UWIC help Braces raise their management levels

The Company

Brace's Bakery Ltd based in Crumlin has been manufacturing quality bread products for over 100 years. Recently, it has invested heavily in bread manufacturing equipment specifically designed for the company in a new remote production facility. Brace’s and consequently its production levels, have grown rapidly to meet ever increasing customer demand.Although quality was emphasised at the top levels of management, it was felt that this drive for quality was being diluted in the drive for quantity during production.An interesting dynamic of quality versus quantity prevailed; a new working culture was essential.

The University

HELP Wales linked the company with the Business School at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC) and together they undertook an innovative, tri-fold project which totally revamped Brace’s working practices, both strategically and at an operational level. The first project revamped the companies' working practices. As a dual-sited operation, Brace's required more robust monitoring and control of the organisation. Previously, management had been able to communicate directly with production facilities; the second HELP Wales project devised a new system which provided management information adaptable to the changing future needs of the company.This included the use of control indicators which allowed the feedback of accurate and timely operational information.The third project provided implementation (mainly staffing) and contingency plans for the new production facilities and new manufacturing process.

The Results

HELP Wales was pleased to provide funding to assist with this significant overhaul of the management processes of such a successful local company. Scott Richardson, Sales & Marketing Director said "UWIC were instrumental in developing our newly launched bakery. Professional mannerism at academic level was adapted to our industry's conditions and delivered with clarity and professionalism. This is not the first time UWIC has been used within our business and we are already talking to the Business School and other functions at the University to develop our business strategies in line with our business vision."

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