Making processes more productive is one big benefit of success driven manufacturing, but so is keeping people motivated and encouraging creativity.
Humble leaders embrace continuous improvement and see it as a part of a symbiotic relationship with staff, clients and suppliers. They identify gaps in technical expertise and people skills, and jump at training opportunities for themselves, their team and even their peers. Leaders acknowledge the willingness to invest in the company, and they reciprocate by excitedly deploying those new skills to their position.
As a young man, Brian Dixon realised his passion for engineering and had a dream to have his own company. In 1987 Dixon actioned his dreams and became a co-founder of Cliff’s Way Engineering. He has since then become the sole owner and continues to achieve his life’s goals with the same amount of passion.
Gregg, Brian and Teneile Dixon
Cliff’s Way Engineering are capable of machining and fabricating many different size components
“I was working at DJ Engineering, a company that was run by my father, Kenneth Dixon and his brother Roland Dixon. It was a general engineering company that machined and fabricated all sorts of components using various materials. It was a great learning period for me but I always wanted to run my own business, which my father and uncle understood when I told them I was leaving to venture out on my own. They had started a business themselves and knew how tough it was but gave me all the encouragement I needed.”
“It was not easy, especially as I had a young family to look after.”
Soon after Dixon ventured out on his own, he was joined by his cousins, Cliff and Trevor Petersen.
“Our partnership lasted 20 years before Cliff went off on his own and started Delmas Drum and Engineering, which is in the factory next to us. In 2017 I bought Trevor out of the business and became the sole owner.”
“We also started a company named Cliff’s Way Aerospace for the production and assembly of machined components that are produced to tight tolerances in a range of materials. The bulk of the work was for aerospace, mainly the production of airframe components, and it was an approved supplier to Airbus for the Airbus A400 military transport aircraft through the Denel sponsored Aerospace Industry Support Initiative (AISI). The main objective of the Aerospace Industry Support Initiative (AISI) was to assist the aerospace and defence industry to improve its competitiveness, productivity and quality management systems and provided focused assistance to us and others through 18 months of training and skills transfer through Aerosud Aviation and Denel Aerostructures respectively, with support from Airbus. Once we completed the programme we could compete globally.”
“The company machined and supplied components for the first 50 Airbus A400 military transport aircraft.”
Shafts that are in different stages of machining
Machining center/milling capacity that includes 3-Axis, 4-Axis and 5-Axis machines, is 5 000mm by 2 000mm by 800mm in the XYZ
“The first CNC machine that the company purchased was a Mazak Quickturn 20 CNC lathe and one of our first clients was Joy Mining. We machine many different general engineering components for them, including track pads for the underground mining and drilling equipment, as well as spares and wear parts.”
Through their dedication to their clients and willingness to grow, Cliff’s Way Engineering can now boast that they have clients it automotive, transport, mining, defence, rail, medical, hospitality, agriculture, electrical, energy, gas, glass and petroleum industry.
“This gives us a large spread of clients with a variety of component and machining requirements. Our machining capacity relative to component size offers machining on conventional and CNC turning lathes with a maximum size of 950mm by 3 800mm or 750mm over the bed by a length of 4 000mm.”
“Our CNC vertical boring turning department can accommodate components up to 1 600mm by 1 250mm in height and our machining center/milling capacity that includes 3-Axis, 4-Axis and 5-Axis machines, is 5 000mm by 2 000mm by 800mm in the XYZ.”
Cliff’s Way Engineering have purchased 6 new CNC machines in the last year. This has taken the DN Solutions count to 8 machines
Cliff’s Way Engineering will machine all types of material
“We now have over 20 CNC machines and 6 of these have been purchased in the last year. It has taken our DN Solutions count to 8 machines, which includes both lathes and milling machines, and we have another one on order.”
“Besides turning and milling services we also offer CMM, 3D inspection, assembly, rope attachment, cylindrical grinding, grinding, gear cutting programming and drawing services.”
“In 2015 we established Cliff’s Way Welding to offer welding and fabrication services. This includes MIG, TIG and Argon welding and hand held plasma cutting up to 30mm plate.”
“95% of the metal we machine at the moment is made of steel but we are at home with machining all of the other metals. We are governed by what our clients want.”
New machines
“Almost any shop can automate at least some of its production, even in low-volume, high-mix applications. The key to getting started is finding the simplest solutions that fit your requirements. It helps to work with an automation partner that understands your needs.”
