MIY Factory Tour: OE Electrics

Where: OE House, Calder Park, Thomas Maddison Ln, Durkar, Wakefield WF4 3GH
When: 9:00am - 11:30am

Overview

OE Electrics has been on a remarkable journey of transformation in recent years, reshaping how its Wakefield factory operates to create space for growth, improve flow and unlock capacity. What was once a “full” facility has been re-engineered to fit operations into 30% less space while actually increasing capacity, effectively doubling the revenue potential of key areas without the need for costly extensions.

Productivity gains have been equally striking. A complete overhaul of the picking process delivered a 280% uplift with a payback in under two weeks, while thousands of wasted labour hours have been engineered out each year through smarter layouts and process improvements. Inventory has been reduced by nearly £2m, freeing up working capital, and on-time delivery performance has climbed to world-class levels of 98–99%.

This factory tour will give you an inside look at the changes behind those numbers. You’ll see how operational flow has been redesigned, how resistance on the shop floor was turned into collaboration, and how a culture of continuous improvement is driving results that are both measurable and sustainable.

Agenda

• 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM: Registration, breakfast, and networking

• 9:45 AM – 10:15 AM: Welcome & introduction - OE’s journey and key milestones

• 10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Guided factory tour in groups

• 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Panel discussion and Q&A: operational improvement, culture transformation journey and lessons learned

• 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM: Relaxed networking and event conclusion.

Members who attend will gain:

• First-hand insight into factory re-engineering – see how OE compressed operations into 30% less space while unlocking new capacity.

• Examples of high-impact change at low cost – from a £20k picking system that paid back in under two weeks to simple layout shifts that doubled revenue potential in key areas.

• A practical look at continuous improvement in action – understand how thousands of labour hours were eliminated each year through smarter processes.

• Lessons in building trust on the shop floor – discover how early resistance turned into ownership and advocacy among operators.

• Transferable ideas for resilience – hear how OE has improved on-time delivery to 98–99% and released nearly £2m in working capital, and what that means for long-term growth.