Doosan coming soon
On 22nd March 2022 we will be welcoming our latest acquisition a Doosan 350X 5 axis milling machine.
Read MoreArrival of another Matsuura
On 19th August 2021 we welcomed our newest asset to our collection of Matsuura milling machines. A Matsuura MX520, a 5-axis machining centre was commissioned for use and three members of staff received on-site training. We are looking forward to using such an up to date machine. This full 5 axis machine will enable us to take on more versatile components and reduce machine cycle times.
Read MoreApprentice completes HNC Diploma
Congratulations to Joe our former apprentice, who in July 2021, completed his two year HNC Diploma in mechanical Engineering with merit. We have supported him through the last two years one of which was challenging due to the pandemic, as much of his studying was from home. Well done Joe.
Read MoreApprentice completes 2 year Apprenticeship
Well done to Joe our Apprentice who in 2019 completed his Apprenticeship in mechanical Manufacture with a distinction and the Btec Level 3 Diploma in Engineering with double grade distinction. Joe was very keen to keep increasing his knowledge and we were very happy to support Joe further by enrolling him onto a Mechanical Engineering HNC Diploma (PU) a two-year course starting September 2019 with CEMAST in Fareham. Cemast is a centre of Excellence in engineering, Manufacturing, and advanced skills training. Joe will work four days a week at VRS and attend 1 day at CEMAST
Read MoreWhite Collar Boxing
An unusual and exciting charity event in aid of Cancer Research UK
At VRS there is a history of supporting good causes, and we were delighted to sponsor our apprentice Byron who very bravely put himself forward to take part in a charity boxing evening called White Collar Boxing. Briefly it is where people who have not boxed before put themselves into the ring to face another like-minded individual in aid of charity. This event was in support of Cancer Research UK, a charity that VRS were very happy to support, especially following our MD Serena Sinanan’s own successful fight with cancer over recent years.
Byron sensibly threw himself into an 8-week training programme before he eventually stepped into the ring for his debut contest on Sat 24th March 2018 at the Portsmouth Mountbatten Centre. As he did so he hoped that the exciting experience of stepping through the ropes for the first time would not be matched by flying back out of them halfway through the bout! Pre-fight nerves were made all the more difficult to deal with in having to wait until 9pm for the sound of the bell signalling the start of his scheduled three round contest, each of two minutes duration.
Byron acquitted himself well in the early stages, although at the bell ending round one his opponent seemed to have just edged it. Undeterred, Byron came out fighting in round two and landed some good punches. Sadly, none of his punches matched the smacker which was planted on the end of his nose which knocked him back for a count towards the end of the round but Byron was happy to continue. As we might expect of Byron, he said he was ok to continue in round three, but his corner man had the last word and decided that round three should not go ahead.
Putting himself forward for such an event was a brave thing to do, and we are very proud of his efforts. Byron thoroughly enjoyed the experience. So much so, that he is willing to do it all again if the chance comes his way. Despite losing this one, he enjoyed a friendly chat and a few drinks with his opponent afterwards. Byron raised more than his £200 target, with the whole evening raising around £14500.
VRS have willingly supported charity events over the years in all sorts of ways including sponsorship of individuals, donating prizes for prize draws, and at times organising their own fund raising events in conjunction with Fareham Snooker Club next door.
Apprentice Starts September 2017
It has long been company policy here at VRS to support the future of mechanical engineering through apprenticeships, and we are happy to welcome into the company Joe, who started with us on 18th September 2017. He comes to us via PETA Training and Consultancy Services, with whom we have had a long and successful association over many years. Joe joined us at level 3 of his “Engineering Mechanical Manufacture” apprenticeship, and his weekly routine is four days at VRS and one day with PETA.
As we see one young lad start his training, we have another, Byron, nearing the end of his, and with his PETA day release training successfully completed, we expect him to become fully qualified following a few more tests, by August 2018.
We also continue to support young people over the years who have an interest in engineering by allowing them to gain an insight into precision engineering through work experience.
