Case Studies

These businesses tend to work with small numbers of incredibly high quality products and use excellent service standards to satisfy a low volume of customers. Matsuura Machinery Ltd, based in Coalville, Leicestershire in the UK, is one such company and their approach means that safety, health and the environment (SHE) has become increasingly important in recent years.

Matsuura customise and sell a range of highly technical large machine tools that are manufactured by their Japanese owners. These complex pieces of machinery can range in value from around £100,000 in to the multi millions. The company is very proud of the quality of its specialist products and differentiates itself on the operational efficiency of its products, strong customer service, support and training. 

It has several high profile and demanding customers, from Formula One, automotive and aerospace sectors plus a wide range of specialist subcontract manufacturers. In many ways, these are the kind of customers that have inspired Matsuura to strengthen its SHE management approach. As Matsuura Machinery’s SHE Manager, Keith Mattock, explained:

“When you have the right approach, people love you to bits! To complete any kind of work for our high-profile customers, you have to present your risk assessment and method statement before you can even get a job number on site. It’s never taken for granted, they look at it properly.”

In 2012, Matsuura Machinery Ltd’s Managing Director, Roger Howkins, set out to rapidly improve health, safety and environmental knowledge and understanding across the organisation. He wanted to quickly change the culture and raise the level of importance placed on such issues, whilst recognising that the job still needs to get done. To achieve this, he decided managers there should at least hold the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Safety and Health. Improving awareness, assessing risks and keeping it real ensures that the business can continue to operate efficiently whilst maintaining a safe and managed work environment.

Now, three years later, more than a third of the entire workforce has passed the qualification. “It’s made a big difference,” said Keith Mattock. “Of course it’s important to keep people safe while they are working, but also our customers really appreciate it when we have the right systems and processes in place. We’re fortunate now to have so many who are NEBOSH qualified. It certainly makes my job easier! People have an awareness of health and safety and understand their responsibilities.”

Raising SHE knowledge and skills there has also helped Keith and the team at Matsuura Machinery Ltd gain accreditation to relevant international standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 14001 (Environmental). The programme to achieve OHSAS 18001 (Health and Safety) is currently underway and scheduled for 2016 completion.

Matsuura’s Managing Director Roger Howkins recognises the business benefits achieving such standards can bring. The company’s clients demand quality and excellence, not only in terms of the machinery and operational service standards they receive, but also in their management approach.

We’re delighted to support companies like Matsuura, who recognise the value of high standards in all areas of business.