News
Not only does MAS-WM provide first class advice and support for manufacturers in the West Midlands, we also regularly provides a manufacturing viewpoint to the media, both regionally and nationally.
Our most recently published press releases are listed below, for more information about MAS-WM and the media, please contact Michelle Trew our Marketing Coordinator on
01902 838319 or email Michelle Trew
News Headlines
17/04/2008 Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd talk openly about Manufacturing Competitively in the UK
17/04/2008 PP share their Manufacturing Strategy for the 21st Century
14/04/2008 New online tool gives West Midlands Businesses clear picture of their environmental impact
13/03/2008 Envirowise Calls On West Midlands Manufacturers to Prioritise Sustainability
30/02/2008 2000 budding manufacturers set to benefit from world class factory visits
30/01/2008 Liam Bryne launches West Midlands Manufacturing Support Strategy
04/01/2008 THE MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2008 - Have you entered yet?
24/01/2008 Stephen Timms announces new London 2012 'CompeteFor' service
23/01/2008 C.Brandauer Best Practice Visit provides insight into success
21/01/2008 IRIS Accreditation Helps Hepworth Look to the Future
Secure IT Disposals - Confident cash injection ensures new jobs and the technological edge for Birmingham business
A Birmingham data security firm is crunching all the right numbers following a major expansion, which has quadrupled production and created 10 jobs in the process.
With assistance from the Manufacturing Advisory Service - West Midlands (MAS-WM), Secure IT Disposal Ltd has invested in excess of £1.25m to move to a much-needed 12,500 sq ft plant just miles from its former Digbeth premises.
In order to make the relocation as smooth as possible, Andrew Speedie called in the experts to help:
“We had to move into new premises very quickly because, for several reasons, it became untenable to stay where we were,” he said.
“To make this happen we approached MAS-WM for advice. With their help, we were able to secure our present site and the organisation also provided an architect to map out the logistics of the move which, crucially, involved installing a huge track to allow us to move to an automated transfer system.
“We bought the kit a few months ago but it’s been sitting in storage until we had space to install it. Now we have the room it’s making all the difference. We’re working much faster and more efficiently, although the more intricate work will still need to be done manually.”
He added: “As well as creating 10 extra jobs, the move and the new track line means we can increase our output from 150,000 items to 750,000 a year - which obviously has a big impact on turnover, standing at just over £1m.”
Secure IT Disposals deals with data and can recycle the information-storing machines themselves. With close instruction from the client, data is removed and changes secured as quickly as required.
An auditing service is also available and anything left over from machine refurbishment is itself recycled – nothing goes to landfill.
A typical day can start at 5am for the firm’s lorry drivers, who leave the depot to collect the order and bring it back for the technical team to work on.
Andrew concluded: “Protecting information stored on computers and other machinery is becoming increasingly important and more and more companies realise that. Lost and unprotected data in many cases can mean the success or failure of a business.
“I started the business alone in 1996 and since then the company has evolved and expanded to the stage where we now have 34 employees.”
The firm doesn’t just deal with computers though and among the more surprising projects underway is an order to work on polygraph machines (lie detectors), as well as scanners and other hi-tech equipment.
Secure IT Disposals invested £1.25m in the relocation and has contracts with local authorities, including Birmingham City Council, Universities and the Police.
MAS-WM Adviser Martin McKeever said now the project had been completed the future was looking even brighter for the data protection experts.
“Secure IT Disposals contacted us for advice after they announced they had to relocate to new premises quite quickly,” he said.
“We arranged for an engineer to look at the new equipment and for an architect to draw up the plans to make sure the track line fitted into the new plant.
“There were a few teething troubles which can often happen in large-scale relocations but once that everything was in place, it became immediately evident the company was, and is, better organised with essential new equipment, more staff and more space.”
Funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM), MAS-WM addresses the practical needs of manufacturers by delivering advice and business support through specialist manufacturing advisors and a network of expert associates.
Do you require support to develop you business overseas or allow you to tap into International markets or export?
Would you define your business as working within one of the following sectors?
