con.

S4S helps local inventors launch new security product to market.

Complete with the appropriate certification to the British Standard BS7950 and Police Authority APCO approved �Secure by Design�. The unique device was the idea of two local inventors who approached S4S Ltd in the late summer of 2007, looking for help to bring their patented idea to the market.

The No-Go Glass Lock is produced by a Lancashire based, newly formed company; No-Go Security Products Limited. The new security product was launched in December 2007 supported by the Crime Prevention Officer for Hyndburn in Lancashire; this was the chosen area for the first stage of the launch.

In a few months a new company was formed with investors to secure a tool design and manufacturer. A dedicated web-site for internet sales and a full package of marketing and promotional materials was quickly established complete with brand and logo enabling sales to start before the end of November.

Accreditations.

Applications for full accreditation have been successful with the company being awarded the necessary certification to market the device as held by other security products in the market.

Future Plans

Plans now include exhibiting at the Master Locksmiths exhibition in May and advertising in industry leading trade magazines with national coverage.

How did S4S help?

S4S assigned a part time Project Manager to oversee all plans and progress of the launch, ensuring all activities were on time and within budget.

The overall role of S4S was as facilitator, bringing together the various parties to create a new company and launch the products as early as possible. The original inventors are now Director Shareholders of the business and have been decision makers from the beginning and active in shaping the company as it has evolved.

Steve Dobson Managing Director of S4S said �this was an interesting and exciting project that brought together many skills and experiences to bring to life an idea invented locally, and makes a difference in tackling crime in the communities in which we live and work.

S4S are interested in helping other inventors make their ideas a reality by bringing their invention to life and launching into the market place. If you want more information please contact info@s4sltd.co.uk or telephone Steve Dobson on 01254 356161, without any obligation we would be happy to discuss your ideas.

A British Company helping UK manufacturing to compete in a Global Economy

Sourcing 4 Success Ltd brings you 30 years of experience in global sourcing. The world is becoming a smaller place and the global economy provides new opportunities to develop markets and sources for goods. It also presents challenges in terms of managing, shipping, and tracking products or components. Learn more how Sourcing 4 Success Ltd can assist you in shrinking your supply chains and assisting you in project management.

A British company assisting British Manufacturing to compete Globally.

By choosing S4S you are getting a relationship with a technical professional whose integrity, reliability and capacity for project managing your sourcing requirements will make your competitive edge better and save you time and money. You are also ensuring smoother communication, and sidestepping potential bottlenecks in logistics and shipping. You save time, ensure quality, and increase profits.
Find out more by contacting mailto:info@s4sltd.co.uk and let us tell you how we could help.

S4S announces major India based consultancy order

S4S, Sourcing for Success, the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company established in 2002, has just announced the completion of a highly successful tour of Indian which has resulted in S4S winning a prestigious follow up consultancy order.

The first stage of the project was an initial customised tour of India which took place at the end of September 2007. The tour was organised following a number of in-depth meetings between S4S, their Indian associates and the client management team to determine overall project objectives, timescales and to identify the benefits that could be realised.

The tour included close examination of foundries, machine shops and tool rooms of 16 companies in 6 cities in the north, west and the south of India. The primary purpose of the September tour was for the client to obtain a clear understanding of engineering resources and opportunities available in India and to see how these core skills and resources could be dovetailed into their European operations reducing costs, lead-times and hence increasing overall profitability. The increased profits can then be allocated to funding further growth and development increasing the strength and market position of the company both in Europe and globally.

The currently confidential and unnamed client is a limited company, part of a larger European public listed company, which provides machined aluminium castings and sub-assemblies primarily to off-highway automotive OEM�s on global basis.

A spokesman on the behalf of the client commented �The trip was a great success with the brief completely fulfilled and even exceeded; we have identified additional opportunities not previously envisaged�

The second order which has just been announced was to review in finer detail four Indian facilities and asses which of the four the client will be working with and the nature of the working arrangements. In order to achieve this, S4S provided on site in India, consultants who went through in detail the business maps of each of the companies, looking at all elements of operation, scoring them on accuracy, efficiency, attention to detail, professionalism, time management and overall order delivery.

