1. We’re passionate about putting customers at the heart of everything we do.
Double in 5! 2013 - 2018
December 2016
It’s the 2nd anniversary of the
Strive Talking magazine, I
can’t believe how quickly that
time has flown by.
Well done to all who have contributed to all of
the previous issues.
In 2017, we will surpass this year’s results, as
working as 1 team, no challenge will
be too great for the PA team.
Sandra McCabe
Manufacturers Alliance
Award
We picked up the Manufacturing Business of the Year award in
2015 and the expectations from the masses were high, “we have
to win it again in 2016”.
It’s always nice to win an award and certainly when it’s from
fellow manufacturing companies. To win it two years
consecutively highlights the amazing work you are all doing. We
have a belief which is fueled by a determination and a
commitment to achieve. A powerful drive which has created a
momentum to challenge and improve and the feedback we have
received from customers and Manufacturers Alliance members is
a testament to your efforts.
The picture on the right shows Graham
picking the award up for all of PA from
Gary Sheader
I am so proud of our success and excited
about the future. I have no doubt our
team will achieve so much more and
with comments like this……
“The changes Packaging Automation have made over the recent
months and years are significant.
It is inspiring to see a culture which has changed from poor buy in
from colleagues to one that has people at the heart of the
business and who are committed to driving the business forwards
and continually making improvements”.
“The culture change was tangible when we were there and it was
clear that the wider team were enthusiastic and committed to
achieving the objectives of the business. We look forward to
seeing you continue to succeed over the coming months and
years”.
“Yet again another fantastic year. A consistent approach to
growing the business, tackling opportunities and problems as they
arise with a sense of teamwork. A great example to the rest of
the group. Keep up the good work”.
…..we will make the impossible – possible.
Neil Ashton
Operations Director

2. We’re passionate about putting customers at the heart of everything we do.
Double in 5! 2013 - 2018
Manufacturing Alliance award
They say it’s not about the winning it’s the taking
part – well that’s a load of rubbish. We were in it to
win it from the start of 2016.
What’s so fantastic about getting this award is the
feedback we get from the other alliance members,
and the affirmation that we must be doing
something special here at PA as a team. And I
think that is what makes us stand out from the
crowd because other businesses look at us and
marvel at how we have become one big team
focused on one goal and they want to learn
from us so that they can do the same. That
gives a great feeling too, to be able to share
our experiences and knowledge so that other
businesses can learn and improve.
We have proven that with focus, determination
and team work we can do amazing things – small
and large - and we should continually celebrate
that. Receiving this award is just one more reason
to celebrate a fantastic year.
Sam Ashton
The atmosphere in the room for our business
briefing was great - a celebration as one big team
and the chance to say thank you to everyone all
together at the same time.

3. We’re passionate about putting customers at the heart of everything we do.
Double in 5! 2013 - 2018
Team building game Assembly and Assembly
electrical team game 9th November
The outcome
How did the team
do?
Height was 127
cm, built in 17
minutes. Great
team work, great
design.
The design
was so good
that they lifted
it up and took
it out of the
room.
● VK, Hi cell and manual milling the leaders,
with 127 CM and the quickest time built in
17 minutes.
● Accounts IT, Service and Reception, Spares,
Prod office co-ordinators the team they built it
in 20 mins and a height of 134cm but it did not
stand for 1 min.
● Stores 113 cm the biggest yet but it never
stood free standing for 60 seconds.
● Fabs 111.76 built in 20.40 minutes
● Managers 110cm built in 18.40 mins.
● Systems 96.52 built in 21.20.
● Assembly and Assembly electrical 94cm
and built in 20 mins
● Sales 80 cm built in 23 minutes.
● Design, Tool design and support areas. 24.33
cm built in 22.30 minutes.
Sandra McCabe
The stars of the month are
the Projects team, for sustaining
the tool testing planning board
also for taking ownership of the process by
sustaining the weekly meetings as a team.
Sandra McCabe
The Success of the Tool Test Planning Board
During the early days of our weekly meetings
some people turned up, some turned up late and
some didn’t turn up at all, but there are benefits
to the business by keeping the board up to date.
We now update throughout the week as opposed
to during the weekly meeting. We soon realised
some of the information was out of date and it
took too long to up-date the board during the
meeting, and everyone was trying to write on the
board at the same time.
The board and SOP has now been in use for
over 12 months and has proved to be a valuable
tool for providing up to date information regarding
the status of tooling orders within the business.
It provides a great visual to all those involved with
the process, alerting us of deadlines or the need
to chase thing’s up such as trays in order to meet
our dispatch date.
I have now taken a step back and let other team
members take a turn to lead the meetings and
update the information on a regular basis. And
yes, they can do it just as well without me there.
Oh the power of team work!
Shirley Ollier

4. We’re passionate about putting customers at the heart of everything we do.
Double in 5! 2013 - 2018
SQCDP decorate your board competition
1st Place - Louise, Dorothy, Craig &
Anthony
2nd place - Projects
3rd Place - Systems
4th place - Design
5th Place -
Tool Assembly
What a way to end the
year!!
I had noticed on the VK’s that the clamps
were being mislaid, therefore there wasn’t
actually a full set of clamps on some of the
machines. The new Hurco machines would
also require a full set each.
I decided that when I had a spare moment,
I would set to work. 56 clamps were
required for which the material I acquired
from the scrap bin, and also make 7
holders to keep them all neat.
The benefits of the improvement being that
the clamps are now much easier to find
and every machine has a full set. It also
removed some of the clutter on the work
benches as the new holders are being held
on the shadow boards leaving more bench
space.
Nigel Clayton
Before
After