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Introduction
SWMAS Ltd
“The trusted provider of advice and hands-on support for manufacturers aiming to achieve sustainable success"
SWMAS helps manufacturing and Engineering businesses in the regionto grow through innovation and improve their productivity and competitiveness. Established in 2002, SWMAS has successfully delivered the Manufacturing Advisory Service - South West contract (one of ten regional MAS defined by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills) for the past eight years.
SWMAS is delivered by a consortium made up of the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), EEF, the region's Business Links and Universities South West, representing the Higher Education Institutions.
SWMAS was created primarily to serve the 13,000 manufacturing businesses operating in the South West.
Together these businesses generate £11 billion for the local economy and employ nearly 300,000 people.
Track record
During its eight years of operation, SWMAS Specialists have assisted over 2000 manufacturers. More than 4,300 days of reviews, best practice modules and workshops have been delivered which have resulted in benefits to business of circa £90million. In addition, SWMAS has organised 400 events, attracting a total of 8000 attendees, to create an awareness of the benefits of adopting best practive manufacturing techniques and provide an opportunity to learn about the tools and assistance available.
“I cannot speak more highly about the process and the SWMAS people... we are now very enthusiastic about the future and implementing our plan for the business” - Chris Nagle, Managing Director, T M Safety Signs
"Our experience of working with SWMAS has been invigorating. With their help, we have developed our strategy, leadership and operations. As a result we have increased our annual turnover by £2million and we are confident of further growth." -
Alan Robinson, Managing Director, ARC Energy Resources
Through being “lean” ourselves, with no office buildings or administration staff, and getting the best possible value out of services and associates, we are able to ensure that the maximum resource is aimed at “the coal face” for the benefit of our manufacturing clients. This policy has enabled us to consistently meet or exceed our targets and to adapt our service to meet the changing state of the industry.
SWMAS continues to deliver its core implementation model that consists of an initial half-day visit to the client site. Having identified the opportunities, a tailored programme of strategic, best practice or lean modules is proposed, aimed at team building, , innovation, waste identification, problem solving, and implementation of improvement plans.
Future Plans
As the UK emerges from the deepest recession in living memory we are well placed to support the manufacturing and engineering businesses as they adapt and evolve to face the challenges and opportunities ahead. The future is uncertain but we we can be sure of the need to be efficient, innovative and responsive and we will continue work both internally and with our customers to deliver the best platform for an economic recovery with manufacturing at its heart.
A. S. Richardson
Chief Executive
Executive Summary 2010
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