News: Recruitment for Growth Hub

Recruitment is underway for the "core team" at the Growth Hub - the clear model for coordinating and simplifying business support so that it joins up national, local, public and private business provisions across the Sheffield city region.

"The most ambitious, business-led Growth Hub in the country" is seen as central to the business-facing elements of the Local Enteprise Partnership's (LEP's) Strategic Economic Plan, which set an ambitious target of creating 70,000 new jobs in the Sheffield City Region by 2023.

£4.5m of existing Local Growth Fund allocation will be used to set up the hub which is then expected to be backed by £83.5m of European funding. £500,000 has been secured to pilot the project in the next financial year with initial work undertaken to assess what support is already available.

The head of Growth Hub will be responsible for driving the vision outlined in the strategic plan and "operationalising" the Growth Hub in order to grow the region's businesses. With a salary of £54,100 - £58,437, it is described as a strategically significant role and will entail working with senior officials in national and local government and the private sector.

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Designed by business leaders for business leaders, the Growth Hub aims to remove internal boundaries within the city region, so that every growing business gets the support it needs to thrive.

Growth Accelerator, the Manufacturing Advisory Service and other national services will be aligned with local business support through the hub, so that businesses get a joined up service which meets their needs. With one website and one phone number, this will include co-location, referrals, marketing, diagnostics, evaluation, customer acquisition and the simplification of local and national business support.

Other vacancies for the Growth Hub include policy and business intelligence officer and gateway and communications officers. A head of performance on a salary of £48,583 - £52,816 is also being recruited to focus on ensuring that the LEPs and combined authority's investments are developed, delivered and implemented in line with the approved Strategic Economic Plan.

The long term aim is for the Growth Hub to have a "core" of first line support and a pool of business advisors, allocated to a "patch" but managed centrally. The actual delivery of services to businesses is still set to be carried out by the different agencies focusing on aspects such as access to finance, export, innovation, and skills - the "spokes" to the Growth Hub model - but all brought together as one central "Growth Deal" for the individual businesses.

The Growth Hub is also set to commission products that are accessible to any business regardless of location, ending the postcode lottery of support in the city region.

£2m of LEP funding is set to be used to fund the small "core" of the Growth Hub up to 2020/21 and £2m is set to be made available to the "spokes" of the Growth Hub to fund activity.

Sheffield City Region LEP website

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News: £1.5m Fit For Nuclear funding call

The Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) in Rotherham and the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) have unveiled £1.5m of support to help manufacturers enter or expand their presence in the growing nuclear sector.

Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the £25m Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, The University of Manchester, and a consortium of industry partners. It provides a focal point for the bulk of the UK civil nuclear manufacturing industry supply chain, ensuring that manufacturers in the UK have the capability and capacity required to compete for nuclear new build in the UK and globally, from skills training to research and development.

MAS has been a huge success since its launch in 2002. It now plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasing competitive global economy.

Fit 4 Nuclear helps companies measure their current operations against the standards required to supply the UK's new generation of nuclear power stations, and take the necessary steps to enter the UK's rapidly developing £60 billion civil nuclear new build sector and £1.5 billion a year decommissioning programme.

Backed by top tier partners including Areva and EDF Energy, the initiative offers a business improvement journey that will identify strategy, implement new processes, secure necessary accreditations and provide supplier matching opportunities.

The latest call offers grants of around £10,000 to companies and will allow management teams to drive business improvements in areas, such as improved manufacturing processes, factory layout, bid writing, training plans and strategy. Participants can also take advantage of the Nuclear AMRC's Nuclear Connections initiative, which helps link manufacturers to specific supply opportunities from the industry's top tiers.

Mike Tynan, chief executive of the Nuclear AMRC, said: "Smaller manufacturers have a vital role to play in civil nuclear, if they can meet the standards demanded by the industry's top tier. To win work, Yorkshire companies need to make sure they have the ability to meet safety, quality and cost standards, and can demonstrate that their specialist capabilities can deliver value to clients.

