Case Studies
Issue No. 40 - April/ /
Century: a prototype SA manufacturer
Century Innovative Manufacturers operates on a site founder Gordon Bennett had the great foresight to acquire decades ago.
The returned soldier started the firm in 1949 as a press shop in his back yard. He manufactured G-clamps and ashtrays. The business thrived and moved on to making parts for Holden cars. After moving to the present factory site at Beverley, Century stepped up to fabrication.
Century grew up making pressed metal components for use in branded products. For almost 50 years the firm has lived off its wits, filling niches and adapting itself to opportunity. It is a light manufacturer working in assembly, fabrication, metal pressing and markets materials handling (racking) systems. Component pressing is 30-35% of Century’s business with fabrication amounting to 20% and rising.
Touring the shop floor reveals a state of upheaval. Century is rearranging the furniture, adapting to meet new demands. The firm grew from making bits and pieces, but CEO David Heaslip is taking it forward by value adding.
David, who joined Century in 1999, reasoned Century needed “better ownership” of the customer relationship than merely providing parts.
“I went out looking for a ‘Tier 1’ capability and opportunity,” he says, meaning an opportunity to offer a service whereby the manufacturer takes on procurement and production responsibilities, reducing the client’s administrative burden and delivering better value than the client could.
A timely move - not long after, the Chinese manufacturing juggernaut began to threaten mass-commodity manufacturing everywhere.
Century gained early experience drawing up a memorandum of understanding with Toll Logistics where the two would pitch for innovative manufacturing and distribution jobs. None transpired, but David says the effort created a framework for deals for the future.
A landmark deal with iconic Australian manufacturer Victa Mowers brought David&#...
