Redditch company wipes away the opposition

Lianne Cooper

25 April 2008

A REDDITCH-based supplier of windscreen wash and wiper systems has beaten off competition from heavyweights, including Rolls Royce, to a win a national Government award.
Automotive Industrial Partnerships (AIP), a first tier supplier specialising in the design, development and assembly of wash and wiper systems, picked up a Special Recognition award from the Supply Chain Groups Team, a Government programme aimed at boosting the global competitiveness of the UK’s automotive and aerospace industries, at an awards ceremony recently held at Loughborough University.
In 2006, AIP applied for and received a coveted Supply Chain Groups grant, which part funded an 18-month project to improve the performance of its supply chain and develop its capability and it was the work of this project that lead to the company, which supplies systems to the likes of Aston Martin, Bentley and JCB, picking up the award.
Paul Groves, operations manager at AIP, said: “In today’s highly competitive manufacturing industry you simply cannot ignore the far eastern supply base, and businesses are increasingly developing an international focus to safeguard their position in the marketplace and ensure they do not get left behind.
"However, whilst we do work with some Chinese suppliers, we understand the value of retaining the more complex design, manufacturing and supply here in the UK.
“So for the purposes of the Supply Chain Groups project we therefore selected eight UK-based suppliers – many of whom are based in the Midlands, and looked closely at improving the supply chain and cost base."
Mr Groves added: "To pick up this Special Recognition award – the first Government award AIP has been presented with – is a strong indicator of the success of this programme.
“We are now well placed to face the challenges that lie ahead with a supply chain fit to take on the opportunities offered by the development of new technologies and innovations, new markets and environmental competitiveness.”

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