- · MANUFACTURING - PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
- · AUTOMATIVE
- · METAL
- · RUBBER
- · ELECTRICAL
- · ENGINEEERING
- · METAL PRODUCTION / FABRICATION
- · ENGINEERING SUPPLY CHAIN: AUTOMATIVE, WHITE GOODS, CERAMICS, AEROSPACE, MACHINE TOOLS, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
- · CERAMICS
- · TABLEWARE
- · ORNAMENT
- · TILES
- · SANITARY WARE
If the answer is yes then you could be eligible to receive mentoring support and a grant of up to £200
Please contact to find out more and see how you can access this funding on
02476 792452
or email
lmarjoram@cad.coventry.ac.uk
Louise Marjoram
Senior Project Manager
Coventry University Enterprises Ltd
The Technocentre, Puma Way, Coventry CV1 2TT
Tel: 024 7679 2452
Mobile: 0797 498 4283
www.businessenterpriseworks.org
www.coventry.ac.uk www.cutp.co.uk
Dragons’ Den continues to offer entrepreneurs from across the country the chance to make their business dreams come true. If you’re genuinely seeking investment for your business idea or invention, we’d like to hear from you.
In the most recent series, 15 entrepreneurs received offers of investment in the Den, and plenty more have gone on to find success even without the backing of the dragons.
Previously on Dragons’ Den, Imran Hakim pitched his iTeddy, a teddy bear with an integrated multi-media player, securing an investment of £140,000 from Theo Paphitis and Peter Jones. With the Dragons’ investment and expertise, the iTeddy became one of Argos’ top three selling toys of Christmas 2007 and Imran has recently signed a multi-million pound deal with the UK’s number 1 toy and game distributor.
Brixton based Levi Roots secured an investment of £50,000 for his secret recipe, Reggae Reggae Sauce. Just 3 ½ weeks after his appearance on the programme, his sauce launched in Sainsbury’s’ stores nationwide - and with the help of Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh he now claims to have sold more than a million bottles of his hot sauce.
And only a few months ago, Peter Moule received an investment of £150,000 from James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne for his ‘choc-box’, a simple plastic housing that protects cable connections. Within weeks, the Dragons helped ramp up production from one million to three million units per year, enabling him to secure him a five-year deal with a multi-national distributor which has the resources to export to 150 countries.
Of course, not everyone secures investment in the Den, but plenty go on to find success. After a really tough time in front of the dragons, Rob Law went on to rapidly grow his company – he’s now sold over 120,000 Trunkis. His ‘luggage for little people’ haswon numerous awards and the product is available in over 30 countries worldwide.
The Dragons also chose not back Anne Hempstock’s Chocolate Orange Cream Liqueur, Cream Cutie. Nevertheless, it’s now available in 33 branches of Asda-Walmart in Scotland and she plans to launch a new drink in the range, ‘Fruitie Cutie’ over the next few months.
The rules are simple: entrepreneurs can ask for any amount of investment in return for equity in their business. However, they must get the amount they ask for or they will walk away with nothing. The Dragons are prepared to listen to a pitch for any kind of business but they must be convinced that it will make money.
As demonstrated by the investments in the last four series, ideas, businesses and products that meet some or all of the following criteria stand a good chance of securing the Dragons’ interest:
- The Unique Selling Point: a product that serves a need like nothing else.
- Scalability: something that can be up scaled to make real money.
- Route to Market: the clear way the product can be sold and marketed.
- Mutually Beneficial Arrangement: just what will the Dragons get out of it?
- Exit Strategy: a plan of how the entrepreneur/Dragon will exit and make money.
The BBC is currently searching for Britain’s best entrepreneurs and will be auditioning throughout the coming months. We want to hear from anyone who thinks they’ve got what it takes to enter the Dragons’ Den.
If you would like an application form please click here, or send an e-mail to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk, telephone 0871 200 3003 (Calls cost 10p per minute from a BT Landline, other operators and mobiles may be higher) or visit www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden
Did you know that almost a third of businesses in the West Midlands think they can only devote an hour a week or less to taking action on environmental issues?*
To help local businesses embrace resource efficiency and take action on the environment when they have little time to spare, Envirowise has launched a new online tool. The Envirowise Publications Wizard is a new means of searching for information on sustainability in the quickest and most efficient manner possible.
There are currently 620 publications available on the Envirowise website containing advice and information to help businesses of all sizes and sectors address their environmental impact. The Publications Wizard contains carefully selected information derived from these publications.
