Skills and expertise defeat the doldrums

Manufacturing companies have the skills and expertise to drag the sector out of the doldrums - and they should get on with it - that is the message from the Manufacturing Alliance.

Manufacturing companies have the skills and expertise to drag the sector out of the doldrums - and they should get on with it! That is the message from the Manufacturing Alliance, the industry forum for Britain's factory bosses, which is hosting two major debates as part of a groundbreaking event in the West Midlands next month aimed at helping manufacturers to help themselves.

At the 'summit' in Telford in September, top manufacturers will debate the impact of globalisation on UK companies.

They will also tackle the challenge of how to achieve world-class status.

And they will showcase the best of best practice by some of Britain's top manufacturers.

The debates will be led by Nick Paul, chairman of Advantage West Midlands, Nick Brayshaw, chief executive of Wagon and chairman of the CBI Manufacturing Council, Graham Broome, chief executive of the SMMT Industry Forum and Professor Dan Jones, of Cardiff University Business School.

Ken Hurst, the Manufacturing Alliance group director, said: "These debates will be a rallying call for UK manufacturers.

They will be the centre stage of the largest ever gathering of industry experts from manufacturing, and the ideal platform for the sector to use as a springboard to go forward." He said: "There is no doubt that manufacturing is facing major challenges, but the image is over gloomy.

Much of British industry is world class and should be celebrated.

Manufacturing has some fantastic people and wonderful expertise.

By pooling knowledge and best practice, manufacturing can take greater control of its own future." The Manufacturing Alliance is the exclusive network for senior management in British manufacturing.

It draws together some of Britain's most prominent businesses to champion the cause of manufacturing and to encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practice.

The Alliance's debates at the Telford International Centre on 24 and 25 September are part of 'The Manufacturer Live 2003'.

"The Manufacturer Live 2003 is essentially an educational showcase for manufacturing at its best, drawing on examples of excellence from the UK's most successful and innovative exponents of world class manufacturing," said Hurst.

The event features nearly 50 free workshops over the two days, covering differing aspects of manufacturing, including workforce culture, the innovation imperative, improving capacity, and leaning back to profit.

High profile speakers include Trevor Baylis, inventor of the clockwork radio, Tony Cox, managing director of Plastic Technologies in Telford, Christian Perry, lean operating and materials manager for MG Rover, Barry Williams, Lean Consultant to Airbus UK, and Brian Stringer, Managing Director of Operations for Siemens.

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