Horizon West managing director Aidan Corcoran
Westport, Co Mayo-based manufacturing solutions company Horizon West has experienced strong growth in its first 12 months, thanks to a client-focused approach and the use of cloud technology.
It recently harnessed cloud technology to enhance its existing business framework and successfully implemented IS0 9001:2008, receiving certification in September 2011.
“We feel our unique selling point is our depth of manufacturing knowledge and experience of the team. It’s been garnered across the manufacturing sectors, throughout the value chain over the past 20 years,” said Horizon West managing director Aidan Corcoran.
“Irish manufacturing has come from the days of ‘high-volume non-complex production’ to building complex pieces of equipment which enhance people’s lives. We have seen at first hand the issues and challenges facing manufacturers and start-ups alike.”
A portfolio of solutions
Horizon West offers a portfolio of manufacturing solutions, including quality management, process excellence and engineering project management, and caters for the medical devices, pharmaceutical, biotech and manufacturing industries.
Given that the business of Horizon West is knowledge and delivery of technical skills, two items were identified as key strategic goals for the company to achieve, according to Corcoran.
The first was to obtain the ability to access information easily and quickly across multiple locations to allow for team member collaboration and the second was to structure the company in a way to ensure quality service delivery to clients in a repeatable and robust manner.
Horizon West decided to use cloud-based technology, specifically MS Sharepoint. Given the highly-regulated industry in which the company conducts much of its business, the cloud needed to provide a controlled environment.
“We needed a self-sufficient system which could be managed in-house with minimal financial outlay. Cloud provided this and gave us the flexibility to structure our business systems in a way that suited us,” said engineering manager Lorraine Patridge.
The cloud platform was broken down by department, and into sub-categories – all in line with ISO 9001:2008, allowing Horizon West to manage its quality, finance, project management, business development and operations systems in one location.
Article courtesy of Bizstartup.ie