"We created Fit For Nuclear to help manufacturers close any gaps in performance, and this new funding will provide vital support for anyone taking the next steps and getting ready to compete for nuclear opportunities."

Steven Barr, head of MAS, added: "Almost 200 businesses have already embarked on Fit For Nuclear and more than 75% of these have recorded immediate tangible bottom-line benefits. This is just the start and the current funding call will look to accelerate the number of companies getting involved.

"Nuclear is seen as a difficult sector to break into. Yes requirements are different, but it's not as problematic as some people make out. He continued: F4N can take you throughout the entire journey, from the online capability check and on-site assessment, through to the generation of an action plan and a 50% grant towards improvement or R&D projects.

"We've successfully worked with manufacturers involved in aerospace, automotive, electronics, marine and general fabrication, taking their core expertise and making them applicable to nuclear."

Fit 4 Nuclear website

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News: Nuclear AMRC extend Fit 4 Nuclear

The Nuclear AMRC has joined forces with the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to help more than 300 small manufacturers prepare to seize the multi-million pound opportunities of the UK's growing nuclear sector.


Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, the £25m Nuclear AMRC is a joint initiative between the University of Sheffield, The University of Manchester, and a consortium of industry partners. It provides a focal point for the bulk of the UK civil nuclear manufacturing industry supply chain, ensuring that manufacturers in the UK have the capability and capacity required to compete for nuclear new build in the UK and globally, from skills training to research and development.

MAS has been a huge success since its launch in 2002. It now plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasing competitive global economy.

Fit 4 Nuclear helps companies measure their current operations against the standards required to supply the UK's new generation of nuclear power stations, and take the necessary steps to enter the UK's rapidly developing £60 billion civil nuclear new build sector and £1.5 billion a year decommissioning programme.

Backed by top tier partners including Areva and EDF Energy, the initiative offers a business improvement journey that will identify strategy, implement new processes, secure necessary accreditations and provide supplier matching opportunities.

Steven Barr, head of MAS, said: "There is great potential for advanced manufacturing SMEs to build business in the civil nuclear sector. Following approval for Hinkley Point, we can expect these opportunities to increase in new build, as well as in decommissioning and existing station maintenance.

"We recognise they need help to understand the nature of the opportunities that are opening up and to prepare for them.

"The first new nuclear plant is likely to come online in the 2020s, but orders for the bulk of plant and services are expected to start developing from next year. Now is the time for small manufacturers to act."

To date, around 150 companies have completed the online Fit for Nuclear assessment, with the majority receiving ongoing support and development from the Nuclear AMRC team. Local companies benefiting from the scheme include Newburgh at Templeborough and Maher, who are set to move on to the AMP.

New funding from the government's Regional Growth Fund, through the civil nuclear Sharing in Growth programme, has opened the initiative to another 300 SMEs. MAS will help the Nuclear AMRC engage the wider manufacturing supply chain, including control and instrumentation, electrical and other sub-contractors.

Martin Ride, an experienced purchasing manager with Rolls-Royce, now working as supply chain consultant at the Nuclear AMRC, said: "At little or no cost to the participating company, F4N can deliver real business value regardless of your current nuclear sector knowledge or experience.

"This is one of the easiest and most straightforward sector-based programmes to access, participate in, and get incredible value from, and which can lead to increased opportunities."

Nuclear AMRC website

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News: Yorkshire manufacturers report sustained investment

Yorkshire and Humber manufacturers report sustained investment in staff, new machinery and technology, according to the Manufacturing Advisory Service's (MAS's) latest Barometer.

62% of small manufacturers in the region questioned are planning to spend more on machinery/plant, with 48% channeling increased funding into the development of new technologies. This marks a 16% and 7% rise respectively on the same period last year.

There was a similar optimism when asked about confidence to recruit. Exactly half of companies said they were looking to create new jobs in the next six months, up from 38% in March 2013.

These figures are reinforced by growth in sales. 62% of SME manufacturers have enjoyed higher sales and even more (70%) are expecting to win new work between now and October.

