As Keyford moved into the new century it did so with new focus on customer requirements. Working with one of its main customers, Keyford underwent a significant reorganisation of its premises and significant improvements were made to the job control systems, giving better vision of work loading and keeping orders on track.
By 2003 the Pettengale family had passed day to day running of the company over to a management team of three, lead by Steve Denmead. Along with Andy McPherson and Mark Wain, the team had nearly 40 years service with the company between them by that time.
Although this team continues to lead Keyford to this day, the ownership of the company changed in 2007 when a long planned MBO was completed, passing ownership to Steve Denmead and Andy McPherson.
Keyford today is more customer focussed than ever before, using KPI's and multiple feedback systems to continuously monitor performance, identify improvement opportunities and implement change.
Keyford was founded in 1967 by Bert Pettengale with the aim of offering the very best mechanical manufacturing services to the engineering industry. Initially based in the Keyford area of Frome, the company steadily grew from those beginnings, expanding and improving the scope and capacity it offered it's customers.
Wider machining capabilities and fabrication facilities were added during the 1970's and in the early 1980's Alan Pettengale joined his father at Keyford, opening an electronic engineering department within the company.
It was during this period that Keyford successfully took it's first steps into the aerospace ground support equipment sector, gaining a significant customer in the shape of British Airways. This married well into both the established mechanical engineering department and the newly formed electrical and electronics department.
Growth of the company continued and in 1984 the company moved to its present Olympic
House location. Keyford's excellent customer service and reputation lead to the company
securing work from further established names such as GE Aircraft and Rolls-
By this time Keyford was well established as a key supplier to the aerospace industry adding Westland Helicopters (now AugustaWestland) and Westland Industrial Products as customers towards the end of the decade. It also consolidated its service to many local and general engineering customers, offering manufacturing solutions tailored to suit all customers whatever their needs.
With the advent of BS5750, Keyford once again identified the future requirements that customers would demand, and quickly moved towards gaining the approval. The standard itself was evolved into an ISO format and Keyford was approved to the new ISO9002 standard in 1993. Keyford has continuously held an ISO approval ever since and currently holds the latest ISO9001 approval.
During this era the move to CNC equipment began and the first seeds of a management team to take the company forward were sown.
