Advancing Quality and Capability: Weld Procedure Trials at Warren

/in , ,

At Warren, we pride ourselves on continually improving our processes and meeting the evolving demands of our customers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been undertaking a significant initiative to qualify our weld procedures. With customers now requiring greater scrutiny and standards, we recognised the need to elevate our practices.

We conducted six weld procedure tests across a range of materials:

  • Two tests on high-strength steel
  • Two tests on aluminium
  • Two tests on mild steel

The tests were carried out by our skilled team members – Russell, Mike, and Gavin, under the supervision of our responsible welding coordinator, Ben. These weren’t easy tests. The procedures were intentionally designed to be challenging to ensure a wide range of coverage for future applications. Despite the pressure, the team rose to the occasion, showcasing expertise and resilience.

Long-term benefits of qualified weld procedures

The procedures we’ve developed during these trials are now qualified and will serve as the foundation for welding work at Warren for years to come. While some gaps remain, these are less critical and will be addressed in the new year with additional preparation and practice.

Here’s how these new procedures will enhance our capabilities:

  • High-strength steel procedures: these enable us to manufacture a frame capable of holding an engine. They also position us to attain the DIN 2303 Q2 certification, expanding our work in the defence sector. With this certification, we anticipate a steady stream of work through 2030 and beyond, providing the business with long-term stability.
  • Aluminium procedures: these ensure we remain equipped to handle critical projects for our offshore work, EN 1090 aluminium welding for clients.
  • Mild steel procedures: by filling gaps in our existing library, these procedures allow us to specify requirements upfront, ensuring clarity and efficiency before jobs hit the shop floor. This proactive approach will save time and resources while improving overall quality.

Streamlining and accessibility

With these procedures now qualified, the next step is to document and integrate them into our workflow. They will be easily accessible on job cards and through Warren Web, ensuring our team can quickly find the information they need to maintain consistency and quality.

A team effort worth celebrating

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and skill of Russell, Mike, Gavin and Ben. Their hard work and commitment to excellence have set us up for success, and we’re deeply grateful for their efforts.

As we look to the future, these weld procedures not only solidify our position in the industry but also open doors to exciting new opportunities. Thank you to everyone involved for making this a success. Here’s to a stronger, more capable Warren!

Celebrating Billy Read: 10 Years of Dedication and Achievement

/in ,

This December marks a significant milestone for one of our valued team members, Billy Read, as he celebrates 10 years of service with Warren.

From temporary placement to senior leadership

Billy’s story began at the age of 19 when he joined Warren through the Job Centre Work Placement Scheme. Initially a temporary 8-week placement, his talent and work ethic quickly earned him a permanent role as a Goods in Operative at our Fison Way site. This foundational role equipped Billy with in-depth knowledge of materials and components, laying the groundwork for his future progression.

Four years later, Billy transitioned into the role of Purchasing & IT Assistant, under the mentorship of Ian Nixon. In this position, he built and nurtured strong relationships with key suppliers and developed vital negotiation skills. By 2022, his hard work and expertise were recognised with a promotion to Senior Buyer.

Leading the purchasing team

In his current role, Billy oversees our purchasing team, managing over £4 million in company spend each year. This includes handling more than 7,000 purchase orders and 23,000 line items. His role requires a delicate balance – managing cost, quality, and delivery timelines to ensure the seamless flow of goods for manufacturing. Space and cash flow management add to the challenge, but Billy approaches it all with precision.

Passionate about continuous improvement

Billy’s technical mindset and passion for engineering extend beyond his work. Recently, he completed his ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management and introduced an Approved Supplier Onboarding Process, a vital step forward in meeting client requirements.

Thank you, Billy!

Billy’s 10-year journey is an inspiring example of what can be achieved through hard work, curiosity and a commitment to excellence. His willingness to help others, improve processes, and tackle challenges head-on has made a lasting impact on our team and business.

Thank you, Billy, for an incredible decade of dedication and achievement. Here’s to your next 10 years – we’re excited to see what you’ll accomplish!

Movember at Warren: Raising Awareness for Men’s Health

/in , ,

This year, several of our team members joined the global movement of Movember, growing moustaches throughout November to raise awareness of men’s health issues. While we weren’t the best at capturing before-and-after pictures of everyone, we’re proud to share a snap of Jamie Mills, who represented the effort brilliantly!

Movember is more than just a chance to sport a new look. It’s about sparking conversations and raising awareness for critical issues in men’s health, including:

  • Mental health and suicide prevention
  • Prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer

These are topics that don’t always get the attention they deserve, and Movember is leading the way in changing that, one moustache at a time.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated this year – your efforts helped raise awareness for these vital health issues.

Will Bridgman Visits East Anglia Air Ambulance for CEO Networking Event

/in , , ,

This week, our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, participated in an insightful event hosted by Turning Factor, a learning and development training provider, at East Anglia Air Ambulance. This gathering brought together CEOs and business leaders from across various sectors to share knowledge, experiences, and grow meaningful connections.

