Kestrel invests in operations team to meet growing demand

With demand for Kestrel‘s soffits, fascias and cladding soaring, Kestrel is investing in staff, tools, training and management.

In July, the brand recruited continuous improvement expert Rich Amison to oversee operations at its Scunthorpe plant.

Rich talked about the importance of responding to customer demand.

“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,” he said.

Rich, who possesses a wealth of experience in logistics and manufacturing, has brought new tools to the company, as well as recruiting 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 dividends for Kestrel, as it has achieved a significant increase in its OTIF (on time and in full) delivery rates, despite increasing demand across the range.

Rich said there was no question that the investment was paying off.

“The team has pulled together and proved its commitment to continuous improvement, which is really driving Kestrel forward.”