JPH supports clients through complex technical and operational challenges, from early-stage understanding through to shaped solutions and delivered outcomes. The following case studies show how we work alongside client teams to clarify the problem, manage uncertainty, and deliver practical results that work in the real world.
JPH’s work on this particular project began in 2016. Our client – a UK-based pharmaceutical manufacturer – needed to double their output of tablets and planned to do this by duplicating the equipment and procedures they already had in place. The main features of this equipment were a drum blender and hoist, and a tablet compression machine – with all of the installation, compliance and safety standards that those intricately-calibrated devices require.
This type of installation requires detailed analysis, quality assurance and tight project management: every key part must be manufactured, tested and installed to the highest standards, as there is no room for error. Lacking the resources to dedicate to this project themselves, they approached us to take on delivery, and all that would entail.
Despite the challenges that the supplier delays presented, we were able to double tablet production to all of the vital industry and safety standards required. With monthly stakeholder meetings, and weekly project team meetings with the client as well, we were able to give them the reassurance and confidence they needed that the project would be delivered – with all the due diligence and close supplier management that we brought to the project as well.
That successful production has continued since this project concluded in 2017 – and our relationship with that client has continued as well, as we deliver larger and even more complex production line projects, and act on their behalf as liaison with machine manufacturers.
Further reading...
This JPH client is a major manufacturer of biscuits and confectionery in Australia. They source their production machinery from suppliers in Europe – and when Covid19 locked down the Australian borders for many months, this became a serious issue for them. Prepandemic, our client would travel to be on the ground at their supplier sites in Europe, personally overseeing build quality, testing and sign off on the finished product ready to ship back home to Australia. That presence is vital for our clients to be satisfied of the standard and quality of the build, for the size of the investment they’re making.
So when travel became out of the question in 2020, this posed a significant risk. They could no longer be sure that the machines they’d ordered were being built to those time, spec and quality requirements, because they simply could not be there to check. They needed someone in Europe who could act as their trusted proxy: specialists who were nearby, who could travel within the restrictions, with the same level of knowledge and understanding about the necessary quality standards.
That’s when they reached out to JP Hildreth, and we assigned them their own case manager: a single point of contact who could co-ordinate visits to their European suppliers in a day, check on quality, and report back to them comprehensively on progress – as good as them being there themselves. And although this was initially to be a Covid-related solution, we’ve continued to work on our client’s behalf here in Europe, even since the lifting of those travel restrictions: we are their experts on hand in the northern hemisphere.
After each site visit we provide a full, illustrated progress report to our client. They know they'll be getting an honest appraisal of the situation, and what the likely delivery dates will be; and when they need a new supplier, we can provide that same honest appraisal of each firm's suitability.
The beauty of this service is all about making huge savings in travel time and expense for our client, while still giving them the full, detailed picture they'd get from making a site visit themselves.
They need to take a week out, and spend around $10,000, to make the trip to Europe. We can do it in a day, for a fraction of the cost, and give them all the information, insights and assurance they are looking for in that visit. We're their trusted right hand in Europe - as good a solution as them being there themselves - and we can offer our expert advice and guidance in managing those relationships, and creating new ones.
Further reading...
Our client is a major manufacturer, and a new customer preference in packaging was becoming a trend they couldn’t ignore. Sales of their product sold in packets, rather than traditional boxes, were far outstripping the others; and they needed to boost the numbers of packet products to meet that demand. Our client knew they would need to make changes within their production lines to address this, along with some other issues to solve. Here’s a breakdown in summary of the puzzle in front of them:
These were the problems to solve. With no room for extra packing lines, the client planned to replace Product A’s line with new machinery that would both solve the case problem, and increase packet production capabilities. They also proposed a replacement to Product B’s line machinery at the same time – so two full-scale line replacements, with a notional budget of £5million to achieve them.
From the earliest stage of knowing a change was needed, JPH were able to offer objective, expert support for decision-making, followed by a fully managed installation service. Our clients could have 100% confidence that their major investment would return the greatest benefit to them, and that their new equipment was installed to all industry standards – without needing to have any of that expertise in-house.
When we took that step back with the client, the true problem became clear. It was not that the old line equipment was obsolete and needed replacing twice over, but that they were not manufacturing enough of the right product to meet demand. The other packing line issues were important, but not of the same strategic importance as getting the packing mix right for sales.
With agreement on the true problem to be addressed, we produced multiple solutions: each fully costed with realistic timescales and a scoring matrix for timing, impact on production, performance output, other relevant considerations. As we worked through the figures, it emerged that their original plans to replace both lines would cost almost double the notional budget they had set aside. With the real problem at the heart of our considerations, we found a range of solutions that would cost less, but still solve the demand and supply problem for Product A.
The proposal we recommended was:
Both lines would produce the higher demand Product A meaning that only one set of machinery needed to be replaced, cutting costs significantly. Our analysis showed that investing in the right machinery would be more costly than continuing to outsource packing, so the client opted to keep their current arrangement. The 'Do Nothing' option should always be on the table, and in this instance it was best for the business - so that piece was removed from the puzzle, which also helped to reduce the costings to nearer the original budget.
With the solution agreed, we moved to installation. JPH managed this fully on the client's behalf, using our array of experts in Health and Safety, Construction Design and Management, legal requirements, permits to work - all of the specialist knowledge that is necessary for the installation of production equipment in a safe environment, to the required standards.
To complete our full concept to installation service, we also carried out comprehensive testing and product performance monitoring. Any issues with production were diagnosed and resolved, to prove the efficiency of the installation, and demonstrate to the client that the solution was fit for purpose, and would deliver all the required benefits.
Further reading...
