WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO:
ABOUT MARINE DATA
Marine Data Systems Limited, a British multi award-winning manufacturer of marine navigation and control systems for civil, defence and government sectors. Our expert design and engineering team tirelessly provide innovative solutions to complex marine navigation system requirements.
Our equipment is proudly fitted to defence naval vessels and submarines of NATO, Gulf States, the Far East and Australasia. Working together with defence agencies and prime contractors for seamless product integration in new build and retrofit projects.
In the commercial sector, our equipment is being used on the cruise ships of the world’s leading leisure and commercial cargo operators - including P&O™, Disney® and A.P.Moller-Maersk.
Marine Data’s quality management system is approved to ISO 9001:2015, which ensures we meet our customers’ extremely high standards - every time. Instrumental to this, is our in-house environmental test facility allowing us to qualify our products to the most rigorous of standards.
We provide Worldwide support for our customers, delivering expert service for all our steering and navigation technology, thus protecting their investment.
From frigates to fishing vessels and from tugs to tankers, Marine Data are the leading supplier of quality navigation systems and integration products, that allow ships to navigate our world safely and efficiently
Awards & Accreditations
Our Values
Marine Data regularly updates local radio, newspapers and online publications e.g. Solent Handbook.com on our business. We are actively engaged with the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce & Business Awards for Excellence with the following results.
- 2007 – Highly Commended – Manufacturing Business category
- 2010 – Highly Commended – International Business category
- 2010 – Winner – Manufacturing Technology Award
- 2011 – Highly Commended – International Business category
- 2012 – Winner - International Business category
- 2013 – Winner – Manufacturing Technology, Small Business categories.
- 2013 – Winner – Isle of Wight Business of the Year
Most of our products are manufactured in our own factory. A limited number of our components are manufactured overseas; companies evaluated and selected are thoroughly vetted by Marine Data technical staff to ensure our standards for both quality of products and the working conditions of employees are applied. These initial evaluations are followed up with annual site visits – reinforced through independent quality inspections using a locally hired inspector such inspections are conducted on an ad-hoc basis.
Marine Data work closely with the Isle of Wight College and have provided mentoring and Industry input for various levels of student activity. We also have an ongoing Apprentice program organised in conjunction with the Isle of Wight College.
Marine Data Systems are Silver Level Sponsors of the Jubilee Sailing Trust having provided free of charge extensive Navigation equipment for their training ship The Lord Nelson. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a registered charity whose mission is to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of sailing tall ships on the open sea.
Marine Data Systems has implemented positive procedures to reduce our energy , for example: all environmental climatic chamber testing activities (the climatic chamber uses significant electricity) are conducted overnight to take advantage of lower tariffs – with the heat generated by the chamber fed back into heat our production areas, thus reducing our overall consumption. In addition we have reviewed and improved our production quality build procedures to reduce the requirement for 100% product testing in the climatic chamber; this review has also resulted in consolidated (batch) testing of products, thereby reducing the running hours of the chamber. All waste cardboard and paper products are separated and recycled as are printer toner cartridges which are collected and recycled by the local supplier.
“Goods In” packaging materials (boxes/bubble wrap etc) are inspected and re used for the packing of components for any manufacturing finishing/painting activity prior to being despatched to our customers. Delivery standard packing is sourced from a local supplier who specialises in biodegradable products. Products returned from service which are assessed as “beyond economical repair” are stripped with materials used being recycled along with manufacturing material waste where applicable. All waste metals from the manufacturing activity are collected and recycled locally.
The company has a policy of “continuous improvement “of our products to reduce waste in manufacturing through efficient design, a review of our best selling ranges, has simplified design and reduced the overall parts count. For example the company selected by Marine Data to conduct its entire screen printing uses UV and lead free inks. We always ensure the best quality work within BS 9001:2008 UK manufacturing approvals.
Marine Data works closely with key suppliers and where practical selects local suppliers, to reduce lines of communication and environmental impact. Through active engagement we encourage open dialogue to ensure “best practice” is identified and both Marine Data and our suppliers and contractors benefit, a recent example of this has been a recommendation from a supplier to move from our traditional wet based paint processes using solvents to one we have now applied to all of our products which is an environmentally friendly plastic powder costing process.
Marine Data actively encourages all staff to engage in the identification and adoption of product and process improvements through formal product design and process reviews and informal forums. Both of these activities have identified improvements to our business and products which all have benefitted from e.g. Co-location of all environmental testing equipment to maximise the use of space and reduce the noise impact within the production areas also improved product identification codes to assist with purchasing and to further reinforce product configuration control. Health and Safety and the well being of our staff are very important as such the business has implemented a Health and Safety policy which actively encourages staff to assess what they do and ensure they pose no hazards to themselves of their colleagues when performing their tasks. Health and Safety is an agenda item at a weekly management meeting where any issues raised are assessed, actions agreed and solutions implemented.
Staff performance is regularly assessed; Marine Data are in the process of implementing a formal performance appraisal process to promote a consistent approach.
Marine Data has worked steadily to enhance the working environment for all staff, providing additional work space, improving lighting and investing in new computer equipment including software packages for CRM – Sage Act, Finance -Sage 50, Design – Solid works and Procurement – Stock IT.
Marine Data have designed and implemented a CRM strategy and rolled out a process across the business within the last year, this has been supported with Sage ACT software in order to monitor and track performance and trends both market and product based. With over 95% of our sales going overseas and repeat purchases in excess of 85% with our existing customers. We also utilise ACT to communicate regular targeted product and business bulletins. We have recently revisited our sales strategy and are working with some long established resellers with a view to appointing them as distributors; we have embarked upon this course of action to ensure the name of “Marine Data” is consistently promoted in our chosen global regions, to provide improved lead times and enhanced support for our customers local to them.
Additionally during the past year we have implemented weekly management reviews chaired by our Managing Director where the status of current orders, special customer projects and customer feedback are reviewed and where appropriate actions placed and progress regularly monitored.