celebrate with and thank our customers, who are funda- mentally the people who have made John Guest the suc- cess it is. We greatly appreciate the support that all of our trading partners have given us. PE: Describe some business challenges the company
has faced over the years and how they were dealt with. RG: The success of Speedfit technology has led other manufacturers to produce copies or their “versions” of the product. We deal with this challenge by ensuring that we offer the best quality fitting around and continue to be the company people look to as the innovator in the market- place. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! PE: 50 years — can you describe the evolution of JG’s business and its products?
ing” philosophy, meaning that we try to get from raw material to a completed product on the customer’s shelf as quickly and efficiently as possible. Significant invest- ments in automated assembly equipment have helped achieve this and, by not outsourcing production to other parts of the world, we don’t have the problems of inte- grating parts and stock, etc. Like everything, it often comes down to good communication both internally and with our distribution partners. PE: How does John Guest help the contractor do
his/her job better? RG : When designing and conceiving of products we
always have the installer in mind. Everybody would like their working lives to be made more efficient. The Speedfit system enables plumbing work to be done quick- er and easier, without compromising on quality or relia- bility. With the flexibility that plastic pipe provides, it also delivers greater options for the contractor during installation. PE: The last time you said, “This is a great day,”
what were you doing? RG : I’m tempted to say when sitting on a sun lounger
on the beach! In all seriousness, I am very lucky in that I have many days to choose from. We recently sold our 3- billionth push-in fitting. Something my father, when first designing his idea for Speedfit 40 years ago, would have scarcely believed. n
A contractor works with John Guest products in the tight- est of quarters.
RG: The business started off small with a mindset of
taking full responsibility for the product that leaves the door. Today, employing around 1,300 people, the compa- ny is still very “vertically integrated.” Every aspect of the production cycle and supply chain, from initial product design and tool manufacture to final product dispatch is undertaken by John Guest. We take control of every man- ufacturing stage, as we are confident that we can do it bet- ter than if it was sub-contracted out. Our push-fit products still have some physical resem-
blance to the very first batch back in the 1970s. However, continuous product improvements and increases in market reach, mean the system can now be found in many more applications and industries than 30 years ago. PE : Where do you see/would like to see John Guest
in the next five years? RG: We will ensure that what the company stands for
remains the same and that we continue to deliver on the service levels our customers have come to expect. I would like to think, and am confident, that we will have secured a strong market position in the U.S. plumbing market and will be well respected as a leading brand in this sector. We are prepared to work hard to make that happen. PE: Explain the process of getting product to the customer in a timely fashion. RG: Our factories operate within a “lean manufactur-
Plumbing Engineer
Circle 30 on Reader Reply Form on page 49 June 2011/Page 43
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