A PRECISION engineering specialist has been formally recognised for the standard of its management systems in a key operational area with the award of Fit for Nuclear (F4N) status.
GA Engineering (North West) Ltd, part of Dundee-headquartered Pryme Group, has announced the company has achieved certification from the NuclearAdvanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) following rigorous assessment of company principles, practices and procedures.
The Lancashire-based business traditionally provides precision CNC machining for the oil and gas, aerospace, and defence industries. It entered the nuclear supply chain a decade ago and was recently re-certified by Nuclear AMRC following a successful audit of its Morecambe facility.
The F4N initiative supports UK manufacturing companies prepare to bid for work in the nuclear supply chain by allowing them to measure their operations against the required standards – across new build, operations and decommissioning – and take the necessary steps to address any gaps.
As an established sub-contract manufacturer of nuclear components, GA Engineering (North West) first enrolled in the programme in April 2016; aiming to support operational enhancements that improved the processes of component manufacturing.
Following a recent re-assessment by Nuclear AMRC, GA Engineering (North West)’s facility has been approved again to advance its position in the industry as a ‘Fit for Nuclear’ company until 2023; giving nuclear manufacturers confidence in the company’s expertise and capabilities. The factory focused on upgrading the working environment to enhance safety and productivity.
John Friel, managing director at GA Engineering (North West), said: “It speaks volumes of our team that we’ve been awarded our Fit for Nuclear status again. Retaining this status was never going to be an exercise in box-ticking; our processes and working methodologies were closely scrutinised.
“We’ve always shown a strong commitment to the nuclear industry and our continued work with our F4N industrial advisors to improve workflow, processes and output quality is a clear indication of that. It’s easy to rest on your laurels once you meet a standard, but we’ve been able to keep a firm focus on the standards that the industry will demand in the future.
“Working together with Nuclear AMRC helped us craft a clear action plan. With continuous sustainable improvement planned out, we retain our role as a valued supplier to the nuclear supply chain.”
Nigel Goodrich, F4N Industrial Advisor for Nuclear AMRC, commented: “I’ve enjoyed working with GA Engineering; seeing them respond positively to the challenges to improve both their culture and process, and seeing the benefits from this approach realised, as all are engaged in moving the business forwards.”
