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Patronics
This KTP project with the University of Plymouth has exceeded all expectations. Craig has led on developing our in-house design facility and his involvement in the business, focusing on meeting new customers and providing sales opportunities, means he is a real asset to Patronics” Established in 1988 Patronics International Limited is a customer focused company offering a one stop facility for all electronic circuit board manufacture and assembly requirements for some of the most respected Original Equipment Manufacturers in the UK. With a solid reputation as a quality supplier, Patronics focuses on high complexity products where greater engineering and technical support is critical. The majority of Patronics’ current clients are industrially based with 80% of sales within the UK, the remainder with mainland Europe, and the client list includes Electrolux and BT. www.patronics.co.uk Patronics International Ltd teamed up with the University of Plymouth on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to develop in-house design capabilities and deliver to customers’ growing design requirements rather than contracting such work out to third parties. An in-house design facility would enable Patronics to win design work from new and existing customers and provide a re-design service of obsolete parts focused towards high quality, low cost manufacture. With the appointment of BEng Electrical/Electronic Engineering graduate Craig Lindsay in 2005, and with the support of academic experts Dr Phil Culverhouse and Mr Mike Miles from the University of Plymouth’s Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems and the School of Engineering, work began on establishing and integrating a new design department into current operations and developing the requisite design skills to support the business.
After undertaking an immediate review of Patronic’s existing capabilities and customers’ current and future design requirements, Craig compiled and presented a comprehensive report which included recommendations based on a comparative study into the merits of different CAD software packages that would best fit both company and customers’ needs. The preferred CAD Altium Designer 6.0 software package that included training, backup and future additional enhancements was sanctioned for purchase by the management board and introduced in to the company some six months ahead of schedule. In addition to his work on the software specification, Craig embarked on some technical training into circuit design technologies. This resulted in him being able to provide an in-house re-design solution enabling Patronics to make use of £150k worth of otherwise obsolete stock, saving an estimated £2,500 in external design costs and avoiding weeks in delay for delivery to the customer. The final stage of his KTP saw Craig developing, implementing and embedding robust and fully documented processes and procedures conforming to the ISO 9000 industry recognised standard. As a result of these technological advances, the KTP achieved more than 20% of sales for the year and significant operational improvements, ensuring a firm platform for future business growth. With Craig approaching each challenge with enthusiasm and a determination to succeed, he was offered and accepted the permanent position of Design Manager at Patronics to continue the company’s further development of a profitable in-house design department. “These past few months have seen Craig concentrating on commercial design work, embedding processes within Patronics and expanding his experience in FPGA design. He has been hugely determined to make a success of this project and has remained totally focused whilst balancing his own personal development sensibly in a realistic approach to work.
To the Company:
To the University:
To the Associate:
“The challenges I have faced and experience gained through my KTP work has been absolutely amazing. The support from both the company and the university’s academic team has been invaluable, without which I wouldn’t have been able to develop my career to the position I find myself today, being able to make a real and very positive difference to this fantastic business”. For further information about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and other University services contact: Research and Enterprise, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA Call: 0800 052 5600 Email: enterprisesolutions@plymouth.ac.uk Visit: www.plymouth.ac.uk/enterprisesolutions and www.ktponline.org.uk August 2008 |
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