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News Release from: BERR (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 April 2004
Manufacturing Advisory Service added
value
UK manufacturers were rewarded with GBP 39 million added value this year thanks to the Manufacturing Advisory Service, UK Industry Minister Jacqui Smith announced last week.
UK manufacturers were rewarded with GBP 39 million added value this year thanks to the Manufacturing Advisory Service, Industry Minister Jacqui Smith announced last week The second Annual Report of Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) confirms the service has helped manufacturing companies to see a seven-fold increase in added value from GBP 5 million to GBP 39 million in only one year
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 30 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Every company assisted by the MAS has, on average, seen an increase in their added value of GBP 104,000.
The report, launched by Jacqui Smith in Birmingham at the MACH 2004 Exhibition, shows during the period January 2003 to December 2003 the service has also: * Responded to over 10,757 enquiries from firms seeking advice up from 8600 in year one.
* Visited over 4422 companies to carry out an initial diagnostic 'health check' compared to 1060 in year one.
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* Gone on to complete 982 in depth consultancies in year two compared to 200 in year one.
Jacqui Smith said: "Today's figures highlight the impact the Manufacturing Advisory Service has had on UK manufacturers and shows the Service is continuing to be one of our great success stories.
"The Service is proving to be a real benefit as it allows manufacturers to share knowledge and expertise so they can compete globally and innovate their products." Martin Temple, Director General of EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said: "Manufacturers are eager to improve their productivity and play their part in contributing to a modern UK economy.
MAS is proving its value to companies by providing simple and effective advice which is producing proven results on the bottom line." Further measures of MAS performance show average improvements such as: * Increased employee productivity of 38 per cent.
* Reduced wastage of 32 per cent.
* Increased space utilisation of 41 per cent.
* On-time delivery up 33 per cent.
* Improvement of stock-turnover of 42 per cent.
* Increased equipment productivity of 34 per cent.
MAS was set up to provide practical advice through 10 centres throughout England and Wales to help manufacturing companies improve their productivity and competitiveness.
Case studies: * Mailway - Background - Mailway, based in Bradford, has been trading since 1976 as a manufacturer of packaging and packaging solutions.
Employing 127 and an annual turnover of GBP 7m, it sells its products and services nationally to a range of high profile blue chip customers.
Action - with support from MAS Associate David Roberts, Mailway educated employees in lean manufacturing techniques; implemented Kaizen improvement teams, undertook management training in leadership and introduced a flatter organisational structure.
Results - restored profitability resulted in 29% improvement in sales, 21% improvement in gross margin, 58% reduction in set-up times and 42% increase in through-put.
Griffin Nuumed - background - based in Ashcott, Somerset, Griffin Nuumed is a family business, which started approximately 15 years ago manufacturing fabric equestrian products.
Sales have grown by about 30% in the last year and there was a real need to improve productivity and start to use technology to help drive the business forward.
Action - an initial diagnostic was carried out to identify the constraints within the business.
Potential suppliers of computer controlled fabric cutting machines were identified, and following trials assistance was provided with selection, negotiations and acceptance criteria.
Following successful commissioning the manufacturing team were taken through process activity mapping and have gone on to identify further productivity and Health and safety improvements.
Results - productivity increase of approximately 40% in the cutting area, improvement of quality and accuracy of cutting and a reduction in material movement and manual handling.
Establishment of a product data base and library and an investment of approximately GBP 65,000 in technology.
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