To help businesses access the information, the new tool allows users to select specific topics and issues that are relevant to them from a list of options. Once all the options have been chosen the site will then allow businesses to create a tailor-made PDF document.
There are a number of benefits in companies taking advantage of the new Publications Wizard:
- · Users can easily select the information relevant to their business rather than searching through a vast database of publications.
- · Users can create PDF documents specifically tailored to their requirements; ideal for retrieving information as quickly as possible.
- · Users can also personalise their documents by adding in their name & company name – something that will prove very useful for future presentations and will allow them to take ‘ownership’ of the document.
- · By streamlining their search, business can ensure that they spend less time searching for information and more time actually taking action on environmental issues.
- · Documents can be used to educate staff on specific ways they can make a positive step towards resource efficiency.
To access the wide range of documents available and to try out the Envirowise Publications Wizard businesses can simply visit: http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/publications.
Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd talk openly about Manufacturing Competitively in the UK
In March 2008, Inside Manufacturing Enterprise offered businesses in the region the opportunity to visit Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd based in Worcester as part of their business to business programme. 20 delegates were given the opportunity to learn more about Mazak's approach to 'Manufacturing Competitively in the UK through Continuous Investment' at their European Manufacturing Plant and European headquarters in Worcester.
Mazak is the world’s largest manufacturer of CNC metal cutting machine tools and manufacturing systems and was the first Japanese machine tool builder to establish a manufacturing facility in Europe that handled all manufacturing operations from raw materials to finished product. This plant is currently the most advanced of its type in Europe, providing machine tools and sophisticated manufacturing systems to customers in more than 30 countries throughout Europe.
The European Manufacturing plant in Worcester was opened in 1987 with an initial output of 32 machines per month and 62 employees. There has been repeated additional investment in the new plant, equipment, facilities and people. Following a further extension in June 2007 the new official capacity of 150 machine tools per month has already been exceeded, with a new record output of 166 machines in October 2007. Mazak has a policy of continuously investing in its factories worldwide.
IME delegates were offered the opportunity to see how Mazak uses its own technology in conjunction with a highly skilled but flexible workforce to enable it to successfully compete in an extremely competitive but cyclical market. During the ½ day visit presentations were given by Dr Damien Cleugh, Marketing Manager and Richard Austin, Yamazaki Mazak's general manager-direct production as well as a full accompanied site tour. The visiting companies found this allowed them to not only witness firsthand how successful business operates but also enabled them to question the actual workforce and managers.
Delegate comments from the day include:
- I think the value of the visit is in the day itself-which was excellently delivered,
- good insight to the Mazak ethos,
- the speakers view was of extreme value and gave warts and all,
- extremely open and informative-well done.
Yamazaki Mazak Uk Ltd have supported the Inside Manufacturing Enterprise programme since its early days and are keen to encourage other companies within the region to share their experiences also.
"We were delighted to once again welcome guests from Inside Manufacturing Enterprise to see Mazak's European Manufacturing plant in Worcester and to share some of our experience with the delegates. We also found the day to be a useful and interesting way to exchange ideas and experiences with other colleagues from manufacturing industry."
Dr Damien Cleugh- European Marketing Manager
For more information on the IME Business to Business visit or the benefits of becoming a host company please contact the IME team on 024 7623 6861 or email Michelle at m.connors@cad.coventry.ac.uk or visit the MAS-WM website.
PP share their Manufacturing Strategy for the 21st Century
PP Electrical Systems Ltd opened their doors to 12 delegates as part of the IME business to business visit programme. The visit was organised to support the 'Manufacturing strategies for the 21st Century' workshop offered by MAS-WM in March as part of their series of Best Practice Manufacturing Workshops. Designed to support the theory learnt in the workshop, PP were an ideal host for the visit as they can demonstrate their successful application of the theory throughout their factory.
Established in 1967, PP has developed into one of the World's largest manufacturers of electrical assemblies. Having trebled their turnover in the last 6 years, and with large modern premises coupled with a highly skilled staff of 180+, they provide World-class solutions in varying aspects of business from Design for Manufacture to Just in Time delivery.
During the visit PP focused on four areas which have been key to their success which included moving up the supply chain, adding value to the supply chain, people development and quality. These areas were reinforced in every element of the visit and are clearly visible throughout the factory.
