9 huhti 2020
Babcock supply chain innovation enables production of new ventilators
Babcock International Group (Babcock) is leading on the design and production of 10,000 ventilators for the NHS in response to the UK Government’s request for help from industry.
As well as working on a brand new prototype, a team of Babcock engineers and specialists have set up a supply chain solution from scratch. The team have worked night and day to set up the supply chain, and have enlisted a number of UK manufacturers to help with the assembly and production.
Babcock is partnering with a leading medical equipment company in the production of the Zephyr Plus ventilators, which will use tried and tested medical components.
Jon Hall, Managing Director of Technology for Babcock, said team effort, strong partnerships and ingenuity were all key factors in getting the project off the ground.
“The team is working flat out to get the first of the Zephyr Plus ventilators off the production lines as a matter of urgency. We are designing, testing and manufacturing a brand new product but we are also designing and managing the entire supply chain to support its delivery from scratch.
“To do both in parallel demonstrates the commitment and innovation of everyone involved. It also highlights the incredible support Babcock has had from the suppliers with whom we are collaborating.
“I’m really proud of what we have done, and what we are achieving in the race against time to help deliver critical equipment to the NHS.”
Babcock’s expertise in Design for Manufacture (DfM), is one of the key elements, driving efficiencies in time and resource to enable the ventilators to be produced at scale and quickly. The team are also working directly with suppliers on capacity and capability matters.
To enhance the resilience of the supply chain solution, the Babcock team devised multiple assembly streams, which can respond at speed and with flexibility using suppliers from the across the UK (see list below).
Babcock’s Zephyr Plus suppliers include:
- Amtek-Precision: tooling design
- Armstrong Medical: medical consumables
- Astute Electronics: supply of electrical components
- Future Advanced Manufacture: key component manufacture
- Kinneir Dufort: housing design and regulatory support
- Kohler Mira Ltd: housing design, assembly and testing line
- MEC Medical: medical consumables
- PDD: housing design
- Plexus: design support and electronic assembly
- Raytheon UK: assembly and testing line
- Sovrin: key component manufacture
- TT Electronics: assembly and testing line
The above list is not exhaustive and Babcock is deeply grateful to all those that continue to support the team with a wide range of components and services.