DIGEST

news
DSG steps up to
the challenge
Pictured (L-R), Steve Townsend (Thales), Chris Anglesea (DSG), Richard Watson (DSG),
Bob Must (DSG), Terry Little (Thales), Kelly Tester (Thales), Wendy Sweeny (DSG),
Mark Pritchard (DSG), Karen Welsh (DSG), Laurence Barrett (Thales), Paul Ruddick (DSG),
Sandeep Patel (Thales) and Craig Smith (DSG)
In recent years, DSG has worked in partnership with Thales to continually
improve the support, repair and upgrade requirements to MOD equipment
and systems.
DSG is now moving towards the management of all associated piece part spares as well
as undertaking Thales managed repairs. This represents a step up in the supply chain for
DSG and a step up in the relationship with Thales.
Since attending the Together 08 conference in 2008, DSG has improved its relationship
with Thales with the successful completion of a 6-month project improvement tracker
and securing future business opportunities alongside Thales.
As a result of the
project, we have
overcome significant
problems and issues;
furthermore the team
relationship is stronger
and we successfully
delivered performance
improvements to the
end customer.
“
”
News in brief
Paul Jones, team leader at DSG
Warminster has worked for the MOD
for twenty two years. Paul started as a
vehicle fitter before becoming a team
leader and also the site overhead gantry
crane instructor.
The project tracker launch took place in November 2008. Maintenance of the project
tracker involves a simple and easy to use spreadsheet that monitors and tracks agreed
actions from a top level, whilst allowing the participants to include as many work
packages as they feel can be accomplished in the agreed period.
The tracker is an effective method of helping to progress numerous activities and it is
also a good way of recognising interdependent activities, which are those that need
completing before another activity can commence.
At project completion during last summer, DSG Operations Manager, Ian Doughty
commented, “Given the opportunity to do another project tracker with Thales, there
would be little hesitation. As a result of the project, we have overcome significant
problems and issues; furthermore the team relationship is stronger and we successfully
delivered performance improvements to the end customer.”
The DSG project tracker quickly identifies remaining actions and gives the overall
completion as a convenient flow-up chart. Overall benefits from this joint experience
include an ‘open door’ opportunity for engineers to collaborate between both partner
companies and offer direct technical support on repairs and the promotion of a
continuous improvement culture at DSG.
Kelly Tester, Thales representative summarises, “There are unique benefits of working
with DSG, which include their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) neutrality and an
openness to form strategic relationships with UK MOD prime contractors like
ourselves and we recognise the role that DSG plays to support UK defence and its
Armed Forces. We thank DSG for their commitment to joint supply chain development
and would recommend using another joint project tracker in the future.”
Nick Morgan, Head of Site presenting
Paul Jones with his certificate
When the previous fork lift truck
operator instructor retired it was
decided to train the operators
externally. This proved not cost effective
and Paul took on the role of forklift
truck operator Instructor for DSG at
Warminster. He successfully passed the
RTITB Instructors course and
conducted his first Operators course at
the beginning of the year.
Paul told Digest, “I enjoy taking a more
active role in training fellow employees
and having a short break from my team
leader duties.”
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DIGEST April/May 2010 www.dsg.mod.uk