Listen to customers -don't re-invent wheels

摘要

Halifax-based medical equipment manufacturer Sidhil has taken a leap ahead of its competitors by completely re-thinking its design philosophy and processes, resulting in a new range of community care beds. The new Aqualite beds were delivered to market in half the time it normally takes the firm to launch traditional beds - just nine months from initial design sketches to first-off production. Sidhil designs and manufactures a diverse range of medical equipment. Its main source of revenue comes from hospital, nursing home and community care beds, but it also sells hospital trolleys, cabinets, first aid boxes, scooters and powered wheelchairs. There are 100 employees at the Halifax site, around 50 in manufacturing-related activities and a design team of six. The company, which is owned by the Siddall and Hilton group, turns over ￡9m a year.