Gurjit Kang, PP’s Excellence School Leader added the following:
“Creating a vibrant culture of continuous improvement has transformed our business from a local panel supplier to a global provider of strategic productivity solutions. We’ve recruited attitude and then trained skills through our very own in-house training facility – ultimately the key to our success”
Following a detailed presentation on the subject, delegates were offered the opportunity to walk around the shop floor with a member of the PP team to look at the application of their strategies in more detail. Each delegate was able to talk directly to staff members and no area or subject was off limits.
Delegate comments from the day include:
- Well presented and extremely useful,
- it has reinforced my need to extend training,
- most useful was to understand the approach adopted and how things have worked out for PP,
- there was a really important focus on culture, training and sustaining improvements which was most useful.
Future visits to PP.
PP will be opening their doors to Inside Manufacturing Enterprise again on Tuesday 10th June 2008 for a Best Practice visit. For more information or to book a place please contact Michelle Connors at mconnors@cad.coventry.ac.uk
For more information on the IME Business to Business visit or the benefits of becoming a host company please contact the IME team on 024 7623 6861 or email Michelle at m.connors@cad.coventry.ac.uk or visit the MAS-WM website.
New online tool gives West Midlands Businesses clear picture of their environmental impact
Sustainable business expert Envirowise is calling on West Midlands businesses to try out its new web-based environmental impact measurement tool.
The Envirowise Indicator allows all of the region’s businesses, irrespective of their size or industry sector, to gain a useful indication of their company’s environmental impact – and the potential financial savings that can be made by reducing it.
By entering basic data on raw material and utility use, companies are given a visual illustration of the equivalent carbon dioxide emissions generated by these activities. Firms can therefore see which aspects of their business have the biggest CO2 impact – and plan in appropriate actions to address this as a result.
A separate screen gives an at-a-glance view of which resources represent the largest cost to the business. And at any time, firms can make easy amendments to the data they have entered online to see the resulting financial and environmental impacts.
Commenting on the launch of the Indicator, John Barraclough, Envirowise Regional Manager for the West Midlands, commented: “Each company in the region will know that they use a range of different resources on a day-to-day basis, but what they may not be so aware of is the extent to which each of these resources – be it gas used in heating or packaging cardboard – has a clear environmental impact.
“Envirowise aims to put the sustainable use of resources at the heart of UK business. There are several eco indicator and calculator tools out there but ours analyses the full picture by considering resource inputs and resulting waste volumes. By using the tool, local businesses are not only able to better understand their own environmental impact and the potential savings they can make, but also help develop the tool for others to benefit from.”
Companies can access the Indicator free of charge by visiting www.envirowise.gov.uk/Indicator, where a videocast is available to help guide users through using the tool. Guidance on all aspects of resource efficiency can be obtained by calling the Envirowise adviceline on 0800 585 794.
Envirowise Calls On West Midlands Manufacturers to Prioritise Sustainability
Local businesses attending Midlands Manufacturing 2008 are being urged to consider the business benefits of resource efficiency – by visiting Envirowise on Stand D25.
Persistent rises in energy and raw material costs coupled with an uncertain economic outlook has put UK manufacturers under increased pressure. However, good environmental practice could unlock savings of as much as £1,000 per employee.
For example, Telford-based automotive products manufacturer, DENSO Manufacturing UK, recently secured considerable financial savings as a result of taking action to cut waste and improve resource efficiency.
Having already met a self-imposed target of zero waste to landfill through recycling (95%) and the use of an energy-from-waste facility (5%), the company turned its attention to maximising onsite resource use. Key successes include around £100K savings over two years through the re-use and re-sale of pallets and a £5K reduction in hazardous waste disposal costs by switching from single-use tissues to re-usable machinery wipes. In addition, DENSO has identified an opportunity to cut costs by 50 per cent simply by changing the way in which lubricating oil is delivered and stored.
John Barraclough, Envirowise Regional Manager for the West Midlands, said: “DENSO’s experiences demonstrate how straightforward changes can help companies to save money. I encourage businesses to visit the Envirowise stand during this event for free advice and information on all aspects of resource efficiency.”
Midlands Manufacturing takes place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry from 18 to 19 March, and details can be found at www.industry.co.uk/Midlands. For more information on Envirowise, visit www.envirowise.gov.uk or call the confidential Envirowise Advice Line on 0800 585 794.
