SUPPLY CHAIN
Mint ’ s proprietary aRMour technology . This concept has been sold to many overseas countries , with the Mint notably securing a three year contract with the National Bank of Poland to supply three aRMour brass plated coins . These coins are much more economical , and just as durable as the ones they replace .
In an environment of dynamic sales activity , David Bowles has had to lead a complete transformation in the supply chain function . “ When I came to this business there was a lot of unpredictability in the planning , the production and the procurement too . We have put in some really robust planning systems now that mean we can have a really predictable supply chain with our suppliers .” Already , he said , the visibility in the supply chain has improved to the extent that he can discover in real time what coin is being created and on which machine .
To reach that level of predictability entailed changing the culture of the organisation as well as its processes . The incoming team brought with them ideas from the world of industry , and above all a common approach as to what it takes for a manufacturing business to be effective . “ Just as an example , in the circulating coin business there was about 2,000 tonnes of work in process at any one time . Now we operate with about 300 tonnes of wip .” Taking working capital out of the process is not a new thing , he appreciates , but at The Royal Mint the established way of operation simply did not take working capital into account .
Key Personnel
David Bowles
Supply Chain Director
Joined the Royal Mint in 2009 after spending 10 years in the Steel industry , mainly in Supply Chain related roles . Holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management from Cardiff Business School .
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