Read MoreISO 9001:2015 successfully achieved
We are pleased to advise that we have successfully achieved accreditation to the updated quality standard ISO 9001:2015. This follows a year of transition, during which time we have taken the opportunity to review all our operations and updated our procedures and processes to reflect robust compliance with both new and existing elements of the standard. We are delighted to be one of the first organisations to have completed this work and our certificate has been awarded, some 18 months earlier than the ISO permissible time frame We would like to take this opportunity to thank Liz Kelly, our business and quality consultant whose knowledge and experience has helped us all to adapt to the requirements of the revised standard and the different approach that is required in certain areas.
We hope that all our customers and suppliers will see the benefits of the effort that has been put into this achievement as we continue to enhance the monitoring and control of all our activities and maintain our commitment to continuous improvement.
Looking ahead
We have now also given ourselves another challenge as we commence work to achieve Fit for Nuclear status. We hope to achieve this within the next 18 months-2 years. The Fit for Nuclear requirements are extensive and involve a highly robust and deeper review of all our operational manufacturing and associated processes. Our intention is to consult with and involve members of staff at every level and at all stages of the programme, providing opportunity for additional responsibility and engagement throughout the team. Further improvements will naturally enhance the excellent quality that we already provide to our existing customers and enable us to explore new markets as a result of increased capability and capacity
Read MoreEarly Transition to new Quality Standard ISO 9001:2015
At VRS we have always been proud of our commitment to quality and achieving the highest standards in everything we do. We have operated an externally accredited quality system to ISO9001:2008 for a number of years and were excited to learn of the new developments in the revised standard (now ISO9001:2015) published in September 2015.
We immediately took a pro-active approach to review all of our processes and enhance our systems to comply with the new requirements and have been working on this transition throughout 2016. As a result, we now have a fully process-based approach to all our operations together with enhanced risk management. In addition we have reviewed the requirements of our customers and other interested parties to further enhance communication and collaboration and have taken the opportunity to review our structure, capability and strategic planning to ensure that we remain best placed to provide an optimum service to meet the needs of current and future customers.
In March of 2017 we have scheduled a readiness review with our external auditor (BSI) with a view to achieving full accreditation of compliance with ISO9001:2015 in June of this year. Assuming that all goes to plan, our policy of early transition means that VRS will be one of the first organisations to achieve certification under the revised standard and this, some 18 months ahead of the mandatory transition timescale.
Read MoreSea Vixen parts manufactured
It was a privilege to be asked to participate in the Sea Vixen XP 924 project and Serena Sinanan (Managing Director) is delighted to be included and is really looking forward to seeing it fly at the Bournemouth Air Festival 2015 in August where she will be on the SS Shieldhall Steamship in the Solent. William Collins the Production Manager at VRS volunteers as a 2nd engineer on the ship.
Keith Copus from the Sea Vixen team emailed to us the following:
“A series of successful test flights and at the Yeovilton Air Day, at which G-CVIX flew two public displays. This marked the return of the A/C to fly from her original home base, going back to the 1960/70’s
The Sea Vixen Team have overcome many hurdles with the valuable assistance of yourselves at VRS, 1710 Naval Air Squadron who repaired the port aileron and designed a modified lug for the fuel bay doors. SES in Kemble, who serviced the A/C ejection seats. Without this level of support we could not have made G-CVIX airworthy. We now feel confident that G-CVIX is sustainable operationally.”
Thank you to John Fennell a Deck Hand Volunteer, who works with William on the SS Shieldhall, as he has provided us with the great photos of the Sea Vixen.
Apprentice completes first year
As part of VRS Precision Engineering strategy of investing in people we support the employment of apprentices.
Byron Deacon who started with us as an apprentice CNC Programmer/Setter and Operator in September 2014 has just completed his first year. We are really pleased with Byron’s progress both within the company and at PETA. After a successful year Byron will shortly be starting a level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Technology (QCF).
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