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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 continously evolving and so we have sought to ensure our service does the same in order to have the greatest impact."
Arthur Richardson, Director, South West MAS
The South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) works closely with manufacturers in the region to help improve productivity and competitiveness. It was set up to serve the 12,000 manufacturing businesses in the South West that generate more than £11billion for the local economy and employ nearly 300,000 people.
The South West MAS offers the following:
• Lean projects – tailored on-site to enable manufacturers to improve productivity, cut costs and reduce waste through the implementation of lean manufacturing principles that have been adopted by world-class manufacturers, such as Toyota and Procter & Gamble
• Strategic Management Programme (SMP) – established to help companies develop profitable strategies for growth, the SMP is 50 per cent match funded by the South West RDA. So far, more than 60 companies have participated in the programme, saving or creating 750 jobs and investing nearly £5 million in new products and processes
• Operational Leadership Programme (OLP) – launched in Spring 2007, the OLP is a 12-week programme to help first line managers become more confident in leading, managing and motivating their teams
• Competitiveness Improvement Programme (CIP) – the South West MAS has received additional funding from the South West RDA to deliver the CIP, helping aerospace and defence suppliers improve their performance and relationships throughout the supply chain
• ‘Offshore? Be sure!’ – a national offering, facilitated by South West MAS, that helps 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
Knowing how and where to start on a path of continuous improvement can be daunting which is why manufacturing specialists from the South West MAS are on hand to provide practical support and insight. And, with the Olympics only years away, there has never been a better time to think through how you can become more competitive, gear up for new business and even win a London 2012 contract.
The South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) helps manufacturing businesses in the region improve their productivity and competitiveness. Established by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), it is one of ten regional Manufacturing Advisory Services.
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.
- Visited over 780 manufacturers
- Delivered over 3,500 days of best practice modules and workshops
- Saved more than £30million across 350 businesses
- Organised 300 events, attracting nearly 6,000 attendees
- Worked in conjunction with key partners including Business Link and EEF
"The South West MAS 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 South West MAS 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 the South West MAS, 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 signifcantly reduced waste."
Jimmy Finn, Production Director
Bott
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