News

August 2015 Keeping pace with technology is important for any business, but for Tenkay it is crucial. That is why we invited Nick Clarke, Product Manager at Blundell Production Equipment, to recommend the best possible solution to meet our requirement for a new SMT Placement System that would take us into the future and keep us there. The answer came in the form of a new state-of-the-art M20 machine from leading Japanese manufacturer I-Pulse – part of the giant Yamaha Motor Co. – which we hope to have up and running by mid-August.  Measuring 1.75 metres x 1.75 metres, the M20 will greatly enhance our component handling capability with the M20’s ability to handle parts from 01005 up to 120 x 90 mm including 30 mm high parts, probably the best range in its class. The machine’s high feeder capacity... Read more At Tenkay, we pride ourselves on our quality manufacturing and customer service, so if you’re interested in seeing if we can work together, please give us a call today on 01903 855 455.

June 2015 At Tenkay we work hard to drive efficiencies in our manufacturing processes to provide our customers with the best possible quality, service and price. Here’s how we do it: Breaking jobs down to sub-assemblies We assess each of our customers’ products on a case by case basis to establish the best build process. Usually, the most efficient way is to break the product build down into sub-assemblies. This can lead to better engineering and allows us to maximise machining and shop floor capabilities, resulting in more flexibility around tight lead times. It also means that quality can be monitored at each stage to ensure the final product is right first time. Monitoring build efficiencies We continually monitor product builds for any variation in quality or efficiency. If a variation occurs, we drill down to understand what is happening and identify the necessary action. The result could be to employ a proven build technique used on another product or perhaps provide additional training. We are always looking to improve. Use of automation Wherever possible, we will automate sections of a product build. This not only improves time efficiencies, but also increases quality, by reducing variations. Zero Defects All Tenkay operatives are working towards becoming Certified IPC Specialists, part of our Zero Defects, Right First Time quality initiative. Right first time means less wastage, quicker output and reduced costs, which can all be passed on as benefits to our customers. At Tenkay, we pride ourselves on our quality manufacturing and customer service, so if you’re interested in seeing if we can work together, please give us a call today on 01903 855 455.

May 2015 Thanks to continued growth and demand, Tenkay has recently employed a number of new team members across its shop floors.   We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to (from left to right): Back row: Rory Slattery, WIRE01 Team Leader who rejoins Tenkay and Chris Crawford, WIRE03. Middle row: Katarzyna Okrzes, WIRE01, Julie Standing, PCB and Helen Lynn, PCB. Front row: Leanne Barratt, WIRE01 and Beverley Gray, PCB. Because of this expansion of our 50 strong team and the additional space required to hold our increased output (for both export and domestic product), we have had to make some changes to the layout of our premises. Thank you to the team for your help and patience as we make these improvements. With all this positive change for Tenkay, we were surprised by CBI’s new report which finds British manufacturing growth and exports has slowed in the last quarter. You can read the Insider Media article here. If you are thinking about outsourcing your electronics manufacturing, download our guide which explains the steps you need to consider when choosing your supplier. Download now.

America lead the way with US companies (if they file reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act) required to report on their supply chain purchasing for the first time in 2014. Since reviewing 100 of these submitted conflict minerals reports, Amnesty International have published its findings, Digging for Transparency. Nearly 80% are failing to meet the minimum requirements set out by the U.S. conflict minerals law, with some of America’s biggest corporations among those found to be submitting inadequate information. However there are growing calls to repeal or amend the US Dodd-Frank Act as there is evidence that “the SEC Dodd-Frank conflicts minerals law has had significant unintended consequences on the Congolese people and has been difficult to comply with.” (Business Law Prof Blog) In May, the full European parliament will be voting on the proposed conflict minerals legislation and consider the joint statement of recommendations issued by IPC and other associations. The principle difference between the US Dodd Frank Act and the joint statement is that the former requires companies at the end pf the supply chain (downstream users) to do all the due diligence and trace their mineral supply chain to source while the joint statement recommends “keeping the focus upstream” since “Beyond the pinch point of smelters/refiners, it  becomes exponentially more difficult to identify the origins of metals”. However it remains the case that while the Dodd Frank Act has no legal standing in the UK, UK companies that supply US companies are finding that they have to perform the due diligence under the Act as a contractual condition. Tenkay Electronics support the ideals of the existing and proposed Conflict minerals legislation and are committed to ensure that the products they manufacture are free, as far as is reasonably practicable, from conflict minerals.

Pyroban have used Tenkay Electronics for over 25 years, and have always found them to be extremely innovative and flexible in their approach. They are also able to respond to changing priorities at very short notice, and are remarkably easy to deal with. The latest audit shows no rejected items, and that on average they deliver our orders 1 day early. Mike Phelan Senior Buyer Pyroban Limited

March 2015 We recently undertook our renewal audits for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and we are pleased to announce that we have been recertified for both quality standards. Why is having a good audit, good? Our NQA Auditor conducts a renewal audit every year to confirm our ongoing compliance with the required quality standards. Being recertified demonstrates, not only our continuing commitment to the concept of continuous improvement as a requirement of the standards, but our commitment to maintaining these Quality and Environmental standards as evidence to our customers that we will continue to produce and supply products to the highest quality.

Taking the Lead on Investment The latest statistics from the manufacturing sector are a strange mixture of good and puzzling. On the one hand, the rise in the respected Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from 53.1 in January to 54.1 last month indicates quite clearly that sector sales are on an upward trend which, according to a recent editorial published by Insider Media, reflects an increase in domestic demand for goods. Manufacturing activity is reported to be at its highest since last July while factory costs are said to be falling at their fastest rate for six years. Against such a buoyant background it seems odd that business investment in the sector has been weak. Manufacturers of plant and equipment are experiencing weak order books and the slowest output rate since September last year. Possible theories include uncertainty over the outcome of the next UK General Election in May and the problems faced by the European Union over some of its members, such as Greece. Whatever the reason, we all know it takes confidence and a certain amount of courage to commit to capital expenditure. But we also know that, with the pace of technology in the fast-moving market place of today, no one can afford to stand still. Add in factors like a growing domestic economy and historically low interest rates, has there ever been a better time to invest in the future? At any rate, that’s Tenkay’s view which is why we remain committed to a continual programme of capital expenditure to keep our factory totally up to date with the latest equipment.

February 2015 Find out in our latest case studies why our customers choose to work with us and get an insight into the wide mix of solutions we have already delivered. If you would like to see more of our work and hear feedback direct from our customers, our case studies offer you the opportunity to learn more about us and the comprehensive range of services we have to offer. This latest case study features our client Stable Micro Systems and their need of a partner that could understand, build and supply electronic assemblies to the exacting standards required for precision measurement and analysis equipment. Read our new case study Interested in the quality solution we provided? For the full Stable Micro Systems case study click here. "We are being approached by other suppliers all the time, but for us at any rate, the difference is that Tenkay’s people are really interested in what we are doing – not just in their own bottom line. They genuinely want to understand our business and are always prepared to ‘walk the extra mile’.” Andy O’Donnell, Production Manager Stable Micro Systems Download the case study here   Tenkay is expanding We have vacancies on our Wiring shop floors and PCB shop floor, to join the Tenkay team. If you would like to join us, or if you know someone who would, give us a call on 01903 855464 to find out more, or forward your CV to recruitment@tenkay.co.uk to apply. Suitable candidates must have proven experience and pass our trade test as well as be able to efficiently manufacture and assemble to controlled documentation.

UK Airport Expansion The time for talking is over. The public consultation period inviting people to submit their views on the best way to expand the UK’s airport capacity has officially closed. It is now the unenviable task of Chairman Sir Howard Davies and his colleagues at The Airports Commission to consider the merits or otherwise of the 50,000 submissions that the process has elicited. We have been told to expect his final verdict sometime this summer, along with details of ‘who said what’ in their submissions. As effectively a two horse race between Heathrow and Gatwick in the final stages, for those companies, like Tenkay, based in the South of England, the debate has been in danger of becoming parochial, depending on which of these two options happens to favour you or your business. But in truth the real issue is which airport is best suited for expansion to benefit the country’s economy as a whole rather than just the local economy. The arguments have raged back and forth. High profile businessmen and women have lent their names very publicly to one faction or the other and impassioned, eloquent arguments have been put forward on the grounds of protecting the environment. For example, according to one submission, expansion at Heathrow would mean another 130,000 aircraft flying over London with unavoidable noise and air pollution implications for 320,000 more people living underneath the flight path. However, one point on which everyone seemed to be agreed is that a decision cannot wait any longer without serious damage to the UK economy. A survey conducted by our own trade body, EEF (Manufacturers Association), showed that around three quarters of respondents favoured Heathrow in three vital areas: frequency of flights, range of destinations and strategic benefit to the existing national road network. Five regional airports – Aberdeen, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool John Lennon and Newcastle – made the very fair point that this was not about London, but the UK. They also pointed out that the aviation industry employs 960,000 people. With all their undoubted experience and authority they voted in favour of Heathrow, which they see as the best ‘hub’ for the country. It is difficult to argue with such logic, especially when they point out that 120 of the country’s top 300 companies are sited within a 15 mile radius of Heathrow compared with 16 for Gatwick. Added to which, it is estimated that there could be another 180,000 jobs created and an extra 10,000 apprenticeships for our young people. The arguments will continue because, at the end of the day, there is no perfect solution. There can only be the best solution in the circumstances. What do you think?