The areas of operation most scrutinized by the S4S consultants were ethical trading, health& safety, environment management, quality management system, incoming material management, manufacturing process control, final inspection & storage, cost management and human resource management. These areas were seen to be the key areas of operation most likely to affect overall success in delivering on-time and within budget to an ethically acceptable level of working.

Steve Dobson, managing director S4S Limited said �I knew when we carried out the first tour in September that the client would be amazed at the manufacturing quality now available in India and the volume of savings that could be made. When they established that we could offer a turnkey solution to realizing these benefits we were very confident that they would want to take the project to the next stage� Steve continues �in the end is it any surprise that we are now getting close to fully agreeing this UK-India collaborative working relation for our client?�

S4S who provide a full portfolio of global sourcing, purchasing and consultancy services strive to work closely with clients on maximising the benefits of operating as seamless as possible across international barriers increasing the competitiveness of clients in a truly global market.

S4S is instrumental in bringing ingenious security product to market

S4S Ltd (Sourcing for Success) the global sourcing and consultancy company, based in Lancashire, has been instrumental in bringing an ingenious security product to market which is designed to cut the number of UK burglaries taking place through double glazed windows.

Following a successful period of product specification, design, material sourcing, manufacturing of sample products, test marketing and finally sourcing manufacturers for the initial production run, the NO-GO Glass Lock was launched to the market in full on Friday 14th December 2007.

The official product launch took place following meetings with Local Police Crime Prevention Officers, and a presentation of the product at a meeting hosted by Local Police Crime Prevention Officers to a set of newly formed neighborhood watch groups that have been experiencing burglaries through entry via externally beaded doubled glazed units.

The No-Go Glass Lock device prevents unauthorised removal of the glass in a double glazed window unit from the outside but still allow removal of the glass unit from the inside should the need arise. Burglars know how to gain entry through externally beaded windows; they also know that the No-Go Glass Lock makes it almost impossible to gain entry without smashing the glass. By fitting the NO-GO Glass Lock homeowners are also giving a strong visual deterrent to the burglar as it�s visible from the outside of a double glazed window. It is easy to install, it is a visible deterrent to intruders and offers peace of mind to thousands of homeowners.

The product idea was conceived because there are literally millions of homes throughout UK that have double glazing that have external beading (i.e. beading on the outside of the window pane). To experienced burglars this type of double glazing makes unauthorised access through any window pane in many cases as simple as opening an unlocked door and it is not only opening windows that are a risk- this applies to all window panes with this type of double glazing.

The No-Go Glass Lock was invented by two Lancashire based inventors, Colin Burgess and David Murphy, who collaborated to patent the security device. Although together they have invented an excellent solution to a growing security problem, neither of them have any experience in bringing new products to market.

In July 2007, Colin and David approached Sourcing 4 Success Limited (S4S) to help them to bring the device to market. The overall role of S4S was to be facilitators who have brought various parties together to create a new company, source investment and to bring the product forward ready for launch.

Following the agreement of a �concept to market strategy�, a new company No Go Security Products Limited was set up in Oswaldtwistle, and the new company anticipates the creation of new office based jobs and also to create new opportunities for local foundry Ashley Engineering Limited who have now been appointed as main parts supplier. To support the initial product interest and distribution issues, a website www.nogosecurity.com has been set up to assist in getting the product to market quickly.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said, �This is a fantastic product and as soon as we researched the market and looked at the problems of burglars gaining entry to properties this way, we realised this was a significant problem with an excellent solution. Its only been 4 weeks since the product was launched but the response has been phenomenal and the website is taking orders from individuals and groups who see the benefit in crime prevention� Steve continues �we are now anticipating massive interest form councils and housing authorities who have large housing stocks and hopefully they recognise this as a cost effective solution to the security problem. �.

Demand for goods remains strong in UK

UK manufacturing companies order books remain healthy and expectations for output growth among this sector have improved, according to the CBI's monthly Industry Trends survey.

There is a notable increase in the demand for capital goods with 29% of companies reporting order books to be above normal levels.

The CBI's chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty is quoted " order books are bulging and exports are holding up despite the continuing strength of the pound. Expectations for the coming three months suggest this healthy situation will continue."

