Welcome

One of the greatest challenges facing any business is the establishment of TRUST, in particular the trust that exists between employees and employers. Your teams need to trust that you have their best interests at heart and you need to trust that this is reciprocated. They need to trust that you have confidence in them to do the job and you need to trust that they are both motivated and committed to work to ensure every task is undertaken with the same level of enthusiasm.

A big issue, when working with teams of people across a diverse factory line or mass of departments, is being able to let go with confidence as you can’t be everywhere, all the time. We constantly work with owner managed companies experiencing high growth that struggle with the concept of delegation.

In short, effective delegation is about giving people freedom and allowing them to get the job done, their way. And no, they may not do it quite as you would have, but the fact that you have trusted them and the resulting confidence and empowerment will be worth its weight in gold.

Underestimating your workforce could be a dangerous practice. In front of you could be the future leaders of your business, the people who are and will make your company a success. We all want teams of people who are sensible, confident, continually growing and excited by new challenges. In order to get these teams, it’s not a case of recruiting externally for new talent but looking internally and trusting that together you can make it happen.

Arthur Richardson

Director

South West MAS

 

Case Study

Global packaging giant gets lean

A Bristol-based division of Smurfit Kappa, the manufacturer of packaging solutions with sales in excess of €7bn, is well on the road to lean, thanks to the South West MAS.

Over the last year, the division that manufactures packaging machines has spent time with Phil Townsend, the MAS specialist in Bristol, introducing lean manufacturing techniques, and in particular 5S, across its workplace.

Colin Freame, operations manager for Smurfit Kappa which employs more than 42,000 people worldwide, explains: “We had investigated lean before and attended one-off seminars, but when we came across the South West MAS we knew we had to work with them. We wanted to target the workshop and reduce operational costs and delivery lead times. At first, we took a small part of the workshop and showed our engineers how applying lean to that area could bring about immediate benefits. Once they saw that and bought into the methods, we were able to roll out the same practices across the entire assembly area.

To read further, click here

For more information on support available from the South West MAS, call our helpdesk on 0845 608 3838 or email info@swmas.co.uk

Spotlight on Richard Whitefield, production manager, Brecknell Willis

What excites you about your day-to-day work?
Solving problems, improving the way we perform and developing our team work, especially when this can be directly linked to the overall company performance.

In a typical day, what is guaranteed to put a smile on your face?
To see people overcoming problems with their own initiative and working as a team without my input.

What has been your greatest achievement in the last year?
Knowing that my efforts have had an impact on the company and exceeding all previous operating records.

On a day-to-day basis, what do you find frustrating about your work?
Trying to deploy necessary policies in areas that fall outside my sphere of influence but are important to my operations.

What inspired you to work in manufacturing?
Having spent 27 years in engineering, I decided a change was in order. Younger people in our engineering department needed room to grow and I fancied tackling the challenges presented by our manufacturing operations.

To read more click here

News

UK manufacturers have recorded their best performance for more than ten years, according to a report from EEF, the industry body for engineering and manufacturing employers.

The balance of firms recording a rise in orders and output for July, August and September was up by 30 per cent and at its highest level since early 1995.

But the group warned that turbulence in the financial markets and a US slowdown could weaken the outlook.

The figures tally with separate manufacturing activity data from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply which said that its purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 56.3 in August from 55.9 in July.

To find out more, click here

Are you fishing in the empty “engineering ocean”?

We are always being told that we should buy farmed cod as an acceptable alternative to the “real thing” but unfortunately, when it comes to recruitment, we can’t “farm” engineers, even though we need to! Sadly, because of our aging workforce profile and young people looking for careers outside the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) arena, engineers are becoming a “dying breed”.

As a result, companies with SET requirements are “poaching” engineers from each other and this is neither sustainable nor good for UK plcs.