Shafts that are ready for delivery
As for his shop, Brian Dixon believes its diversity of capabilities and customers, along with the added capacity of the new machines, will put it in a stronger position to respond quickly to market changes
As for his shop, Dixon believes its diversity of capabilities and customers, along with the added capacity of the new machines, will put it in a stronger position to respond quickly to market changes.
“In fact, the new machines played a key role in the last couple of months,” said Dixon.
“As a critical manufacturer, one of our clients has had to up its capacity and delivery of components and products that are vital to the end user. We have been able step in to help the customer, increasing production of certain components. The customer is an OEM and we did our best to survive the continuing demand as we all had to make adjustments.”
“We have looked at our company and we believe that the answers are sound financials, the right equipment, competitive pricing besides excellent delivery times, a formal quality programme, a divergent management structure, a diversified customer base, offer more than machining services, a good shop appearance, eye toward new technology and a strong succession plan.”
“We can tick the boxes of all of these. My son Gregg, joined the company on a full-time basis in 2012 and he looks after engineering. My daughter Teneile, who was previously with the company for five years and re-joined in 2015, takes care of human resources, our ISO 9001 standard rating that we have had since 1997, projects and IT.”
It is Cliff’s Way Engineering’s vision to be an OEM supplier
The CNC vertical boring turning department can accommodate components up to 1 600mm by 1 250mm in height
Business coach takes successful company to new heights.
“Besides being immediate family, which in itself is a win-win trust plus, we all have the same vision and learning appetite for the company.”
“After many years of running our business the same way, we realised we needed to make some changes to it. We weren’t struggling but we felt like we needed some energy had to be put into the company to take it forward. We had tried various options but we were not comfortable with most of them. In that time, we have observed that it is rare to meet someone who listens, guides, encourages, motivates, supports and helps you see the bigger picture so that you can reach your goals.”
“Advances in technology and equipment have made it easier than ever for machine shops to deliver tight tolerances and complex geometries. In order to compete, shops need to do more than just produce exceptional parts. They need a quality-first and team mindset that guides every part of their business, their service and their relationship with clients.”
Besides turning and milling services Cliff’s Way Engineering also offer CMM, 3D inspection, assembly, rope attachment, reverse engineering, cylindrical grinding, grinding, gear cutting programming and drawing services
Cliff’s Way Engineering have recently taken delivery of a DN Solutions Puma 4100 CNC lathe which was supplied by Puma Machine Tools
“Many companies in manufacturing today have organised themselves into working teams. However, managers have not become coaches but rather managers, while workers have not become players.”
“Traditionally, managers simply dictated employees to do something differently without taking the time to build skills and make the new way of doing things sustainable. When the manager came back around to check, he invariably saw the old way creeping back, and there would be strong words exchanged. We can hardly expect to win hearts and minds in this manner. The coach must be patient, consistent, and empathetic.”
“A lean transformation often involves massive procedural and behavioural changes that require lots of work. How those changes are introduced and reinforced affect how well those changes will be sustained. Good coaching positively engages the person being coached (the learner). It builds capability and understanding about what is important, and it shows how to follow through and consistently perform work to meet business needs. This applies whether the person welds a part, supervises a department, or manages an entire plant.”
“We began our journey two years ago with the appointment of a business coach.”
“The new leaf of life for the company has seen all staff, 55 of us, grow and as a result there has been a huge impact. We hold training sessions every Friday where everyone participates.”
Cliff’s Way Engineering can now boast that they have clients it automotive, transport, mining, defence, rail, medical, hospitality, agriculture, electrical, energy, gas, glass and petroleum industry
In 2015 the company established Cliff’s Way Welding to offer welding and fabrication services. This includes MIG, TIG and Argon welding and hand held plasma cutting up to 30mm plate
“Remember collectively, the team must score for the company to win. Points in this game are represented by profits. The offensive plays are designed to deliver first-to-market innovation, compressed throughput cycles, agility and continuous productivity gains, to name a few. Defensively, it’s about recognising market trends, new materials and technologies that can impact the game plan. Companies that consistently score points win the game.”
“Business coaching is a service where business leaders, owners and managers engage in a personal dialogue with business experts and coaches to expand their business and improve their interpersonal and professional skills.”
“The biggest complement is that our auditors are now considering engaging a business coach.”
For further details contact Cliff’s Way Engineering on TEL 011 824 1784 or visit www.cliffsway.com