Source: IET Manufacturing November. Market News

S4S the catalyst for England/India joint venture

Press Release October 2007
S4S the catalyst for England/India joint venture
S4S, Sourcing for Success, the Lancashire based component, product and services sourcing company established in 2002, has just announced the successful opening of a new purpose built facility of an England/India joint venture HCM Ibex Engineering Private Limited in Bangalore, India.

This joint venture was formed by UK based HCM Engineering Limited of Birmingham and Ibex Engineering Private Limited of Bangalore, India.

As a result of the acceleration of global sourcing over the past 5 years, HCM contacted S4S Ltd in September 2004 to work with them and assist in the creation of a new business strategy. The initial meetings resulted in the development of a global manufacturing and sourcing strategy which led to S4S carrying out primary and secondary research on the aluminium foundries and die-casting tool manufacturers capabilities in South India. This led, in turn, to a customised and fully accompanied tour of production facilities and potential joint venture partners during November 2004. This trip was undertaken by senior directors from both S4S and HCM.

In December 2004, HCM decided that because of the capabilities of the companies visited during the trip that they wanted to form a joint venture with one of the companies so they could offer a �one stop shop� option to their customers providing short lead time large tools from the UK and a large variety of gravity, high pressure and low pressure tools from India.
Under the guidance of S4S Ltd, the joint venture partner was selected in December 2004, the commercial agreement signed in summer 2005 and the joint venture launched manufacturing activities in May 06. Initially the tool room was set up in a clean area within Ibex Engineering�s foundry.
The Indian joint venture offers world class tooling with European design at a world class globally sourced price. With 40 years design and manufacturing experience in complex tooling HCM Engineering provides the design integrity and guarantees tooling quality. The arrangement also provides the customers of the Joint venture both UK project management/ liaison and no exchange rate risks.

Over last 18 months 60 tools have been made and the joint venture has exported high pressure, gravity dies and coreboxes to the UK. A new purpose built facility (phase 2 of the development) was completed and formally opened in September 07 to provide additional capacity for this expansion in product manufacturing.

As word has spread about the success of this joint venture, HCM/Ibex has been visited by several UK foundries and their seal of approval over last 18 months has encouraged the 2 shareholding companies to continue their investment in this joint venture with plans in place for further growth.

The third part of this growth plan has been the purchase of more land and machine tools. The next development will be able to handle much larger tools (tool weight up to 10 tonnes) and offer greater range including high pressure, squeeze, low pressure and gravity tools along with trim and clip tools and fixtures to fulfill all customer tooling requirements. This third phase of development will be operational during 2008.

Steve Dobson quotes �UK tooling manufacturers are facing ever increasing pressures from overseas manufacturers. HCM Engineering�s foresight has enabled them, with S4S assistance, to develop a strategy that ensures long term viability of their business. The great success of their Indian joint venture over the first 18 months has lead them to continue to invest and develop a full range of tooling services for their customers�

Date: October 2007
For further information please contact Paul Airey, Piranha Advertising & Marketing Solutions, Tel: 01772 888 331 paul@piranha-solutions.com
Visit www.s4sltd.co.uk for background information.
Also visit www.hcmeng.co.uk for background information.

S4S Australia has outstanding first quarter

S4S, Sourcing for Success, the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company established in 2002, has just announced an excellent first quarter performance from its sister company based in Australia.

The Australian company, Sourcing 4 Success Australia Pty Limited , was launched on the 1st April 2007 with the head quarters located in Perth and is headed up by Paul Hulley who was installed as managing director.

S4S Australia was set high target levels from the UK with respect to lead generation, customer proposals and business conversions, all of which the company has successfully achieved and surpassed
Initial efforts have been focussed on making contact with prospective customers with several visits each week since the company launch. Customers have shown significant interest in the full range of purchasing and sourcing solutions provided by S4S but in particular the core areas including overseas sourcing, outsourcing and value engineering projects.

The markets which have led to the greatest enquiry activity have been oil and gas, mining and quarrying, defence and shipbuilding.

