Overview
The use of generative AI is not permitted
SCENARIO
H&S Williamson
The company manufacture ornamental building blocks and wrought ironwork for use in construction of leisure complexes, landscaping hotels, upmarket housing complexes etc. The customer base is mainly developers and construction companies. The site is situated on the northwest coast and has operated for about 80 years and much of the equipment and plant is very old. The company is privately owned, and the senior management are mainly descendants of the founding family.
The company employs 130 people, (including directors and senior management) of which 35 work in the machine shop, 70 in block manufacturing, 10 in the stores/logistics and 5 in the maintenance office and 10 are office personnel. There are also regular contract staff: 4 security guards/gate keepers and 3 site office cleaners. The company expects that it will need to expand in future to secure its market share.
The blocks are made from cement mixed with solvent-based colour and are washed with solvent before being heated in the finishing process. The company’s rivals have installed water-based colour systems which are expensive at present. Alternative, but more expensive methods of finishing the blocks are available. The blocks are stored on cardboard covered pallets and shrink wrapped. The plant and processes use oil for heating.
Block manufacturing operates for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except for holidays and low periods of production demand. Iron work operates from 8am to 4pm with exceptional 24 hours operations during peak business. Maintenance, offices and stores generally operate from 8am to 4pm, although there are occasions when work is required outside of these hours, e.g. stock taking.
The engineering side of the business uses bar, strip, sheet and pipe stock to manufacture ornamental and structural ironwork products to be used both on their own and in combination with the cement blocks. Metal working processes include sawing, machining, flame cutting, drilling, welding, heat treatment and hot & cold press forming and traditional anvil beating. The stores/logistics department operates 4 electric forklift trucks.
The only company vehicles are directors’ cars. Contract transport is used for product delivery. Raw materials are delivered by their manufacturers’ or stockists’ transport.
The company has regular noise complaints from neighbours.
All waste is removed in skips as general/mixed waste. There is no segregation.