Apprentice toolmaker adds value by saving employer £240k
1 Sep 2020
An apprentice toolmaker who helped design and produce parts for an automated robotic system has saved his company £240,000 by keeping the work in-house.
Fourth year apprentice with Polypipe Group subsidiary Mason Pinder Toolmakers Jordan Clayton, 19, modified a robotic cell that inserts rubber seals into plastic moulded fittings.
Jordan and three of his colleagues were given the task after an external company quoted £300,000 price tag and delivered the project for £60,000, By eliminating the need for the manual insertion of the seals they alsosaved a further £40,000 each year.
Jordan said: “I was required to design some of the system initially and once the final design had been assessed I had to produce parts by machining, welding and sparking. Even as an apprentice I have still played a large part in the success and development of the business. Being involved in the cell work led to new, innovative ways that processes are being carried out.”
Clayton began his learning at Sheffield Univeristy’s AMRC centre as a Level 3 Advanced Apprentice, and is now working towards his Level 4 HNC in engineering qualification.
Director of the AMRC Training Centre, Nikki Jones, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our talented apprentices and Jordan is a great example of the value their innovative thinking can bring to companies.
“Now, more than ever, building and maintaining skills within the workforce is an essential part of the mix if manufacturers are not only to recover from this pandemic but to be productive, resilient and regrow. Apprentices have a key role to play in that: they are tomorrow’s engineering innovators and the foundations of the future skills base.”
Simon Golightly, Factory Manager at Mason Pinder, praised the apprentice’s achievement.
“He has progressed to working on his own using his own initiative, he also understands that he is constantly learning and developing which is a fantastic attribute to have and allows more senior/experienced toolmakers to guide him when and where necessary.
“Jordan also has the added advantage of offering reverse mentoring to the senior engineers, offering new and innovative ideas on many projects that Mason Pinder encounters."