2000 budding manufacturers set to benefit from world class factory visits
Over 2000 students from across the West Midlands are set to receive an interactive insight into lean manufacturing, ‘six sigma’ and ‘kaizan’ thanks to the continued roll-out of Inside Manufacturing Enterprise (IME).
The educational visit programme, which offers a unique opportunity to see best practice manufacturing by touring some of the best factories in the world, has reinforced its commitment to getting young people into industry by launching its next year of activity at Yamazaki Mazak UK in Worcester.
Co-ordinated by Coventry University Enterprises on behalf of the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands, the initiative is a fantastic way for pupils, tutors and teachers to see how companies operate in the 21st century, the skills involved and the career opportunities available to them.
Michelle Connors, IME Project Assistant, picked up the story:
“We are currently seeing a major skills shortage in manufacturing, so there is a genuine need to showcase the sector as a viable and potential source of employment.
“Since launching in 2003, we have helped over 2000 students and teachers and enlisted support of more than 40 companies, including the likes of JCB, Jaguar, The Cheese Company, Caterpillar and Ricoh.”
She continued: “It is fantastic that we can celebrate our fifth birthday with the news that Advantage West Midlands are continuing to fund the project and that, importantly, we are going to stage 180 unique visits, involving 100 schools and over 2000 budding engineers over the next three years.”
The latest event at Yamazaki Mazak was used to highlight the importance of the Inside Manufacturing Enterprise programme and featured addresses from the host company and David Wright, Chief Executive of the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands.
Six schools, including Cockshut Hill College in Yardley, also shared the knowledge and experiences they have gained from taking part in the initiative.
Michelle continued: “We have been working with Yamazaki Mazak for five years and it is a great supporter of developing young talent.
“Its factory, the first Japanese machine building facility to be built in Europe, is currently the most advanced of its type and provides machine tools and sophisticated manufacturing systems to customers in more than 30 countries. A prefect venue to kick-start the next year of activity!”
Inside Manufacturing Enterprise provides an excellent resource for students and staff involved in manufacturing, engineering, design and technology courses, not to mention directly supporting the new Specialist Diplomas due to be implemented in September this year.
All of the companies taking part are leaders in their field and the visits are structured in line with the curriculum, with students able to experience work related learning, knowledge of production methods, first hand insight into latest engineering processes and information on careers and pathways.
Manufacturing specialists also provide teaching input in the lead-up and during every tour, which is already proving invaluable.
MAS-WM’s David Wright added his support: “The existing workforce is getting older and we have to do everything we can to put manufacturing on the educational radar and encourage young people to consider it as a career.”
He concluded: “Changing perceptions and creating a more positive image of industry is essential and there is no better way of doing this than by taking pupils into world class factories and letting them judge for themselves what the sector is like.”
To find our more, please contact Michelle Connors on 02476 236861 or visit www.ime-wm.co.uk
Liam Bryne launches West Midlands Manufacturing Support Strategy
The West Midlands Manufacturing Support Strategy aimed at boosting skills and creating scores of new jobs in the region was launched on Monday by the Minister for the West Midlands Liam Byrne.
Liam Byrne said:
“Manufacturing is vital to the West Midlands. It is a major contributor to productivity growth and a lead driver of innovation. It is therefore essential that there is a strategy which recognises the issues for manufacturing and that aligns the support which will help sustain and grow manufacturing in the region, minimising duplication, maximising the opportunities for joint working and providing the basis for future initiatives.
THE MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2008 - Have you entered yet?
The Manufacturing Excellence Awards programme is the premier annual award scheme for the UK manufacturing industry, supporting and recognising manufacturing success. MX not only seeks to recognise the very best of UK manufacturing but every company that enters receives a free confidential benchmark report. This report compares your procedures and processes to best practice and highlights areas for improvement.
