SAY HELLO
Our People Manufacturing Design and Inspirations Commitment to Our Customers Logistics Environmental Future
CON TENTS
Company Background
03 05
07
09
11
13 15
17
COMPANY BACKGROUND .....where we came from and where we are now!
Era Screens started life as a simple idea back in 1996. With just three people and two screen products the company was established in 1997.
Much has changed in the intervening 17 years but what has remained true is the desire to produce screen products that are relevant, well-engineered and accessible.
As the business has grown so has our product portfolio. It has transformed and adapted to meet the changes in working methodologies. However, the emphasis is, and will always be on providing product that improves workspace and offers flexibility.
Our business, once housed in a Nissen Hut on a secluded Hampshire airfield now sits on a 28,000 sq. ft. site set in 2 acres of its own ground. Our Head Office encompasses Manufacturing, Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, Design and Logistics. We are proud to say that one of the original three is still heading up our business and is very much involved in the day to day running of the company.
As to the future, we want to build on our success, continue to meet our customers expectations and invest in our people.
from small acorns..... 03 SAY HELLO - company background
2013 LinC launched
2013 Our first attendance as exhibitors at CDW 2012 Eden launched 2011 Nautilus & View launched
2009 Achieved PEFC certification
2007 Four more products launched making our collection ten strong
2000 Moved to Era Park 1997 Company established with launch of 3 Series & 5 Series
2013 Showroom space in Clerkenwell
2012 Collaboration with Lorna Syson
2012 Q.S. launched & first CSR policy published 2010 Wedge & POP launched
2008 Achieved ISO 9001 certification & our own powder coating plant commissioned 2001 1 & 2 Series launched
1998 F30 & F50 launched
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OUR PEOPLE We are extremely proud of the people who make up the Era family.
Here at Era we have tried to create a sense of community with common goals to work together towards a positive outcome. We have a great culture of department collaboration and ‘pitching in’ to make sure product goes out on time to ensure the customer is satisfied. We are lucky to have retained staff that have been with us from the very start and have remained loyal throughout the good and bad times allowing the business to grow along with our team.
So who are we and what do we do? Marketing
“Creative and enthusiastic promotion of our brand and our products”
Logistics
“Is there anywhere we don’t go? If there’s a road to get there we will do our best!!“
James
Craig
Design
“It’s about maintaining creativity and inspirational vision.”
Kelly
Accounts
“It’s all about the money”
Manufacturing
“Its about knowing the people you work with, and being a team”
Hayley
Kev
Purchasing
Customer Services “Some call us legendary”
Karl
“Meeting deadlines, negotiating and re-negotiation and having wheels instead of feet!” Gav
Sales
“To meet and exceed customer’s expectations, for service, knowledge and attention to detail, in a professional and creative manner”
Chris
05 SAY HELLO - our people
Like any community we are made up of many different kinds of people all with diverse skills, needs, likes and dislikes. What they all share are attributes that have helped us build our business and enable us to plan for a positive future.
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pr ou d
e v i t r o p p re u s
ed committ
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ha rd wo rk in g
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MANUFACTURING If Era was a ship, manufacturing would be the engine room……..
As analogies go we think this one is pretty good. Without the factory we would not move forward, we would grind to a halt. The team that runs this vital part of our business is motivated, flexible and between them have a bank of skills that are second to none. We are lucky that so many of our staff have remained loyal to us. As our business has grown so have their skills and expertise. This means we can not only produce in quantity but also rise to the challenges of complex bespoke projects that draw on techniques and skills that are sadly fast dying out but that we are determined to maintain. From a customer point of view it means we can provide a truly ‘hand crafted’ product when it’s needed. Of the 28,000 sq. ft. we own, 20,000 is dedicated to our manufacturing facility. This space is divided into sections, with each section focusing on a particular stage of the manufacturing process. These include metal work, wood work, powder coating, fabric, assembly and Quality Assurance.