China's insatiable appetite for raw material has had wide repercussions in Australian engineering manufacturing companies, including creation of severe skills shortages. Wages in mining and quarrying and associated industries are at all time highs with many highly skilled individuals being enticed away from their traditional areas into typically lower skilled activities. This has caused many Australian companies to consider both global sourcing and outsourcing for the first time.

This unprecedented commercial pressure has been one of the main reasons why the S4S business model, which ensures alignment with customers' profit drivers, has been very favourably received in Australia.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said
�Australia seems to be affected more than Europe by the growth of manufacturing in China. The business model we have in the UK of identifying and working with global manufacturing companies on the behalf of our clients is proving a very enticing offer to Australian based engineering manufacturing companies. Steve continues �Paul Hulley the MD has done an excellent job of identifying the type of companies that will benefit from our business proposition and is continuing to deliver excellent results for them. I can only see the Australian part of our business growing further�

S4S Limited identified Australia as a growth market for the company�s core business offering of providing global sourcing solutions to large companies dealing in high value, labour intensive manufactured and engineered components and products. Australia�s proximity to a large number of emerging markets also maximises the opportunity to reduce component costs.

Date: September 2007
For further information please contact Paul Airey, Piranha Advertising & Marketing Solutions, Tel: 01772 888 331 paul@piranha-solutions.com
Visit www.s4sltd.co.uk for background information.

S4S to market double glazing security device

S4S, Sourcing for Success, the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company established in 2002, has just announced an agreement to bring to market a unique double glazing security device that could significantly reduce the number of household burglaries taking place via newly installed double glazing.

S4S is working with the inventor to bring the device from the design and patent stage to a mass market product and developing a fully fledged company producing high volumes of products.

There is a very significant installed base of double glazing windows within UK with external beading that have an inherent security risk due to the ease of removal of the glass units. This new security device can be readily retrofitted to the double glazing units in externally beaded windows thereby making them as secure as any internally beaded double glazing window.

This device can also be fitted during new installations as externally glazed windows with this security device will in the vast majority of cases be cheaper than equivalent internally beaded windows. It is anticipated there will be a significant market opportunity for both residential and commercial dwellings/buildings after this security issue was recently raised in the Houses of Parliament.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said "I was surprised to hear that this was such a massive security problem and only since we have started working with the inventor have we come across so many stories of houses and in some cases whole streets being broken into by simply removing the glass from double glazing. I have even heard stories about problems with insurance payouts as criminal gangs were replacing the glass again after entry and leaving no evidence of a forced break in." Steve continues "The market for this security device is huge and we have given ourselves a tight timescale to get this product to market, but the sooner we do, the sooner hundreds of thousands of houses and commercial buildings will become more secure"

S4S has brought together a team of experts from all the necessary disciplines that will enable the security device to be launched by the new company No Go Security Products Limited in autumn 2007. Initial activities include final design approval (design for manufacture), developing new product testing procedures, obtaining "Secured by Design" approval by police and other authorities, selection of best fit manufacturers in UK and overseas, die design, marketing and complete project management.

Date: January 2007
For further information please contact Paul Airey, Piranha Advertising & Marketing Solutions, Tel: 01772 888 331 paul@piranha-solutions.com

S4S saves valve making customer �100,000 & increases sales by 50%

S4S, Sourcing for Success, the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company established in 2002, has just completed an overseas sourcing project resulting in a valve manufacturing company saving over �100,000 per year when compared to the previous years international sourcing figures.

In addition to the annual savings of over �100,000, the company used a significant percentage of these savings to invest back into the product range reducing the selling price and making the valves more competitive. This more competitive approach has now resulted in an increase of sales revenue for these parts in excess of 50%.

S4S has provided a total sourcing solution from enquiry through to delivery of the final products and the complete service provided included search and selection of overseas supplier, negotiation of commercial terms, expediting of die manufacture, sample approvals, expediting of production lots, quality control, freight arrangements including customs clearance and import duty avoidance.

