In the fast-paced world of subcontract manufacturing, every second counts when it comes to keeping customers happy. With competition fierce, one precision engineering company has turned to its own supply chain to help unlock a new level of productivity.

“Because we’re a team of six, we have to be very reactive to our customers’ needs in order to keep them happy,” begins Dan Watson, Owner and Managing Director of A&D Precision Engineering in Snainton, Yorkshire.

Founded 18 years ago, Dan took over the running of the business in 2018. Offering milling, turning and grinding capabilities, the company specialises in the manufacture of small-to-medium batches of high precision components for customers across a broad range of industries, including the aerospace, automotive, food processing and pharmaceutical sectors.

Dan continues: “Given the nature of our work, our customers rely on us to work to tight turnaround times. We may get a call for a job and then immediately need to source a specific drill for a certain material, so we are very dependent on our own suppliers. Our customers can’t wait a week for us to source the right tooling so we need to be able to buy it as quickly as possible in order to win the job.”

Speed of service has become the hallmark of A&D Precision Engineering ’s long-term supply chain partner, MSC Industrial Supply Co., which Dan and the team have been using since their company first opened its doors in 2006. 

“We’ve always been able to ring up MSC and speak to someone right away. Even if the part we need isn’t listed they will often go direct to the tooling manufacturer and either find a way of getting it you the next day or provide a different tool that can still get the job done,” Dan adds. 

Over the years, AD has consolidated its supply chain through MSC and now turns to the company for the majority of its metalworking and consumable needs: “We buy oils, greases, drills, taps, milling cutters, uniforms, overalls and even boots from MSC. It tends to be our go to place.”

While both the accessibility and breadth of MSC’s portfolio has impressed the A&D Precision Engineering team, the willingness to problem-solve engineering challenges in real time has also proved critical to Dan and his colleagues. 

“The technical advice is invaluable. We might get asked to machine a difficult material like super duplex that needs an outside profile machining, drilling and tapping, which some of our standard cutters may struggle with. However, I know I can pick up the phone to the MSC Tech Centre and they will be able to talk me through what I need to do to keep the project moving,” Dan concludes.

“Ultimately, in our line of work, it is not about who can do the work at the cheapest price, it’s who can get it done to the right standard in the right timeframe.”

For more information on MSC Industrial’s extensive range of metalworking and MRO products, please visit: https://www.mscdirect.co.uk.