In July, the brand recruited continuous improvement expert Rich Amison to oversee operations at its Scunthorpe plant.
Rich explained: “Responding to customer demand is incredibly important at Kestrel.
“We have seen increasing demand across all our product lines, which means our operations team has to be flexible and able to respond quickly to our customers’ needs.”
Rich, who has a wealth of experience in logistics and manufacturing, has brought in new tools and recruited skilled staff to work in the factory.
He has also introduced a new programme of staff training for the operations team to improve efficiency in the manufacturing process and meet changing demands for Kestrel’s broad range of products.
“While white fascias, soffits and cladding remain popular, orders are increasing for coloured and foiled products, among specifiers and the refurbishment markets,” Rich explained.
“For operations, this means that our team needs to be able to switch lines quickly and efficiently to ensure that customers get the products they need, when they need them.”
The investment is paying off, with Kestrel achieving a significant increase in its OTIF (on time and in full) delivery rates, despite increasing demand across the range.
“There’s no question that the investment paying off,” Rich added. “The team has pulled together and proved its commitment to continuous improvement, which is really driving Kestrel forward.”