CASE STUDY
HOWMET
About Howmet
Howmet Leicester is a leading advanced manufacturing facility specialising in Aerospace fasteners. Their comprehensive manufacturing processes include Forging, CNC machining, Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), Grinding, Thread & Fillet Rolling, and Heat Treatment. As a key supplier to the Aerospace industry, Howmet places a high priority on precision, efficiency, and continuous improvement.
The Oppurtunity
Despite their technical capabilities, Howmet Leicester faced several internal challenges that were limiting operational efficiency and team alignment. These included:
- Poor organisation and inconsistent Visual Management and organisation of hand tools.
- Lack of visibility and clarity around team and production performance.
- A disjointed and inconsistent visual identity across the facility.
Recognising the need to boost visual communication and organisation in operations while creating a more cohesive environment, Howmet partnered with Peak VM to initiate a visual management transformation across the site.
The Solution
The Solutions
Over the course of a year, Peak VM worked closely with Howmet Leicester to design, manufacture, and implement a range of tailored visual management solutions, including:
Custom Shadow Boards & Workstations
Designed to ensure tools are visually stored at the point of use, reducing search time and promoting efficiency in performing standard tasks.
Cleaning Stations
Supporting Howmet’s 5S initiatives, these stations helped maintain cleanliness and organisation in key areas.
Visual Performance Boards
Installed to provide a dedicated space for staff and management to monitor, communicate, and align on daily performance metrics and production goals.
Branded Signage
Both large and small-scale signs were introduced across the facility to improve navigation, area identification, and reinforce a consistent brand identity.
The Result
The impact of the Visual Management overhaul has been significant:
- Improved Organisation: Tools are now clearly arranged and accessible, minimising downtime and supporting a culture of discipline.
- Better Communication: Performance boards have facilitated more effective team discussions and increased visibility into current work and ongoing issues.
- Enhanced Problem Solving: The visual systems make issues more obvious, enabling quicker identification and resolution of problems.
- Unified Facility Aesthetic: Consistent branding and signage have brought a more professional and cohesive look and feel to the entire site, giving visitors and clients a deepened sense of confidence in Howmet as a result.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Howmet Leicester and Peak VM has not only addressed immediate operational pain points but has also laid the groundwork for ongoing improvement. Peak VM continues to support Howmet with more complex and bespoke Visual Management solutions, reflecting the trust and value established through this successful partnership.
“Equipment is now available at the point of use, productive team meetings and discussions have been facilitated through more effective visual communication, and any issues are made obvious for all to see—this supports effective problem solving throughout the facility. Josh and the Peak VM team have been invaluable in helping us delivery our transformation”