There is a common misconception that careers in engineering are “dirty” and science is “for boffins”! Yet if children are encouraged at an early age to apply their education to work related experiences, it can enthuse and excite them to consider alternative careers – where they are needed.

To read more, click here

Join the Cornwall Challenge

On 20 September, the South West MAS will be hosting the Cornwall Challenge at the Tremough Campus, Combined Universities in Cornwall.

Ten companies will send four representatives to attend and the teams will be given the brief of a virtual company facing a diverse range of business challenges which they will have to tackle and provide solutions. At the end of the event, a county ‘champion’ will be crowned who can then go on to meet the ‘champion’s’ from Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

The aim of the day is to provide manufacturers with a fun way to demonstrate their prowess whilst also exploring areas where they might require additional training.

Calling all manufacturers who use chemical substances

From 1 June 2007, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation will apply across Europe and will affect all businesses that use, manufacture or import chemical substances.

Manufacturers in the South West are urged to compile an inventory of the substances that form a part of the business and check with their suppliers if substances that are important to the business are going to be pre-registered. If the business should register but does not do so by 30 November 2008, it will not legally be able to supply that substance in the European Union (EU).

Whatever stage your business is at, or whatever the issues you face, Business Link can help. Rather than providing all the advice and help themselves, they put you in touch with a range of expertise from across the private, public and voluntary business support sectors. Their advice is free to anyone. To access Business Link services, visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk or call on 0845 600 9 006.

For more information on REACH click here

South West MAS connects manufacturers with students in Cornwall

Just over a year ago, the South West MAS introduced students from University College Falmouth’s Design Course to various manufacturers across Cornwall including Bott, DP Engineering and Kingfisher Boats. The aim was to bridge the gap between the technical knowledge students were building at college and the reality of life in the manufacturing world.

Following initial visits, some of the companies have continued to work with students throughout the year, providing technical guidance, and even manufacturing prototype designs.

The college is brimming with praise for the initiative as Dr. Yorick Benjamin, senior lecturer, explains: “The visits in themselves were very beneficial to the students as many had not experienced or even entered a manufacturing environment before. It gives the theoretical work learnt in college context and meaning. The fact that these initial visits are now resulting in more extensive partnerships and collaborative projects is of great benefit to our design course and I believe to the companies involved.”

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Mike Sussman, engineering and operations director at TDSi in Poole, who won a copy of John Bicheno’s ‘The Lean Toolbox’ in a draw at last month’s 5S workshop in Cirencester.

Mike commented on the event: "Thank you for the book – this will certainly come in useful and I hope to really standardise and sustain 5S once we have moved into our new premises. I will be taking some of what was presented and putting my own presentation together for the whole of TDSi and extolling the benefits of 5S.”

Managers invited to hone their leadership and manufacturing skills

The South West MAS’ Operational Leadership Programme (OLP) has been especially designed with first line managers in mind. The action-based development programme, with measurable outcomes, culminates in the delivery of a work-based project and will help first line managers get more from their people and shop floor processes.

Run over approximately 12 weeks, participants will grow in their confidence and ability to lead people, while finding out how to put new process improvement techniques into action.

To find out more or book your place on the course, email info@swmas.co.uk

1st November, Cotswold Water Park Four Pillars Hotel (Junction 15, M4)
23rd January, The Exchange, Bridgwater, Somerset

Queen’s Awards for Enterprise

Manufacturers in the region are encouraged to consider entering the Queen's Award for Enterprise, one of the most prestigious corporate accolades in the UK. The awards are divided into three categories: International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development. The deadline for entries to this award scheme is 31 October.

For more information, click here

SWMAS is run in partnership with:

 

 

For general business advice contact your local Business Link 0845 600 9006

You have been sent this newsletter because you have shown an interest in the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service. If you do not wish to receive further copies please click HERE to unsubscribe.

For further information on any of the issues or items mentioned above, or on the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service in general, contact us on 0845 608 3838; email info@swmas.co.uk or visit http://www.swmas.co.uk