In the two years since Ed Williams was appointed as managing director of Stuga Machinery, the company is said to have undergone a ‘significant transformation’, thanks to a focus on modernising the business, streamlining operations, and enhancing service efficiency.

With almost 30 years of experience across sectors including food, beverage and pharmaceutical packaging, automation and project management, Ed says he has introduced a multidisciplinary approach to the 40-year-old, UK-based enterprise.

“Stuga already had a great reputation and an exceptional product offering,” he explained. “My focus was on optimising internal processes, simplifying complex tasks to increase our productivity and building on an already standout level of service for our customers, so we can continue to leading the market.”

One of the key changes Ed introduced was creating new management roles to head up service, production and sales; with these additions designed to provide a stronger focus on business-development and freeing up resources for internal improvements. This shift also followed Stuga’s acquisition by Stürtz Maschinenbau GmbH, which provided additional management oversight, enhanced individual functions, and a wider talent pool.

In production, Ed explains that he worked with the team to introduce clear work instructions, alongside an overhaul and reorganisation of the shop floor. This is said to have resulted in more consistent machine assembly; having well-defined work-instructions to allow for smoother onboarding of new staff, and much greater efficiency.

Additionally, the stores and procurement processes were overhauled, significantly reducing parts costs by the introduction of KPIs for Stuga’s 30-year-old supply chain partners; improving delivery time and further improving product quality.

Looking ahead, Ed says that he is looking to explore more advanced automation in manufacturing.

“I’ve watched automated solutions transform businesses and revenues, particularly in the food sector, and the potential of properly harnessing automation cannot be ignored.

“At Stuga, we are exploring ways to integrate advanced automation into our systems to boost efficiency, cut costs, and enhance quality. It’s all about simplifying complex tasks that ultimately benefit our customers, while ensuring we stay at the forefront of the industry – an initiative that’s also at the core of our CNC, welding and corner cleaning technology.”