Last week marked the launch of a planned series of market engagement days for our flagship defence project. Members of the NIS team welcomed representatives from the 14 current members of the newly established project supplier network to present the many opportunities that lie ahead in this five-year programme and beyond.
Following the presentation, suppliers visited our workshop facilities in Chorley to see the project’s very first prototype glovebox and production jig, which have recently been completed at our facilities following input and contributions from several of the network members. The containment is based on an industry-first, modularised design that allows for variation between systems whilst retaining the benefits of standardisation and commonality of parts.
As well as the prototype containment, the event itself was the first of its type for our business, showcasing our commitment to supply chain engagement and collaboration — one of our key business pillars. It offered a unique opportunity to involve our suppliers at this early production planning stage of the project and provided a level of interaction unlike anything we have done before. The event was focused on containment manufacture for the first-of-a-kind glovebox systems but will lead into subsequent events covering mechanical and electrical plant and equipment, ancillaries and ultimately the production suites.
Ian Hardman, NIS Commercial Director, commented:
“The event was a huge success and marked a major step forward — not just for this project but for how we as a business collaborate with our supply chain. We have been progressively increasing our level of direct engagement with the supply chain since the outset of the project, culminating recently in the successful completion of the first of many prototypes. This event marks a transition into material procurement and manufacturing for the first-of-a-kind suite of gloveboxes to follow, taking on board everything we have learnt to date.
By opening up early-stage conversations, removing traditional commercial barriers and encouraging real collaboration, we have taken a new approach that sets us apart as a manufacturing lead. As we progress from here into full-scale production on all of our existing nuclear defence contracts, I am confident that this transparent and collaborative approach will enable us to deliver success for our clients.”