S4S investigated suppliers in Eastern Europe, China and India and after exhaustive investigations finally selected a foundry with in house machining in south India. The parts are machined aluminium castings and have to meet stringent quality requirements for a variety of end users including Transco.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said "By carefully planning and executing global sourcing projects like this the savings can be huge but if you get it wrong the losses can be equally as big. We have come across many instances where companies have attempted to carry out a switch in manufacturing sources themselves and been left with huge problems to try and sort out. By using the entire S4S team this project ran very smoothly and savings became apparent very quickly. By investing these savings rather than just adding them to the bottom line, the client has also managed to increase market share significantly which I think is the best way to make the most of such savings".

Date: August 2007
For further information please contact Paul Airey, Piranha Advertising & Marketing Solutions, Tel: 01772 888 331 paul@piranha-solutions.com

Free Purchasing Audits throughout August

Following last years success S4S once again is offering free consultation for Purchasing audits from August 1st for 1 month.

These audits have been very well received by clients who want a review of purchasing systems, skills and strategy. The detailed audit includes an S4S purchasing consultant visiting your premises and assessing all purchasing activity over an agreed period, usually two days.

A confidential summary report of findings can be issued within a week to your management team and can be followed up with a recommended actions report.

If this is of interest to you, contact S4S now to book your free audit.

Global Solutions to Global Competition

Today's challenging global business environment requires UK firms to develop a better approach to Global Manufacturing Operations and Supply Chain Solutions.

Of particular importance is the interaction between logistics and manufacturing activities. S4S Ltd have many clients who have benefited from our support and guidance to achieve real results in finding the right Global Solution. (See Case Studies)

If you want to find out how S4S Ltd can help your business contact us now on info@s4sltd.co.uk, your initial consultation is free of charge.

3rd Annual European Manufacturing Strategies Summit
4th and 5th October 2007 Swiss�tel D�sseldorf, Germany

EMS 2007 is the must-attend event for senior manufacturing practitioners to hear the most up-to-date case studies, network with peers and do business.
Operating costs, market demand and stringent environmental laws are all having a major impact on how manufacturers deliver products to their customers. This event will examine all these challenging developments and provide a strategic framework for maintaining a competitive advantage.
Featuring The Advanced Manufacturing Experience.
Programme highlights for 2007:
� Global manufacturing: achieving operational excellence in the international enterprise
� The environmental imperative: complying with environmental regulations
� Lean manufacturing: developing a lean operation for competitive advantage
� Supply Chain Management: integrating manufacturing into the extended supply chain
� Closing the skills gap: attracting and developing talent in the workforce
� Technological developments: enhanced manufacturing through innovative technology

WEEE directive implemented July 1st 2007

The European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive is being brought in for UK importers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic goods this week. An average of 4kg of electrical and electronic waste must be recycled per person in the UK under the directive, with schemes funded by importers and producers.
The new regulations state that retailers must offer take-back services to consumers, who are required to obtain and keep proof that items have been passed on for recycling. From July 1st 2007, full producer responsibility for WEEE recycling comes into force in Britain and politicians hope that the regulations will help reduce the nation's e-waste mountain.
Around 1.2 million tonnes of electronic and electrical waste is produced in the UK each year, with much of it ending up at landfill sites.
Most electrical and electronic items contain substances and chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and need to be disposed of carefully to prevent damage.
If your business is affected by these new regulations and you need help with compliance Contact S4S for more information quoting - WEEE Directive Help.

Logistic Providers and Manufacturers set to profit from WEEE Directive

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), which came into effect here in the UK this year, aims to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment at the end of their useful life. Through increasing the re-use and recycling and reduction of material going to landfill.

The legislation seeks to achieve this by making a producer responsible for its product and its environmentally safe diposal at the end of its useful life. In the consumer electronics industry, manufacturers must pay for the setup, management, collection and disposal of its product. With Business to Business sales, the manufacturer must adhere to the same requirements, with the exception of collection. Companies are having to adapt or pay the price of high fines, lost contracts or even poor image.

Initially seen as a burden, the environmental stream can be lucrative and open new markets for products and services. Aftermarket opportunities strategically can be targetted including refurbishment, recovery of spares as well as extraction of mineral content. Recyclers, service, refurbishment companies as well as logistics and OEMs can all profit from this new legislation. Strategic planning can assist you with compliance. Contact S4S for more information quoting WEEE Directive Help.