The event, organised by James Howells, Director of Turning Factor, aimed to create a supportive space for CEOs, offering them the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and gain insights into each other’s fields. The highlight of the day included a presentation and a tour of East Anglia Air Ambulance, allowing attendees to see the impressive work and innovation behind the life-saving operations of the air ambulance team.

James Howells thanked Will Bridgman for his participation, saying, “I wanted to thank you for coming to yesterday’s event. Your presence and engagement were the beginning of what we hope to be a powerful forum. We hope you enjoyed the presentation and tour from East Anglia Air Ambulance and found it as interesting as we did.”

This event marks the beginning of a promising network where local business leaders can come together for mutual support and collaborative opportunities, driving growth not only within their companies but also across the community.

Warren Is Growing a MO for Movember!

/in , , ,

This year at Warren, we’re taking part in Movember and we’d love to see the men join in on this meaningful cause. Starting at the end of October, we’re encouraging everyone to begin the month clean-shaven, then grow out their moustaches throughout November. The moustache is more than just facial hair—it’s a powerful symbol that encourages life-saving conversations about men’s health.

Why Movember matters

Movember is the leading charity dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. The movement focuses on raising awareness and funds for critical issues such as mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. By growing a moustache, you’re helping to shine a spotlight on these important topics and encouraging others to engage in conversations that can make a difference.

How to get involved

It’s simple: at the end of October, go clean-shaven and then start growing your moustache on 1st November. Throughout the month, let your ‘Mo’ take centre stage and help spread the message of Movember’s mission. You can learn more about Movember’s work and how to get involved by visiting their website: Movember – Changing the Face of Men’s Health.

Let’s see those moustaches!

As we embark on this hairy journey together, we’d love to capture the moment! If you’re taking part, let’s get some photos of your ‘Mo’. Let’s see who can grow the most impressive moustache by the end of the month—‘tis the season to be hairy, after all!

Warren Welcomes Students from The Damara School for a Factory Tour

/in , ,

At Warren, we believe in the power of inspiring the next generation and that’s why we continue to engage with local schools. On Wednesday 9th October, we were excited to welcome a group of students from The Damara School in Thetford to our facilities for a behind-the-scenes look at what we do.

Touring Fison Way and Brickfields Way

The visit started with a tour of our Fison Way site, led by Kieran, where the students had the opportunity to see some of the impressive manufacturing processes we use every day. Next, Adam took the group around our Brickfields Way site, showing them more of the equipment and technology that powers our operations. To conclude the tour, the students gathered in the meeting room for a talk from Will, who shared his experience in the world of engineering and manufacturing, as well as what a career in the industry can look like.

Encouraging young minds

The students seemed to thoroughly enjoy the tour, asking great questions and showing enthusiasm for the industry. At Warren, we’re committed to engaging with children at a young age to spark their interest in engineering and manufacturing. By providing these hands-on experiences, we hope to inspire future generations of engineers and innovators.

Thanks again to The Damara School for joining us. We hope to see more aspiring engineers visit Warren in the near future!

Celebrating National Manufacturing Day at Warren

/in , ,

On Thursday 26th September, we proudly celebrated National Manufacturing Day, a day dedicated to showing the importance of manufacturing across the UK. Businesses like ours open their doors to give people a behind-the-scenes look at what really happens in the world of manufacturing.

This year, we had the pleasure of hosting nearly 300 local Year 6 pupils from six different primary schools, alongside local businesses Boniface and Peerless Plastics. It was an exciting day full of learning, fun and hands-on experiences aimed at inspiring the next generation of engineers.

A day of discovery

With so many eager young minds, we had to split the groups in half to manage the number of visitors. Will and Jed led tours at our Fison Way site, while Ali and I guided the pupils at Brickfields Way. Throughout the day, the children had the opportunity to try out a range of interactive activities within our factories, getting a taste of the work that goes into manufacturing.

At times, it felt like controlled chaos, however seeing the excitement and curiosity on the children’s faces made it all worthwhile. Their reactions were priceless and we’ve already received fantastic feedback from the schools.

Capturing the day

A special mention goes to Mia Nixon, who created an outstanding video of the day’s activities. The video beautifully captures the energy and excitement of the event and it’s now available to view on our post here.

Inspiring future engineers

At Warren, we believe events like this are crucial in inspiring the next generation of engineers. It’s vital to reach young people early, before they begin making decisions about their future careers and Year 6 is the perfect age to spark that interest. By opening our doors and offering these experiences, we hope to encourage more young people to consider a career in manufacturing and engineering.

Looking ahead

We’d like to thank everyone who helped make National Manufacturing Day a success this year. From our dedicated staff to the enthusiastic pupils, it was truly a team effort. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event, and who knows it might be even bigger and better!

