Huddersfield manufacturer, Visual Systems Healthcare, a specialist in custom designed visual communication solutions for the NHS and private hospitals across the country, engaged with the Manufacturing Growth Programme to support the production of a new solution.
From the operational management of wards to the optimisation of patient flow and the patient communication experience, Visual Systems Healthcare services are used in most of the NHS Trusts in the UK with their main products are ‘Patient Record Holders’ and ‘Bespoke Whiteboards’.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak Visual Systems Healthcare engaged with the Manufacturing Growth Programme and their local Manufacturing Growth Manager Richard Halstead. Richard supported the business through GROWTHmapper, an in-depth business diagnostic tool, where it identified in the short term the business needed to protect their existing product offering and supply by upgrading the equipment that makes their ‘patient record holder’.
One of the biggest challenges with the upgraded production facility project was to ensure that current production was able to continue using their old equipment whilst designing, implementing and manufacturing the upgraded solution.
Chris Hunter, Manufacturing Director of Visual Systems Healthcare commented, “We engaged with the Manufacturing Growth Programme to help us enhance our manufacturing production facility. The first stage was engaging with an external expert to design the new solution followed by the purchase of the new equipment. As a result, we have increased our productivity and have been supplying the new Nightingale hospitals with our products to combat the coronavirus epidemic.”
Without the new machinery, Visual Systems Healthcare would not have been able to meet the deadlines for the vital support during the COVID-19 outbreak. This allowed them to increase their workforce by 20%, recruiting a new production operative at the start of the year.
“As well as maintaining their current markets, Chris and his team are focussed on finding new products and solutions that will help the business grow and prosper, even during challenging times. It’s been a pleasure to work with them.” States Richard Halstead, Leeds City Regions Manufacturing Growth Manager for the Manufacturing Growth Programme.
A further project has now started with the support from MGP to develop a full marketing plan for the business to help it grow and diversify so they are not too reliant on their NHS supply chain. This will include understanding the business and its markets, development of a full plan, implementation review and refine split down into 3 months, 6 months and 12 months to prioritise tasks.
“Working with Richard and the team at MGP has proven invaluable to the resilience and sustainability of our manufacturing operation, especially during these challenging times. Without their support we would have been unable to fulfil the urgent time driven orders received from the Nightingale hospitals during April. My advice is to reach out and talk to the team at MGP. They would be delighted to listen and support you in any way they can.” Chris concluded.
For more details on Visual Systems Healthcare please visit https://visualsystemshealthcare.co.uk/
West Yorkshire Combined Authority