Australia latest launch in S4S global growth

S4S Ltd (Sourcing for Success), the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company has launched a new company in Australia to further enhance the company�s ability to provide a global solution to international product, component and material sourcing problems.

The company was launched on the 1st April 2007 with the Australian head quarters located in Perth. The full company name is Sourcing 4 Success Australia Pty Limited.

S4S Australia will be headed up by Paul Hulley who will be installed as managing director. Paul joins S4S from one of the world�s largest pump manufacturing companies where he held the post of engineering manager for many years and brings with him a broad range of skills developed from dealing with global manufacturing issues. One of Paul�s initial tasks will be to assemble a highly skilled team of international sourcing consultants who can provide high value consultancy services to company�s initially based in Australia, but also in New Zealand and eventually to companies throughout South East Asia. These markets are currently serviced from the group�s offices in Lancashire.

S4S Limited identified Australia as a growth market for the company�s core business offering of providing global sourcing solutions to large companies dealing in high value, labour intensive manufactured and engineered components and products. Australia�s proximity to a large number of emerging markets also maximises the opportunity to reduce component costs.

The new company launch is part of the growth strategy adopted by S4S designed to provide clients with a �one stop window to the world� in terms of purchasing, manufacturing and sourcing opportunities and quickly follows the relocation of S4S from Rochdale to new offices, the recruitment of UK based personnel and the recruitment of key personnel in India.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said, �This is great news for S4S and our clients. It�s important to increase our international network to ensure we can act quickly to changes in global markets and provide our clients with the best global solutions. We had been planning the Australian company for some time as we identified the market as having massive growth potential. �Steve continues �By recruiting such a capable individual as Paul, we were able to accelerate the opening timetable and we are all thrilled to have the Australian company up and running so quickly�

2007 brings more growth. The first quarter of 2007 has seen a record number of enquiries.

The first quarter of 2007 has continued to bring the expected growth of the business. Relocation to new offices in February and installation of new computer systems have placed the business in a stronger position to support the level of activity seen now and expected further growth in the coming years.

New corporate literature and a very dynamic web site have further enhanced the company profile and have been well received. The growth in business is mainly from increased commitments from existing clients who continue to explore alternative sources of supply from their current UK based supply chain.

The expansion of services introduced in 2006 have generated new interest from clients who have very specific needs and projects related to our new offerings. Particular interest for 2007 is the provision of interim management and fast response to support purchasing management activities either with resident or remote involvement from a qualified S4S consultant and the full support of the rest of the S4S team.

The current recruitment campaign now extends beyond UK to overseas with the expected launch of S4S Australia and recruitment of personnel in India. See recruitment page for more information.

S4S have moved to new offices

We are pleased to announce our relocation to new offices.
From today 20th February 2007 our new business address is

Sourcing for Success (S4S Ltd)
Stonebridge Mill
Stonebridge Lane
Oswaldtwistle
Lancashire
BB5 3HX
United Kingdom

Telephone 44(0) 1254 356160
Fax 44(0) 1254 356165
Email s4s@hanson-springs.co.uk

Web www.s4sltd.co.uk

Your primary contact for information and services is Lesley-Ann Heselwood.

S4S announce record-breaking growth

S4S Limited, (Sourcing for Success), the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company established in 2002, has just announced plans to relocate from their offices in Rochdale to new offices at Stonebridge Mill, Stonebridge Lane Oswaldtwistle, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 3HX.

The company is responding to an unprecedented period of sustained growth in its client base and an increase in the scale and depth of projects being undertaken. The move, that will take place in the first quarter of 2007, is an integral part of S4S's growth strategy and is to be complimented by a recruitment campaign in the UK and for their new overseas offices.

S4S have attributed their continued growth to their quality of performance and the expansion of their product offering. This announcement comes "hot on the heels" of several high profile ventures for S4S including the successful development of a Anglo-Indian joint venture, for a northwest based foundry, in which S4S played a key role identifying and selecting the new partner, locating a new site and designing of a new building as well as navigating the client through the minefield of Indian bureaucracy.

