My colleagues and I recently hosted a factory visit from a new customer. While demonstrating our core Cable Assembly, Panel Build and Potting Encapsulation operations and procedures, not surprisingly the customer met and talked with many of the WH Kemp yeam.

Even if I say so myself, WH Kemp has an enviable track record when it comes to ‘delivering on time’ and ‘getting it right first time.’  Which is why I was confident our sector-leading performance stats, coupled with our modern, purpose-built, 3-acre factory site would pass muster. I’m pleased to say that indeed was the case.

Following the customer’s visit, and as part of my own assessment on how it went, it struck me, above all other observations, how genuinely astonished the customer had appeared on hearing that a significantly high percentage of the team had worked at WH Kemp for at least 10 years. In fact, for many it’s been more than 20 years. There is even a handful who have been here for 30+ years, and as such have remained loyal to the Company despite a couple of factory relocations during our 55 year history.

The truth is, I lost count of the number of times I heard the customer expressing words such as, ‘loyalty,’ ‘longevity,’ ‘duty,’ and ‘friendly,’ while chatting with our employees. As we said our goodbyes, the customer was kind enough to suggest the high standard of WH Kemp’s manufacturing processes had much to do with the longevity, camaraderie, and experience of its employees.

A couple of weeks later l found myself, and much to my delight, presenting a gold watch to a long serving and highly valued member of the WH Kemp team. Debbie Meakin is a diligent and popular employee, and 2022 marks her 25^th anniversary. During the presentation, I found myself drawing upon those same words – loyalty, longevity, duty – as conveyed by the customer when touring our premises. This prompted me to ask Debbie whether she would mind telling me what it is that has kept her at WH Kemp for a quarter of a century.

Debbie told me she likes the type of work she does, including knowing that our humble cable harnesses, wiring looms and panel builds can make a massive contribution to engineering health and safety. Above all, I was struck by hearing how much she valued her fellow colleagues, enjoying what has become enduring friendships, because they too have worked at the Company for many years. So much so, Debbie stated she wishes to continue and develop her career at WH Kemp.

It’s often said, ‘a business’s most valuable asset is its employees.’ I couldn’t agree more and continue to be proud of the splendid workforce here at WH Kemp. I appreciate their dedication and reliability; their diligence and duty; and of course, their loyalty and longevity of service. As the country enters deeper into what inevitably will be a difficult period, I can feel confident of my team’s support.

This article is originally from Loyalty, Longevity and Gold Watches, created by John Wyatt.

WH Kemp serve many of the UK’s leading manufacturers with cable assemblies and wiring harnesses and the pandemic has resulted in changing order patterns from most customers.

Our continual improvement programmes have always had a focus on ensuring our manufacturing processes are flexible. This presents the challenge of quickly putting one job aside and switching to another to ensure our customer’s production lines keep running. In an instant, our team need to ensure people with the right job skills, factory space, materials, machinery and testing equipment are all at hand to meet our customers demand. Of course, one must not forget the administration team’ efforts to keep the paperwork in order from order tracking to various declarations required.

Our Need for Flexibility During the Pandemic

WH Kemp has maintained close to a 100% delivery record during the year. Admittedly, this has come at a greater cost to the company, with higher raw material and work in progress inventory and reduced labour efficiency. Yet, maintaining our 100% customer retention record and year on year growth with our customers is the prize we continue to enjoy.

We are proud of how our team have responded during the pandemic, working throughout to ensure our customers’ need for flexibility have been met and that their production lines have never stopped due to a shortage of wiring harnesses and cable assemblies.

This article is originally from WH Kemp Responding to Customers’ Need for Flexibility, created by John Wyatt.

The late Steve Jobs said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Continuously perfecting design via persistent and continual progress has certainly played a part in maintaining our leading position for over 54 years.

WH Kemp strongly believes the meeting of minds amplifies innovation and creates bolder, smarter design. That’s why we welcome new customers’ product development teams to our factory site. This customer/supplier design alliance inevitably optimises innovative Cable Assembly solutions.

That’s why WH Kemp will never be a follower.

Case History: harnessing Innovation and Design with Development Partner

In July 2018, two engineers representing the UK’s largest specialist automotive manufacturer, worked in conjunction with WH Kemp’s cable technicians on the design and build of a Cable Assembly urgently required for a large commercial fleet of vehicles.

The combined technical expertise of WH Kemp and the experience of the customer resulted in a superior product to replace – throughout the fleet – what previously had been a failing imported Cable Assembly.

This article is originally from Harnessing Innovation and Design, created by John Wyatt.