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Naval Systems Assembly
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Naval Systems Assembly

Secure assembly and integration of electronic sub-systems for a naval defence programme.

Industry: Defence Maritime Services: Assembly, Sourcing, Quality Assurance Location: Kilkeel, Northern Ireland

A naval defence systems integrator required a secure, UK-based facility for the assembly and testing of electronic sub-systems destined for a classified maritime programme.

Client Naval Systems Integrator
Sector Defence Maritime
Services Assembly, Sourcing, Quality Assurance
Timeline 36 months
Deliverables Electronic sub-assemblies, Test documentation, Security-cleared facility, Serialised traceability
The Challenge

Client Requirement

The client’s existing supply chain involved over 20 individual vendors across three continents, each with separate purchase orders, quality inspections, and delivery schedules.

This fragmented approach led to inconsistent quality, excessive inventory holding costs, and frequent production line stoppages due to missing components.

RTA was tasked with creating a harmonised solution that would consolidate
sourcing, machining, inspection, kitting, and delivery into a single accountable
programme.

Our Approach

The Solution

Strategy

We mapped the complete bill of materials and identified consolidation opportunities across 200+ part numbers. A phased transition plan was developed to migrate vendors without disrupting production.

Design

Custom kitting configurations were designed to match the client’s assembly sequence, with each kit containing pre-inspected, serialised components ready for immediate line-side deployment.

Execution

Our Kilkeel facility was configured with dedicated machining cells, inspection stations, and bonded storage areas. A kanban-driven replenishment system ensured zero stock-outs while minimising inventory.

Naval Systems Assembly - detail 1
Naval Systems Assembly - detail 1
Results

The outcome

40%
Lead Time Reduction
99.9%
On-Time Delivery
£2.1M
Annual Savings
Zero
Quality Escapes

“RTA transformed our supply chain from a constant
source of risk into a genuine competitive advantage.
Their integrated approach is exactly what we needed.”

James Crawford VP Supply Chain, Major Engine OEM
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