Scott Health and Safety

Source: Exec Digital UK

Date :04/01/2008 10:30:02

Following a major reorganisation over the past five years, five separate business units in the UK, Finland, Australia, USA and China have been amalgamated into one operating company

Written by Alison Withers and Produced by Paul Radbourne

Owned by the US-based Tyco International Ltd, the company has expertise in a full range of personal protection equipment for industries and services worldwide.

The product range incorporates three brands: Scott, Protector and Sabre. Customers include fire and rescue services, industrial workers, police, military and civil defence organizations.

Alistair Wright is the company’s sales director and has been with the company for ten years. He started his career after completing a law degree, but switched career tracks into marketing and sales. Immediately before joining Scott Health and Safety he worked in sales and marketing for Racal Health and Safety. He is enthusiastic about the company’s prospects.

The situation now

The European business supplies primarily into Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), covering some 125 countries. Alistair Wright says: “We manufacture products which meet European standards and will sell to all countries which accept the approvals.” The EMEA area is divided into five regions, each with its own manager.

He says the policy is to use local people and it’s for a very good reason: “We sell life-saving equipment. This is not something that anyone can sell. People have to be trained to understand the product and the ethics behind that. There’s a definite set of rules and protocols we work to, so we need people who can speak the local languages and understand the culture.”

The European operation has five directors who report to the MD, Steve Burns, who in turn reports to a Vice President in the USA. Personnel have changed along with the re-organisation. Alistair Wright explains: “We have a team that is aligned to current and future business requirements.”

Scott Health and Safety uses six sigma methodology for achieving the best possible quality for all its products and services, to understand and manage its customers’ requirements and ensure efficiency in all its production processes.

Quality and traceability of products is important given that they must be of the highest possible standards to ensure the safety of those who are using them as protection, often in potentially life-threatening situations. Products include air supplied breathing apparatus, air purifying respirators, head and sensory equipment, gas detection instruments and thermal imaging cameras.

Scott uses lean manufacturing processes to ensure efficient production. In addition, the business ensures the highest possible quality standards. Says Alistair Wright: “We protect from the neck upwards -lungs, face, eyes, ears and head.” Obviously the slightest fault could be critical so stringent testing is applied. Our suppliers also have to be checked for their quality as well.” The company has also set itself a target of 95 percent delivery on time and it closely measures and monitors its performance.

Research and Development is done in house by engineers skilled in a variety of fields so that safety equipment is able to cope with new challenges. In the last twelve months, for example, the company has introduced a new range of face protector equipment, IRIS electronic monitoring, telemetry systems for fire-fighters and respiratory protection equipment to provide respiratory protection for workers exposed to avian influenza (Bird Flu).

The company also conforms to environmental standards and the Finland unit has certification of that. Back office administrative functions use an SAP system which is customised to the company’s needs and covers everything from forecasting, manufacturing, components purchasing, order entry, stock profile, invoicing and credit control.

The company invests heavily in in-house training to meet the very high standards its equipment needs to reach.

The future – global growth

The company is planning to expand its geographical profile into Eastern Europe and Russia, which he expects to bring its own changes.

While he cannot give details of new products being developed he says they are in the pipeline. R & D is obviously crucial in Scott’s field; with a substantial military contract ongoing with the Ministry of Defence and other military organisations around the world, he says, as the technology of warfare changes so must the products for protection: “There are new threats all the time, requiring new technology.”

Possible future plans include developing the SAP system to co-ordinate with suppliers and customers to reduce transitional costs. Recruitment is on-going as the business expands geographically and Tyco as a whole has an ethical code to ensure there is no discrimination and that employees are treated fairly.

With a full schedule of attendance planned at exhibitions all over the world the prospects for continuing the growth of the last year look excellent.