MRO Supply Partner of Choice
Operations Directors are accountable for output, efficiency, and cost — all at once. MRO supply failure undermines all three. Howcroft builds a deep understanding of your operational requirements before delivering a tailored supply chain solution designed to eliminate supply as a source of risk.
The Howcroft Difference
Most supply problems don't start on the shop floor — they start in procurement decisions made months earlier. Howcroft bridges the gap between purchasing data and operational reality. We work with your engineering and maintenance teams to understand what's genuinely critical, then build a supply model that removes MRO as a variable in your production equation.
Production targets are missed because maintenance teams spend time on emergency responses rather than planned preventative work.
The true cost of MRO — emergency purchases, downtime losses, admin overhead — is spread across multiple budget lines and almost never visible in one place.
Parts availability dictates maintenance schedules rather than the other way around — leaving operations permanently reactive.
Without visibility of what's being consumed, when, and why, it's impossible to identify patterns, reduce waste, or justify investment in reliability.
We map your critical assets, current supply model, and hidden cost sources — identifying inefficiencies that are costing you output and budget.
Automated stock management on your site — consumables, PPE, and critical spares managed automatically so your team focuses on production, not procurement.
Clear visibility of consumption, spend by asset, and cost trends — intelligence to drive maintenance strategy and justify investment decisions.
One relationship spanning bearings, belts, chain, PPE, tools, and consumables — with single accountability and a shared interest in your operational performance.
Plant availability & OEE
Emergency MRO spend
Planned vs reactive maintenance
MRO spend visibility & control
"Howcroft Group are best placed to build a deep understanding of your operational requirements before delivering a tailored supply chain solution to help you achieve your goals. Less firefighting. More output. Supply that works as hard as your team does."
Jake White — Sales Director, Howcroft Group
Customer: Renewi Recycling Centre, Wakefield
"A plant stopper. Critical equipment down. Every hour costs thousands."
Renewi experienced an unexpected critical breakdown requiring a highly specialized sprocket that was not available in their internal spares inventory. This 'plant stopper' event resulted in an immediate, complete operational halt, costing thousands of pounds in production and throughput losses for every hour it remained offline.
Howcroft's response team actively traced the sole UK distributor holding stock of the specific specialized sprocket in Birmingham. They immediately deployed dedicated transit to courier the item straight to the Wakefield facility. The component was delivered in 3 hours, fully installed in 1, limiting total downtime to 4 hours.
£11,000
Downtime Costs Saved
3 Hours
Birmingham to Wakefield
4 Hours
Total Active Downtime
"Howcroft continuously goes above and beyond... from sourcing bespoke bearings/sprockets within the day on emergency breakdowns, to the excellent out of hours service..."
— Mark Barlow, Mechanical Engineer, Renewi
"Howcroft go above and beyond to ensure our plant is as reliable as possible and back operational when the situation is a plant stopper."
— Brad Johnson, Maintenance Manager, Renewi
"Customer service has always been positive and a pleasure... always going above and beyond to find the best prices and provide a rapid delivery service..."
— Liam Pallett, Stores Administrator, Renewi
Not your role? See how Howcroft helps other decision-makers: