Major international Quality Award for Bilston manufacturer

22nd August 2005

A Bilston-based car parts manufacturer has become one of the first SMEs in the region to secure a new international automotive standard.

E C Hopkins, which employs 80 people at its 16,500 sq ft facility on the Barton Park Industrial Estate, took just seven months to gain the ISO/TS16949 approval after gaining expert assistance from Accelerate’s Technology Transfer Centre.

The specialist manufacturer of flocked drive cables for windows and sunroofs is now planning to use the award to secure new business and to add to export sales of over £4.5m.

A delighted Brian Hopkins, joint Managing Director of the family-run business, picked up the story.

“This is a massive achievement for the business and one that will not only ensure we maintain existing high profile contracts with major manufacturers like Webasto, but will also open up new doors in China and Eastern Europe.

Rob Lott (Accelerate) and Brian Hopkins (EC Hopkins) celebrate gaining the ISO/TS16949 approval.

“The ISO/TS16949 approval has replaced the old QS9000 as the main automotive industry quality standard and a lot of the big organisations will simply not place orders with you if you don’t conform to the requirements.”

Established in 1920, E C Hopkins turned to Accelerate, the automotive supply chain initiative, for assistance in both understanding the formal language and applying the accreditation’s principles to its everyday operations.

It also became the first firm to take part in the TS16949 Technology Transfer Centre, which has been designed to give SMEs access to the latest industry breakthroughs through a series of seminars and one-on-one support.

SMMT Industry Forum’s Paul Hardiman delivered the expertise:

“Brian and the team have shown exactly how successful this approach can be and have benefited enormously from the specialist training, the introduction of an ISO/TS16949 Champion and being able to bounce ideas off people who are not directly involved in the business.

“In fact, they were so successful that the external audit revealed no non conformities whatsoever, which not a lot of the big manufacturers can lay claim to.”

Rob Lott, Project Manager at Accelerate, was equally impressed:

“The Technology Transfer Centre has proved that the formula works and we are now looking to roll-out the programme even further to make sure the region makes the necessary changes needed to compete in the global automotive industry.

“In fact, we have already secured the necessary funding to assist at least 30 more suppliers to take part in the centre and work towards securing TS16949 approval.”

Going forward, E C Hopkins is planning to build on its international portfolio of clients based in Europe, the US, Taiwan and Korea.

It has also started to transfer its expertise to other markets and recently completed orders designed specifically for a marine project and new cooker application.