How We Help
Our Partnership Approach
We support ZIP by bringing a practical approach to the complex and evolving engineering work.
ZIP’s projects do not always follow a neat, linear path. The products are technically demanding, the requirements can change as field learning comes through, and the work often involves a degree of uncertainty. Rather than treating imperfect information as a barrier, our team work with ZIP to understand what matters, create order where needed, and keep the work moving.
When developing a new product, John says
“ASL had a really strong can-do attitude. They were able to accept that some of the work was still evolving, but they could see through that, help bring order to it, and support us to become more systemised without forcing process where it wasn’t going to add value.”
– John Wilks
Collaborative Engineering
ASL also help by staying close to the build process and feeding practical manufacturing insight back to ZIP. This includes support across PCB assembly, final assembly and manufacturing optimisation to help ensure products can be built efficiently and reliably
John says he does not want a supplier relationship where designs are simply handed over and manufactured in isolation. Because the products are complex, and because small design or assembly choices can have a significant impact on build time, cost and repeatability, John wants open communication around what is working well and what can be improved.
That approach aligns with ASL's DNA: raising issues early, rather than working around them in the background. So, if an assembly step was more difficult than it needed to be, or if a small change could make the product faster or easier to build, we shared our thinking with John.
For ZIP, this created a more connected way of working. Engineering and manufacturing were not treated as separate stages, but as parts of the same process, with both teams contributing to a better result.
“ZIP have always had the view that we’re in this together. We’re not just throwing designs over the fence. We want to stay connected to the process, and ASL have been good at keeping that conversation open.”
- John Wilks
A high-trust way of working
Over time, the relationship between ZIP and ASL has developed into a high-trust way of working, where both teams understand how the other operates and what is needed to keep work moving.
For John, this has made the relationship easier to manage. Compared with a more transactional supplier arrangement, the long-standing relationship with ASL has reduced the day-to-day effort required to keep work moving, while still giving ZIP confidence that decisions are being handled carefully. Verbal instructions can be acted on where appropriate, with documentation following when it is needed for clarity, traceability or record-keeping.
John says,
“Our high-trust relationship counts for a lot. It means we can make decisions quickly when we need to and put the time into communication and documentation where it adds value.”
Continuity on the production floor
Integral to our long partnership with ZIP, has been the continuity of our people working on ZIP’s products.
For John, that matters because ZIP’s products are not always straightforward assemblies. Even with good documentation, there is practical knowledge that builds when the same people work on a product repeatedly. They understand the small details, the order of assembly and the points that need care.
At ASL we have dedicated a couple of our team to ZIP’s work to build and preserve that knowledge. This reduces retraining and has been very important to John for maintaining a strong relationship and protecting build quality.
And John says this makes a difference to them:
“One of the things you notice with ASL is that it seems to be a really happy place to work. That might sound a bit airy-fairy, but it has real implications for us. A stable workforce becomes skilled in your work. That continuity really matters.