 

View the video produced by the local council about the day:

Warren Team Takes on Only The Brave 2024

/in , , ,

This year, the Warren team once again took on the “Only the Brave” challenge and what an event it was! Fourteen of us battled through 6 miles of tough terrain and tackled 25 wet and muddy obstacles. It’s safe to say the challenge lived up to its reputation, extremely muddy, extremely wet and absolutely exhilarating!

A team effort

Every single member of the Warren team completed the course and while some of us finished faster than others, the support and teamwork made the experience truly special. A huge shoutout to Nathan Cubley, who crossed the finish line with the fastest time from our group. Well done, Nathan!

Supporting the Air Ambulance

“Only the Brave” is more than just an endurance test; it’s a charity event in support of the East Anglian Air Ambulance. This year, our team raised over £1,000 for the cause, an outstanding effort that we are all proud of. The entire event has raised an incredible £95,000 so far and we’re thrilled to have played a part in supporting such a vital service.

A special thank you to our volunteer

We also want to extend a special thank you to Wiktoria, who generously gave up her time to volunteer at the event. With over 150 volunteers needed to help run things safely, it simply couldn’t happen without people like her. Thank you, Wiktoria, for helping make the day a success.

No major injuries, just sore muscles

Thankfully, no major injuries were sustained, although I’ll admit my entire body was aching for at least three days afterward! As always, I’m telling myself “never again” for next year but let’s see what happens when the team starts signing up again. It’s hard to say no to such a fun, challenging and rewarding event!

A big thank you

A massive well done to everyone who took part and a big thank you to all who kindly sponsored us. Your support makes a real difference and we couldn’t have done it without you.

Until next year… maybe!

Warren Attends the Future of Work Conference

/in , ,

Warren Attends the Future of Work Conference

On Friday 4th October, Will and Jed represented Warren at the Future of Work conference, held at the Professional Development Centre in Bury St Edmunds. The event, which brought together leaders, industry experts and businesses from across the region, provided a platform to discuss the  work environment and how technology is transforming industries, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Shaping the future of work in SMEs

Will and Jed were honoured to be invited to speak at the conference, offering their insights into how technological advancements are shaping the future of manufacturing and operations in SMEs like Warren. With our ongoing commitment to innovation, they discussed how Warren is integrating new technologies to enhance production efficiency, simplify processes and future-proof our business.

Industry insights from key speakers

The Future of Work conference was packed with engaging sessions and presentations from notable companies across various sectors. Key speakers included representatives from Lotus, Sizewell, Swift Technology Group, Baxters, and British Sugar. Each shared valuable knowledge into how they’re responding to technological change and preparing for the future.

Looking ahead

The conference was a great opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made as a company and to learn from industry leaders. Will and Jed’s involvement in the event demonstrates Warren’s dedication to technological change, ensuring we continue to grow and adapt in this dynamic environment.

We look forward to continuing this journey and shaping the future of work for SMEs.

Celebrating 20 Years of John “Beaky” Challis at Warren

/in , ,

During his two decades with Warren, John has played a crucial role in helping the business expand and tackle a range of complex projects, many of which have taken us worldwide. One standout project was with Jackstones Vertical Plate Freezer Systems, where we were tasked with producing vertical freezer plates used for instantly freezing fish on board massive ships. The challenge? These plates were made entirely of aluminium, a material we hadn’t extensively worked with before.

This project required an incredibly precise welding process, one that involved pre-heating the plates, performing a long, continuous weld, and finally pressure-testing the results. John rose to the challenge by undergoing specialist training at the TWI Welding Institute in Cambridge, ensuring that the work met the highest standards. Even today, Martin Odell from TWI still remembers John, and his test piece is held as a testament to his skill.

A commitment to learning and sharing knowledge

Throughout his time at Warren, John has never stopped learning. He’s undergone further training and testing at the TWI over the years and now holds several prestigious qualifications, including a CSWIP 3.1 certification. His dedication to continuous improvement, both personally and professionally, has been an inspiration to all of us at Warren.

What sets John apart even more is his willingness to share his skills with others, particularly our apprentices. His knowledge, experience, and unwavering commitment to quality have been passed down to the next generation of welders at Warren. John’s patience and mentorship have helped to shape the future of our company, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

A true asset and character

John is more than just an exceptional welder; he’s an indispensable part of Warren’s culture. His loyalty, unflappable nature, and ever-present sense of humour make him a real character. No matter the challenge, nothing seems to phase him, and he’s always there to lend a hand or offer advice.

As we celebrate John’s 20 years with us, we look back with gratitude for everything he’s done to support Warren’s growth and success. His contributions have been immense, and we are truly fortunate to have him as part of our team. Here’s to many more years of working alongside John and continuing to build on the strong foundation he helped create.

From everyone at Warren, thank you, John, for your unwavering dedication and incredible skill. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.