The Taylor Group A

This is the first of a two-case series (397-047-1 and 397-048-1). This case illustrates a classic business situation. The Robert Taylor family business had developed over a period of fifty years or more within one of the most traditional sectors in the economy. The ironfounding sector was highly dependent on its industrial customers. The recession that hit the UK engineering industry in the mid to late 1970s, and beyond, decimated engineering companies. In turn ironfounding businesses closed in record numbers. The Robert Taylor foundries had attempted to keep up with modern methods of producing their product and had moved into iron alloys. The business was the first iron foundry in Scotland to achieve BS5750. However, the nature of the external environment demanded more. The family and the business had to adapt and change to survive. The Taylor Group (A) case study indicates the steps taken to give this business a future.