Companies in the West Midlands are being given a golden opportunity to learn from a quartet of industry-leading manufacturers in March.
The Inside Manufacturing Enterprise (IME) Programme, which has assisted more than 650 firms since its launch in 2003, has announced its latest line up of best practice factory tours that will tackle current industry challenges and help secure world class performance.
The next will take place at PP Electrical Systems (March 6th) looking at lean manufacturing and implementing a training roadmap followed by a visit to Coventry’s FARO UK (March 15th) that will focus on non contact measuring in a manufacturing environment.
Funded by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and delivered by Coventry University Enterprise, the programme will continue on March 20th at Alcon Components (business management performance and working with MAS) before coming to a close on March 28th at Reinshaw PLC.
The last visit will focus on the important topics of introducing new products and manufacturing philosophy and control.
Michelle Connors, IME Project Officer, picked up the story:
"Our visits offer unique insights into the different issues and challenges facing companies in the region and how they have been overcome...warts and all! They highlight the successes, but also potential pitfalls that can be encountered when adopting new practices.
“There is also the opportunity to network with likeminded individuals to gain inspiration and practical advice to common problems and with our technology showcase we are inviting companies to bring parts along that they are struggling to measure.”
She continued: “The latest quartet of visits showcase four very different companies in Alcon Components, FARO UK, PP Electrical Systems and Renishaw PLC. All are excelling in their chosen fields and will open their doors to show nearly 50 delegates how they have implemented world class processes, developed new products and embraced the latest technology.”
Inside Manufacturing Enterprise has been running for nine years and in that time has facilitated more than 100 best practice visits to companies in every sector imaginable, including Brintons Carpets, Airbus UK, KMF (Precision Sheet Metal), Unipart Eberspacher Exhaust Systems (UEES), Yamazaki Mazak Europe and ZF Lemforder.
Seen as the first step on the continuous improvement journey, the tours have helped more than 600 manufacturers address key issues that have subsequently contributed to increased sales, cost savings, diversification and new employment opportunities.
Simon Griffiths, Area Director North and West for MAS, added his support:
“There is no better way of learning then seeing something firsthand and in an environment you can relate to.
“We’ve got a wealth of manufacturing expertise in England and IME is doing a great job in pulling it all together in a way that benefits the industry as a whole.”
To book a place or for further information please contact Nicole Barraclough on 07974 984128 or email nbarraclough@cad.coventry.ac.uk