Entry is free because the Awards are supported by the leading names in the Manufacturing Industry. More information on the MX Awards Partners and Sponsors can be found at: www.mxawards.org/partandsponsors
There are 13 awards and you may enter as many or few categories as you wish:
• PricewaterhouseCoopers Award for Customer Focus
• Autodesk Award for Product Innovation
• InnovationXchange IXC UK Award for Process Innovation
• Warwick Manufacturing Group Award for Logistics and Resource Efficiency
• DMG Award for Business Development & Change Management
• Professional Engineering Award for People Effectiveness
• BP Award for Best Partnership between Business and Education
• National B2B Centre Award for Integrated e-Business
• Barclays Award for Financial Management
• UKRC Award for Diversity and Inclusion
• Arup Award for Sustainable Manufacturing
• IMechE Award for Manufacturing Excellence Best Small or Medium Enterprise
• BERR Manufacturing Advisory Service Award for Manufacturing Excellence Overall Winner
The deadline for entry is 29 February 2008 so enter now by visiting www.mxawards.org/entry
On receipt of your Entry Form we will send you the Self Assessment Audit, along with advice and guidance documentation. The Audit is self explanatory but if you have any questions we have Mentors available to guide you through the process of completing the SAA.
If you have any additional questions please contact or you would like more information contact:
Paul Terry - MX Awards Project Manager
T: 020 7304 6867
Hazel Morgan - MX Awards Project Assistant
T: 020 7304 6859
'The race is on for Midlands Manufactuers' - Stephen Timms announces new London 2012 'CompeteFor' service
CompeteFor Initiative – Giving businesses unique access to London 2012 opportunities
At the Taking Business Beyond 2012 - BERR Conference held Thursday 24th January 2008 Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Competitiveness at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, announced a new initiative to assist businesses looking for procurement opportunities in London 2012
The CompeteFor website is the chosen site of London 2012 for the publication of Games-related contract opportunities, acting as a brokerage service between buyers throughout the London 2012 supply chain, and potential suppliers. CompeteFor also provides access to business support services; building skills and capacity to ensure that businesses across the UK can access opportunities linked to the hosting of the London 2012 Games.
Businesses of any size can use the CompeteFor brokerage service as a buyer or supplier of Games-related goods and services. They will first need to register the basic details of their organisation. This will allow them to view opportunities and gain access to Games-related business news and events. They will also be able to post opportunities as a buyer.
For more information or to get ahead of the game simply click below and register:
www.competefor.com/london2012business/login.jsp
C Brandauer best practice visit provides insight into success
In January 2008, IME offered delegates the opportunity to visit world class engineers C.Brandauer as part of their regional company visit programme for the West Midlands. Delegates were offered the opportunity to learn more about C.Brandauer's approach to ‘Effective Communication’ and ‘Continuous Improvement and Training’ and as always this visit was over subscribed.
The visiting companies found the ½ day visit to be a very useful and helpful process which allowed them to not only witness firsthand how successful business operates but also enabled them to question the actual workforce and managers. The visit gave all 15 delegates ideas that could be implemented in their own business and also offered an ideal opportunity to build a network of useful contacts.
The host company, C.Brandauer, saw this as a way assisting the regional manufacturing business base, while adding to their own network of like-minded individuals who by sharing best practice can assist each other.
Manufacturers in the West Midlands are being given the opportunity to look and learn by taking a close-up and in-depth view of some of the region’s top manufacturers.
The chance comes in a series of Best Practice Manufacturing Visits, run by the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands (MAS-WM) and delivered by the Inside Manufacturing Enterprise (IME) programme from Coventry University Enterprises.
Now in their fourth year, the Best Practice visits started in September 2007 and takes visitors into companies that exemplify best practice from across the region. Visits so far have focused on 'Improving process capability', 'Adding value to the supply chain', 'New product introduction' and 'Positive about disabled people'.
Hosts range from small to medium enterprises (SME’s) to global market leaders, each with best practice to share in a number of areas relevant to other manufacturers. Each Best Practice visit offers in depth presentations on two specific topic areas, a full site tour, question and answer sessions as well excellent networking opportunities.
This season’s first Best Practice visit, on Tuesday, January 15th, was to C.Brandauer, one of the largest contract presswork companies in Europe.
C.Brandauer has re-engineered its business from a manufacturer of pen nibs into a world-class engineering company with an enviable reputation for providing high volume, high quality technical solutions in a range of materials to a very demanding set of customers.
C.Brandauer has been involved in the IME programme since its early days and is a clear favourite of delegates to the programme. The key areas of discussion on this visit were ‘Effective Communication’ and ‘Continuous Improvement and Training’, both of which have been essential for C.Brandauer's survival.