Recruitment announcements will be made in the local press and details will also be posted on the S4S website at www.s4sltd.co.uk, people interested in current vacancies should send their CV to S4S for the attention of the Human Resource Manager.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said
"The pace of growth is very encouraging and has prompted the decision to relocate to the new Oswaldtwistle offices; we are looking forward to the move as it will enable us to further expand and meet the growing demand for our services.

Interest in global sourcing within UK manufacturing has increased over the last 2 years and S4S's reputation in the field is generating a huge amount of interest from small, medium and large UK based manufacturing companies who view global sourcing as an integral part of their business plan.

I believe the company's growth has been further fuelled by the expansion of our services in April 2006, we developed a suite of associated services comprising of training, consultancy, legislative compliance and supply chain management. The expansion has had a significant affect on the company's development, the move and recruitment drive is the next natural progression".

Date: March 2007
For further information please contact Paul Airey, Piranha Advertising & Marketing Solutions, Tel: 01772 888 331 paul@piranha-solutions.com
Visit www.s4sltd.co.uk for background information.

S4S announce Indian joint venture

S4S Ltd (Sourcing for Success), the Lancashire based international component, product and services sourcing company has been key in the development and implementation of a new joint Anglo-Indian venture for its client, a northwest based foundry. S4S has enabled the client to transform their business and increase profits through managed cost reduction in purchasing of engineering manufactured goods and services from India.

The primary initiative was to offer a "one stop shop" to UK customers for both short run non-forecastable product from UK and higher volume forecastable product from Indian venture at globally competitive prices; S4S worked with the client for over 2 years, from concept to completion, securing the foundation of the joint venture with a facility based in Tami Nadu, Southern India. The process S4S undertook included identifying and selecting the new partner, purchase of a suitable plot of land and design & construction of a new building as well as navigating the client through the minefield of Indian bureaucracy, obtaining government approvals, building construction processes and the transfer of equipment from the UK to India.

The shareholders agreement was signed in July 2006, with ownership split 70:30 by UK and Indian partners respectively; this was quickly followed by the venture's official launch in August 2006, with the first produced goods despatched to the UK less than a week later. The formation of this joint venture enables S4S's client to make a unique offering effectively a 'One Stop Shop' for the supply of aluminium and zinc casting.

Steve Dobson, Managing Director at S4S said,
"Our client had concerns for the future growth of its foundry operation as they were coming under increasing pressure from foreign imports. Working with S4S has given them the ability to expand the range of products offered whilst maintaining their very high production standards and being competitive in a global market. I am delighted at the continuing success of this venture; it highlights S4S's expertise in the field and has generated unprecedented interest in our core services.

S4S played a key role in locating our client's Indian business partner and continued to guide and assist in their growth. Although the initial set up was relatively modest the success of this venture has enabled significant growth plans for the Anglo-Indian venture.

It's good news for our client and can only be good news for S4S. The success of this project has helped boost our growing client base and reinforces our reputation as a premier global component, product and services sourcing company".

Date: December 2006
For further information please contact Paul Airey, Piranha Advertising & Marketing Solutions, Tel: 01772 888 331 paul@piranha-solutions.com
Visit www.s4sltd.co.uk for background information.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) and the competitive advantage in the global economy

Competitive Pressure

A number of factors have lead to the increasing globalisation of the world economy, and as a result the competitive environment faced by manufacturers has changed dramatically since the last decade. The drivers of globalisation include: decreasing tariffs, improved transportation, communications and information technology, global manufacturing of products and availability of services across markets.These changes have enabled the global competitors to make the products and services available to customers worldwide, and the results have been a proliferation of choices for consumers and a need for the companies to offer greater products and service quality at lower costs in order to remain competitive.

These pressures have led to an increased emphasis on re-engineering internal business processes and working more collaboratively with the customers and suppliers to better integrate planning and operations throughout the supply chain as a means to reduce costs and improve services.Changes in technology and globalisation of products and services have also resulted in increasingly dynamic markets and greater uncertainty in customer demand. Consumers have greater access to more goods and services, and the introduction of new products is occurring at a faster pace. Thus a company’s competitive position depends upon its ability to understand changes in customer demands and respond appropriately with goods and services that will meet those demands. SCM tools and techniques are mechanisms that can allow the companies to respond to these environmental changes.

