MSA Manufacturing performs industry-leading subcontract kitting and cutting services to a multitude of industry sectors. In a Q&A session, Composites in Manufacturing discovers that although other companies have similarly technical capabilities, it’s how and why MSA does it, that it says really sets it apart.
Established over 40 years ago, MSA Manufacturing first began specialising in shipping packaging and then in reusable specialist packaging systems, for supply chain and production lines within the aerospace, defence and automotive sectors. The company diversified into the composites sector with structural core kits and machined core parts over ten years ago and then extended into reinforcement kitting over five years ago.
Now serving the marine, renewable energy (wind and tidal), automotive, non-structural aerospace, defence and rail markets, MSA’s extended shopfloor has multiple 3- and 5- axis routers, 3- and limited movement 5-axis waterjets, conveyor-fed vertical abrasive wire cutters, multiple CNC conveyor knife kit cutters, a log/roll slitter, mobile 3D scanning and CMM capability, 2D digitising and multiple CAD platforms across two 22,000ft2 production sites. The company has over 50 employees and is ISO 9001 and 14001 approved.
Q) What types of demands are placed on your company by today’s customers?
Demands comprise a partnership approach and more focus and awareness from customers on total cost rather than just price, resulting in increased demand for outsourced, added value solutions. In addition, customers demand more sharing of expertise and joint learning and there is greater expectation for reduced lead-times and flexibility around changing demands i.e. a flexible approach to project timescales and management.
Q) Are you seeing any spikes in production demands, i.e. the ramp rates predicted by aerospace OEMs and/or demand for more composite cars from the automotive industry to satisfy lightweighting demands?
Demand continues to rise across all sectors. Technologies change and the drive for lower weight and faster, reduced cost output continues. This is also driving more outsourcing. We’re seeing notable growth and increased demand in reinforcements.
Q) What, in your opinion, is the most active composites-related technology in the market?
In the marine industry, some manufacturers still use hand layup and are exploring infusion technology, but it’s early days for them. Other marine manufacturers use resin infusion and are also looking to work with prepreg materials. Cost and time are the key drivers, but the criteria used is dependent on the final objective. In addition, simultaneous modular builds are becoming prevalent, whereby manufacturers build several sections in moulds and then fit them together to create the boat, thus minimising build time.
The driver in the power generation industry, where volume is very high, is cost, and more specifically driving down the cost of energy and optimising sustainable technologies. The automotive sector has some areas where they work with prepreg, resin infusion and resin injection moulding, where the preform technology plays a fundamental role. The aerospace sector is introducing increasingly more composites components and the drive is reduced weight and cost, but also the availability of the reinforcement materials.
All technologies play a fundamental role depending on the desired outcome. All industries are looking at composites technologies and all industries are very dynamic within their own sector. Where you draw the line in that one is more dynamic than other is very subjective.
Q) Please provide the latest update on changes in company personnel and recruitment?
Key new management team members recruited within the last year include quality and business improvement manager Dave Dibden, special projects manager Mike Aaron and Tony King as engineering manager. New recruitments are largely based around engineering as customer parts become increasingly sophisticated and expect greater technical knowledge at our end of their processes. The recruitment of Tony King is important in managing this increased demand in engineering expertise. Mike Aaron as special projects supports this, but brings the customers experience with him and an enormous wealth of composite technical and process knowledge.
Q) What differentiates your company from the competition - why should a customer use you over your nearest rival?
Our drive is to understand the customer and work in close partnership with them and their production teams to ensure we meet their individual need, and then show them a fuller range of services and capabilities than they would have expected. The first kit may not be an instant 100% success, but customers will quickly see benefits from our approach.
Q) What do you feel are the most important assets of a company?
Forming business relationships is how we work, so people are critical to how we communicate with each other and our customers, how we learn, how we develop, how we discover and use technologies, how we develop, implement, communicate and follow a strategy. Without good, capable people working as a team, communicating and continually learning, the rest is wasted effort.
Q) Where do you see the biggest business challenges coming from?
Challenges include the continued instability of the British Pound, keeping pace with new technologies, finding new ways to add value, finding ways to enter new markets and the development of new products and services, whilst maintaining clear and transparent communication with our customers.
