A STOKESLEY firm has become only the 27th British company to receive a rigorous award for excellence.

Analox Military Systems has earned the SC21 Silver Award for delivering 99.8 per cent of orders “right first time” and 97.8 per cent “on time” to customers over the past 12 months.

It also scored highly for business and manufacturing excellence and for continuous business improvement.

AMS joined the SC21 programme – a military-led programme to improve UK supply chain competitiveness – in December 2010, and has since worked consistently to implement improvements throughout the company.

The Silver Award will be presented to AMS at the Farnborough International Airshow in July by ADS, the premier trade organisation for the UK Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries.

Craig Baker, AMS quality and HSE manager, said the award had required significant commitment to improving every area of the business by all in the company.

“Our achievements in the SC21 programme are recognised in the UK military sector, and are helping us to win commissions. Overseas clients may be less familiar with the scheme, but appreciate the levels of achievement we have shown, and so our reputation as an exporter continues to grow.”

The same standards had been implemented throughout the whole Analox group. “As a result, they are helping us win business in every commercial sector we serve, as well as with military clients,” he said.

The company now aims to secure the SC21 Gold Award within two years.

It requires performance levels in excess of 99 per cent “on time” deliveries, and more than 99.9 per cent of “right first time” orders.

To date, only two British companies have earned Gold.

Mr Baker said: “It would be a huge challenge for any SME, but at AMS we have the foundations in place and everyone, from directors down, is committed to continuing our improvement each day.”