“Brandauer have been, and will continue to be, enthusiastic supporters of the IME programme since its inception and really value both its educational value, as well as it networking opportunities, with other like minded companies within the Midlands. We will always support initiatives that promote improvement and communication between businesses”.
“The team at Brandauer found the event on 15 January to be challenging, enjoyable and were impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment of the delegates, who were from an interestingly diverse selection of businesses”.
David Barry - HR Manager at Brandauer
Below are just a few of the positive comments received from delegates who attended;
- Most useful was going around the factory and seeing how clean it was,
- all aspects were very well presented,
- topics were comprehensively covered and were well presented,
- Continuous Improvement gave a real insight into what can be achieved and was well delivered.
- The site tour was excellent as was the hospitality on the day.
IME will shortly be releasing a new schedule of best practice visits covering a wide variety of topics, if you would like to attend one or even become a host then contact the IME team on 024 7623 6861 or email Michelle at mconnors@cad.coventry.ac.uk
For more information on future Best Practice Visits click here
IRIS Accreditation Helps Hepworth Look to the Future
Hepworth Rail International based in Redditch, Worcestershire UK, designs and manufactures train windscreen wiping systems, washing equipment and associated control systems. Supplying many key rail sector customers worldwide such as Bombardier, Siemens, Alstom, CAF, CCC and Rotem.
Hepworth recognised IRIS as the new global standard for the rail industry and set on a journey to achieve the accreditation and upgrading from their existing ISO 9001:2000 registration to meet their customer’s expectation for third party registration prior to it becoming a mandatory requirement. IRIS aims to improve the quality of finished goods and the efficiency of production process by ensuring that the entire supply chain acts in concert to achieve world-class performance.
The standardized requirements of IRIS are applicable to all suppliers. Their third-party IRIS accreditation will be accepted by any rolling stock manufacturer world-wide. In fact Bombardier, Alstom, Siemens, and AnsaldoBreda have signed a joint declaration stating that that they will not undertake any business management system audits at equipment manufacturers having valid IRIS certificates.
Hepworth Rail International took the initiative in January 2007 and formulated an IRIS campaign team headed by Mark Jones (Rail Account Executive) and project managed by Linda Bates (Quality Manager). External expertise was provided by TEC Transnational who are acknowledged specialists in IRIS implementation and training, with assistance from MAS-WM Rail Business Improvement Programme.
Because Hepworth Rail International are an SME the kind of quality levels demanded by IRIS initially appeared daunting which is why they brought in external assistance to make the quantum leap. One of the biggest issues was with shop-floor supervision that had progressed because of their technical skills rather than the ability to drive a team. With the focus on ‘processes’ it was easier to actively involve the supervisors and operators, and to upgrade and standardise their activities and procedures.
TEC provided the in-depth training and ‘coaching’ for internal auditors. The audit cycle was undertaken over several weeks and uncovered implementation problems and ‘skills gaps’ which were fixed as soon as they came to light. Implementation was therefore progressive and the need for ‘attention-to-detail’ and ‘standard work’ was reinforced in all departments and at all levels.
The scale of this achievement should not be underestimated as an IRIS assessment audit consists of over 250 questions of which ten are so-called ‘KO’ (i.e. ‘knock-out’) questions! Remember that these questions are over and above the basic ISO 9001:2000 clauses. Open questions are valued at up to four points each, and closed questions at up to two points each. Hepworth Rail’s final ‘points-score’ of 90% was particularly gratifying and reflected their top down commitment and involvement at all stages of implementation.
In conclusion, IRIS has made Hepworth Rail look in detail at every element of their business – not just manufacture. This was seen to be a fantastic benefit and provided the opportunity to change and improve at all levels and in all departments. IRIS has made a huge difference to the business and although the time frame to achieve it was extremely tight and the work load immense – it was worth it.
For more information on how the Rail Business Improvement Programme can help your organisation call 0845 245 0845
Online offer goes more interactive
Manufacturers in the West Midlands are just a click away from a major improvement to the online service from the region's Manufacturing Advisory Service.
The MAS-WM website, www.mas-wm.org has undergone a thorough overhaul in a bid to improve access to manufacturing advice and information for businesses in the region and to encourage greater productivity through the adoption of worldwide standards of best practice.
The new case study-driven site is available now and offers visitors an informative front page featuring links to latest news from MAS, details of events and workshops and the latest newsletter.
> Click here to read the full story