Supply Chain Dynamics

A supply chain is defined as a set of three or more companies directly linked by one or more of the upstream and downstream flows of the products, services, finances and information from a source to a customer. It consists of all the stages involved, directly or indirectly, in fulfilling a customer’s demand. It not only includes the manufacturer and suppliers, but also transporters, warehouses, retailers and customers themselves. Within an organisation, the supply chain includes all the functions involved in fulfilling a customer demand. These functions include, but are not limited to, new product development, marketing, operations, distribution, finance and customer service.The objective of the supply chain is to maximise the overall value generated. The value a supply chain generates is the difference between what the final product is worth to the customer and the effort the supply chain expends in filling the customer’s demand. It is strongly correlated with the supply-chain profitability, the difference between the revenue generated from the customer and the overall costs across the supply chain.

Competitiveness and Supply-Chain Strategies.

A company’s competitive strategy defines the set of customer demands that it seeks to satisfy through its products and services. A supply-chain strategy determines the nature of procurement of raw materials, transportation of materials to and from the company, manufacture of the product or operation to provide the service and distribution of the product to the customer, along with any follow-up service.

The ultimate objective of SCM is to achieve a ‘strategic fit’ between the company’s competitive strategy and supply-chain strategy. This strategic fit can be achieved by:

Understanding the customer demand. This helps the company to define costs and service requirements.
Understanding the supply chain. It helps the company to design and manage its supply chain in accordance with the customer’s demand.
Achieving strategic fit. If any mismatch exists between what the supply chain is capable of doing with respect to customer demands, the company can either alter the structure of the supply-chain design or alter its strategies.

Optimising the Supply-Chain Performance

There needs to be a trade-off between the supply-chain responsiveness and supply-chain efficiency. The supply-chain responsiveness includes a supply-chain’s ability to do the following:

Respond to a wide range of quantities demanded by customers
Meet short lead times
Handle a variety of products
Meet very high service levels

The more of these abilities the supply chain has, the more responsive it is. The supply-chain efficiency is the cost of making and delivering a product to the customer. Increases in costs lower the efficiency. For every strategic choice to increase responsiveness, there are additional costs that further lower the efficiency. For optimizing the supply-chain performance, the company needs to achieve a balance between the responsiveness and efficiency, in line with the company’s competitive strategy. The main drivers of the supply-chain performance include:

1. Inventory: This includes all raw materials, work in process and finished goods within a supply chain. Changing the inventory policy can dramatically alter the supply chain’s efficiency and responsiveness.

2. Transportation: This entails moving the inventory from point to point in a supply chain. It can take the form of many combinations of modes and routes, each with its own performance characteristics. Transportation choices have a large impact on the responsiveness and efficiency of the supply-chain performance.

Conclusions

With the globalization of the world economy, the diversity and environmental factors that influence a company's global strategies and approach, supply-chain drivers influencing the companies to become increasingly global, it can be concluded:

Different approaches to globalization require different degrees of supply-chain integration, as well as different supply-chain strategies and structures.
Whatever approaches to globalization and global supply-chain management are adopted, companies face the challenges of understanding and managing the greater complexity and risks inherent in the global environment.
Global supply-chain processes need to provide operating flexibility to the company to respond to changes in the macroeconomic environment or government policies that adversely affect the supply-chain performance.
Design and management of supply-chain activities must consider the influence of differences in culture, industry structure, legal requirements and infrastructure in different countries on customers, suppliers, competitors and supply-chain.

Chris Woodall MIOM, MCILT

UK based pump manufacturer to save �1M

Thanks to S4S Limited, the specialist industrial sourcing company, a UK based multi national pump manufacturing company is set to save over �1,000,000 over the next four years by sourcing products from India.

S4S Limited provided a total sourcing solution from India for the supply of over one hundred tonnes per year of machined grey and SG cast iron castings, covers and a variety of other parts for this large ISO 9001 UK multi-national pump company. After pattern orders were placed in February 2005, by October 2005, 50 machine parts had passed sample inspections first time and first production passed inspection by the customer on site in India soon after. These products are now regularly entering the UK as required. Savings for this customer are running at over �250,000 per year for the machine castings alone when compared to previous sourcing solutions.