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The story so far
"We were set up to tackle the practical needs of manufacturers in the South West and have made it our aim to develop programmes and support that make a real difference, not just to manufacturers’ bottom line but also their future security and success. Manufacturing is continuously evolving and so we have sought to ensure our service does the same in order to have the greatest impact."
Arthur Richardson, Director, SWMAS
SWMAS works closely with manufacturers in the region to help improve productivity and competitiveness. It was set up to serve the 13,000 manufacturing businesses in the South West that generate more than £11billion for the local economy and employ nearly 300,000 people.
The SWMAS offers the following:
• Lean & Operational Improvement projects – the relentless and systematic identification and elimination of waste and simulataneous focus on driving up customer value - tailored on-site to enable manufacturers to improve productivity, cut costs and reduce waste through the implementation of lean manufacturing and other principles that have been adopted by world-class manufacturers, such as Toyota and Procter & Gamble. We can help you tackle real issues and work with your teams to make lasting change by driving up value for your business and customers.
• Strategic Management Programme (SMP) – established to help companies develop profitable strategies for growth. Competitors change, markets change, the environment a business operates in changes but do businesses adapt quickly enough to protect themselves and to exploit growth opportunities? We understand the challenges of running a manufacturing business and we know there's never a good time to stop and review progress and direction so we've developed a programme just for you. Contact us to find out more about how we can help you plan your future and ensure your business is successful.
• Product Innovation - Manufacturing is about making things and we know you are experts in your field so we don't pretend to know more than you about your products. Our approach to product innovation works by building on the existing knowledge and skills of your organisation and by encouraging new ways of thinking to create new products and to make improvement to existing products. However it doesn't end there; we can help if you hit a technical barrier and you need knowledge from outside your team by using our wide network and connections to local and national Universities, research centres and other technology providers.
• ‘Offshore? Be sure!’ – helping manufacturers evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of offshoring by assessing the hidden extras such as resourcing, maintaining consistent quality standards, shipping challenges, legal support, and much more. If you are considering moving manufacturing overseas, talk to us first. The UK is still a great place to manufacture and we can help you make the right choice.
Knowing how and where to start on a path of business improvement can be daunting which is why manufacturing specialists from SWMAS are on hand to provide practical support and insight. We love manufacturing and we'd love to talk to you about your needs.
SWMAS helps manufacturing businesses in the region improve their productivity and competitiveness. Established in 2002, SWMAS has successfully delivered the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service contract (one of ten regional MAS defined by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills) for the past nine years.
Central to its success is the dedicated team of Specialists that work across the region undertaking free reviews to identify how best to bring about improvement. Each Specialist has worked within manufacturing, offering years of experience and real, hands-on support.
- Assisted over 2000 manufacturers
- Delivered 1000's of days of best practice modules and workshops
- Created more than £90million of impact for businesses
- Organised events, attended by 700 businesses
What our customers say about us:
"SWMAS Specialists have years of experience working in manufacturing and I would have no hesitation in recommending the service to any business serious about improvement."
Robin Thorn, Managing Director
Thorn Cycles
"We received a very personal service and the action plan that we have devised together is realistic, specific and achievable. The future is now extremely bright for us!"
Chris Nagle, Director
T M Safety Signs
"From the onset, the SWMAS Specialists had a confidence and enthusiasm that encouraged the team to think outside of the box. As a result of the project, we have improved communications between teams, increased the available and usable space by 39 per cent and are working much more efficiently."
David Whitehead, Operations Manager
VT Communications
"Before we started working with SWMAS, my knowledge of lean manufacturing techniques was limited. Since then, we have put many of these principles into practice, and as a result our turnover has increased dramatically and we have significantly reduced waste.."
Jimmy Finn, Production Director
Bott
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