Overview
Backwell IXL is a privately managed Australian organization. The company enjoys a workforce of 200 staff and yearly revenue of approximately $40m. Backwell organization was founded in Geelong in the early 1860s, revamping gold mining equipment and wooden stoves. In the 1900s, the company started making instead of repairing stoves. The organization presently processes a wide of products. These include electric appliances, heaters and its popular bestseller “IXL Tastic” collection, motor vehicle stamping and foundry items. The organization has an array of equipment comprising pressing equipment of between 8-600 tonnes and a transfer pressing equipment of about 400 tonnes.
The company has been a level 1 supplier to the motor vehicle sector for more than 30 years and has won Toyota bronze and silver prizes because of its exemplary quality, distribution and service. Also, Backwell supplies multiple appliances to the refrigeration companies. These appliances comprise heating facilities, combustion cylinders and cooling systems. Backwell IXL in addition produces for a range of other sectors (Mabbett 2011).
Organizational Structure
Organized into 3 departments, the company devises manufactures, imports and markets premium electric gadgets and parts for local, business and industrial utilization. The company’s 19-grounded sales group enables a wide national distribution chain and a committed Australian presence. With its head office in Geelong, the country’s flexible domestic production policy enables the company to rapidly and successfully meet emerging market demands.
In an economical environment, Backwell shines as an inspiration for domestic novelty and proficiency. The company’s widespread chain of stores perfectly positions it to provide a wide range of domestic appliances and its success is because of various factors: its local Engineering division, automated quality check and New Zealand made appliances give Backwell IXL a strong economical advantage (McDonald & Herron 2010).
Company Strategy
Problems for the organization are the same as those found in other Australian companies and involve: inexpensive imports, internationalization, raw resources and labor procedures and cost declines expected by key clients. The organization has realized that lifecycle strategy has offered important benefits and the company has to be legitimately internationally competitive in what it does. It believes the future depends on emerging items, re-engineering current appliances, exports, automation, and realizing reduced costs from constant development. Backwell in addition uses process change, a strategy that aids in lowering material haulage and enhanced production.
The strategy earns the company on average $66,000 per year in terms of savings. Automation has resulted in the eradication of manual processes on some heavy products. This has led to significant cost reductions and health enhancements (Mabbett 2011).
Product Development
The company’s new product creation plan and friendly Australian market dynamics allow Backwell IXL to meet dynamic client needs and demand. A famous selection for years, the company’s brand is known for strict quality levels, inventive design and value for the clients’ money. The company believes the future depends on emerging products, re-developing current appliances, exports, automation, and realizing reduced costs from constant development (Mabbett 2011, p. 53).
Quality Management at IXL
Basically, the company has achieved essential quality certifications like ISO 9000, QS 9000, ISO14001 and keeps on adopting new quality regulations of the day. In turn, the company’s brand has been known for strict quality levels, inventive design and value for money. In addition, the company’s local Engineering division, automated quality check and Australian-based products give Backwell IXL an edge over other manufacturers (McDonald & Herron 2010).
References
Mabbett, G 2011, ‘Manufacturing a sustainable future’, Geelong Business News, vol. 5 no. 1, pp. 37-56.
McDonald, R & Herron, M 2010, IXL manufacturing: supplier quality assurance guide, East Geelong Learning, Australia.