Leading hi-fi systems manufacturer Linn Products recently hosted a Santander Breakthrough Masterclass at its Glasgow-based facility. Scottish manufacturing and engineering businesses were invited to tour the premises and hear from founder and chairman Ivor Tiefenbrun.
A first for Scotland
“There is great transparency between the staff and they all have one goal, which is to produce the best quality product possible.” Peter Higgins, Founder, UWI TechnologyFiona Hardie, Marketing Manager of furnishing company Bute Fabrics, was one of the delegates keen to learn more from this inspirational Scottish business. “This was the first Masterclass in Scotland so it was a great opportunity,” she says. “Linn Products has a fantastic reputation so it was an absolute delight to come and see the products and learn more about the manufacturing side of the business. It’s a great concept for Santander to initiate.” Company ethos Delegates were impressed by the careful approach to manufacturing championed by Linn, as well as the philosophy of transparency and staff engagement across the business – from factory floor to boardroom. Peter Higgins is founder and CEO of Edinburgh-based UWI Technology, which has developed a smart label originally for food products, but now for such varied sectors as aerospace, life sciences and craft beer. “I’ve heard Ivor deliver short presentations in the past and this was a great opportunity to hear more from him and see the facilities for myself,” Peter says. “Having the same ethos from the top all the way down is phenomenal. There is great transparency between the staff and they all have one goal, which is to produce the best quality product possible. It’s so obvious from everyone on the shop floor to the young apprentices that have been brought into the business.” People power Fiona was also impressed with the shared goal for exceptional products. “What I have taken from this visit is that you have one shot at building quality,” she says. My manufacturing process is weaving, which is very different to Linn, but the message is the same – you empower people to build quality into the product.” Iain Murray, co-founder of Kigtek Solutions Ltd, agrees. “I noted the importance of people in this business and how you engage with them and try to maximise their potential,” he says. “It’s easy to get entrenched in the day-to-day running of your own business, so it’s always worthwhile to reflect and see how others do it.” The path to growth As a Scottish business operating in the same sector, Iain was particularly interested in learning more about Linn Products’ journey to becoming a global brand. “One of the things we noted was that the manufacturing process takes place entirely in house. I can see why businesses do that, as ultimately it’s the only way you can maintain complete control of quality and throughput.” The set-up at Linn Products impressed the delegates to such an extent that one business currently based south of the border is considering relocating its manufacturing base to Scotland following the Masterclass. “We currently manufacture in England and we may look at manufacturing in Scotland after today,” says Ian Cander of Pod Global Solutions. “I thought some of the techniques used here were leading-edge and we could learn from them. It’s also key how the workforce gel and care about what they do.”
_______________________________________________