07 SAY HELLO - manufacturing
Powder coating is the most recent process to be brought ‘in-house’. In 2008 we took the decision to invest in our own powder coating plant which meant that a major part of the manufacturing process was under our control. By bringing all these processes under one roof we have ensured complete control over manufacture in terms of quality, cost efficiency and flexibility, which in turn means added value to our customers. Moving forward into the future we are keen to expand our manufacturing capabilities and are looking at investing in new machinery and developing new skill sets within our team. If all goes according to plan we shall be able to offer even more creative and innovative finishes and products.
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DESIGN AND INSPIRATIONS Without stating the obvious, it’s all about coming up with new ideas and turning them into a product that works, that people need and that looks good. Seems so simple when you put it like that but in actual fact it needs people who know what they are doing. Introducing five creative, imaginative and enthusiastic individuals who not only design new products but work on specific projects to create bespoke solutions. Using 2D and 3D CAD, graphic software and a state of the art 3D printer they are able to manipulate technical drawings, visuals, floor plans and design layouts.
09 SAY HELLO - design and inspirations
Having an in-house design team means that buying from us is not just about the transaction. Where it’s relevant we offer a more emotional and consultative process where we work with the customer to find the best way forward. If that means moving away from standard products that’s what we do. It’s the difference between instant coffee and a customised blend, off the peg or tailor made. We could go on but you get the point. www.erascreens.com 10
COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS Put simply, this is what we aim to do for our customers, and areas we want to improve in.
We are only human and with the best will in the world, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. When we experience a glitch, hitch or bump in the road we get as frustrated as you do so we are trying hard to create systems and processes that help the journey from enquiry through to installation run as smoothly as possible. Our dedicated customer service team is key to us achieving this. As a department they work on projects from the initial specification, quotation, order placing, liaison with manufacturing, delivery and installation. The team come with a wealth of experience and strong product knowledge which means there are not too many situations where they don’t have an answer. They undergo a comprehensive induction course which is followed by on-going in-house training. Importantly they all know every stage of the process and therefore offer a consistent level of service. We also realise how important it is to encourage positive collaboration across departments. In simple terms this means we communicate with each other and are aware of what each one of us is working on. On this basis, no-one should be kept in the dark.
11 SAY HELLO - commitment to our customers
As an organisation we have published a list of tenets. These are:To understand our customer’s current and future quality objectives for the products and services we supply. Provide the resources to develop our management systems, the skills of all Era Screens employees and our technical capabilities so that we meet or exceed these customer quality objectives based on the principle of “right first time”. Involve all our people in the quality process, since they control our performance. We will do this by leadership, communication and motivation, training and empowerment in quality matters. Involve our suppliers of goods and services in the process by working with them to establish, achieve and monitor agreed quality objectives.
Please contact us on 01264 341 400 or email us at sales@erascreens.com www.erascreens.com 12
LOGISTICS
DELIVERY RUN 1
“North of the boarder”
DELIVERY RUN 3
DELIVERY RUN 2
“The Capital and beyond”
“Welsh Wales and the deep South”
ERA
Head Office/Manufacturing Facility
DELIVERY RUN 4 “Sea views”
13 SAY HELLO - logistics
Logistics, or getting things from A to B……. Our own fleet of vehicles, delivery drivers and installation teams travel the length and breadth of the country ensuring our products are delivered and installed on time. This is done ‘in-house’ so we maintain the flexibility demanded. It also allows us to change routes and add deliveries when necessary. Most importantly you will get to know your driver and them you. This level of continuity is important and can make all the difference if you have certain ways you like things done and procedures unique to you. We are fully licensed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). We work closely and are monitored by the Freight Transport Association (FTA). All of our Installation Technicians are CSCS certified. We are only too aware of the impact travel has on our environment and so to minimise this impact all our vehicles are fitted with reduced emission engines. Not only that, but all our distribution routes are planned to maximise efficiency and minimise the amount of miles we are travelling.
LOCATIONS KEY: ERA HEAD OFFICE/ MANUFACTURING FACILITY TYPICAL DELIVERY ROUTES TYPICAL CUSTOMER LOCATIONS LONDON SHOWROOM SPACE PRODUCT IN SHOWROOMS
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environmental 15 SAY HELLO - environmental
The Environment and our impact on it. . . . . Words like carbon footprint, carbon neutral, cradle to cradle and sustainability have become commonly used and referred to in our day to day lives. We are increasingly being made aware of the impact we have on others and on the environment we live and work in. As a business we have a greater responsibility to act conscientiously and make better, ‘greener’decisions when it comes to design and manufacturing, our supply chain and how we sell our product. In 2012 we decided to publish our own Corporate Social Responsibility policy so that all of us at Era could see what we were trying to achieve and work towards exceeding our expectations.
These are some of the things we have achieved so far.....……
We have reduced waste to landfill by 84% by..... Setting up recycling stations in our manufacturing facility and offices. Everything from cardboard, paper, cans and plastic all have individual recycling points. Returning all our fabric offcuts to the supplier for recycling. Supplying all our acrylic offcuts to a number of local schools for use in art projects. Operating a Burn Barrel Incineration system. Putting into place a fuel efficient distribution system.
We invest where we can in local community based projects by..... Being “Wildlife Investors” in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. Actively working with the Enham Trust to employ local people with learning disabilities enabling them to lead more independent lives. Being official corporate supporters of Macmillan Cancer Care holding fundraising events throughout the year.
and as far as our supply chain goes..... All our timber products are sustainably sourced and certified from PEFC controlled forests and suppliers, and more importantly we are PEFC certified. We work with existing suppliers to use materials that are more responsibly sourced and manufactured. We actively source new suppliers with strong eco credentials who provide sustainable raw materials such as banana leaf veneers, hemp and cork. 92% of the waste we send to landfill is recycled via our waste disposal partner. It doesn’t end here, we are constantly looking at how we can build on what we are already doing and we have a wish list for the future. Read our Future piece on page 17 to find out more.
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FUTURE
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EXPLORE AND INVEST IN NEW MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
Invest in more CNC machinery allowing us to improve efficiency, accuracy and manufacturing time which in turn will reduce our impact on the environment.
Our wish list for the future is .....
1
THINK EVEN GREENER
Further reducing our carbon footprint with our goal to becoming carbon neutral. Change existing packaging to greener options that can be more easily recycled. Qualify for membership of FISP (Furniture Industry Sustainability Programme). Launch a truly cradle to cradle product.
“Learn from the past, make a vision for the future and work for it in the present. Remember today is tomorrows past.�
Tasneem Hameed
17 SAY HELLO - future
Utilise our internal waste product by installing a biomass energy incinerator. Replace our lighting installation to a low carbon output system. Reduce product lead times. Bench mark our manufacturing process against the Toyota Production System (TPS)
TU RN INT CON OP C RO EPTS DU CT S
CUSTOMERS
4
Design and bring to market a product that supports mobile working.
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR US..... Encourage career development and progression from within. Increase the number of under graduate placements and apprentices. Continue to employ people from the local area. Adopt a Peer Mentor scheme for our younger members of staff.
WE
3
Improve the speed at which ideas and concepts become a commercial reality. Look at collaboration with an external product designer. Truly understand the ever changing needs of the market.
5
STRIVE FOR EXEMPLARY CUSTOMER SERVICE
Reduce the number of NCR’s and publish the data annually to encourage continuing improvement. Work as a united team to achieve our annual KPI’s. Provide marketing materials and resources to help customers promote the Era product and brand.
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Era Screens Era Park Upper Clatford Hampshire SP11 7LW t: +44(0) 1264 341400
f: +44(0) 1264 341444
e: sales@erascreens.com
www.erascreens.com www.lincmodular.co.uk