Encouragingly, companies appear well placed to take advantage of new opportunities, including expansion and reshoring of supply chains in automotive, aerospace, and nuclear sectors.

MAS, which is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), works for manufacturers and through experienced advisors can help shape strategy, create new products, reduce waste and review supply chains.

David Caddle, area director for MAS in Yorkshire and Humber, said: "We have seen consistent signs during the last twelve months that firms are ramping up capacity, in order to meet increasing orders and take advantage of work coming back to the UK.

"This is the clearest signal yet that our manufacturers believe the upturn is sustainable. Strong annual improvements for investment in machinery and technology suggest many small manufacturers are planning for the long-term and, encouragingly, they are taking action now to manage future expansion.

"Our Barometer report highlights that small and medium sized manufacturers are contributing strongly to jobs growth and expect to continue to recruit. They may find it harder to follow this trend, especially in advanced manufacturing sectors, unless they invest in training and retention."

The Barometer also highlights the continuing concern that manufacturers have regarding the high cost of energy in the UK, with over three quarters of small and medium-sized manufacturers reported an increase in their energy costs over the last year. Some 66% of those SMEs were hit with rises of 6% or more.

MAS website

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News: Positivity at Pyronix

Rotherham-based security experts, Pyronix, is positive for the future as it responds to the Manufacturing Advisory Service's latest Barometer.

Based at Hellaby, the award-winning firm, which is a world leader in the manufacture of security equipment including control panels, detectors and external sounds, has grown 15% every year since 2010 and is now on course to reach £20m of annual sales by the end of 2014, 40% of which is in international markets.

As a result of this impressive growth, the company has added eight new people to its 140-strong workforce in the last twelve months alone.

Colin Beresford, group commercial director, at Pyronix, said: "We invest significantly in R&D and in continually bringing new products to market.

"Our most recent success has been led by the development and launch of the double award winning Enforcer, an innovative two-way wireless security system. This has surpassed even our most optimistic projections and is selling into many countries across the world."

In recent years, Pyronix has managed its growth by expanding production back in Yorkshire and, currently, about 60% of manufacturing takes place here in the region.

"This is just the start," added Colin. "We know we can keep better control over our intellectual property and reduce stock levels if our supply chain is more local and this is a philosophy we are following.

"We'll never be able to make all our products in Yorkshire as some are ideally suited to China, but the intention is to continue to expand local production."

The Barometer, which featured the views of more than 60 manufacturing SMEs from across Yorkshire and Humber, reinforced the recent feel good factor, with nearly two thirds (65%) reporting an enjoying an increase in sales over the last six months – a 3% rise on the previous quarter.

Encouragingly 78% of firms are expecting to grow between now and April 2014, whilst 97% are planning to take on new staff or keep the size of their workforce the same.

There also appears to be a pattern of steady growth in companies embracing new technologies (43%) and investing in machinery and premises (52%). The latter represents a 13% increase from the same period last year.

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David Caddle, area director for the Manufacturing Advisory Service, said: "We have seen a two-year high in the number of firms investing in new technologies and this tells us that manufacturers are not only optimistic about the next six months, but also have one eye on the longer-term picture."

The survey also found further evidence of firms "re-shoring" manufacturing and bringing production back to the UK. 21% of firms surveyed either actively planning or considering re-shoring, compared to just 3% that have offshored in the last year.

One example is Rotherham-based cycle retailer, Planet X, that recently brought back assembly from Taiwan to Rotherham.

The publication of the latest MAS Barometer marks the start of the first ever Manufacturing Matters week, which is looking to showcase England's manufacturing SMEs.

Pyronix website
MAS website

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News: Surveys pick out positives for region's manufacturing sector

Two influential reports on the state of Yorkshire's manufacturing sector show that firms are experiencing a surge in activity with 70% predicting future increases in sales turnover.

According to the quarterly EEF/BDO Manufacturing Outlook survey, a balance of 31% of companies in Yorkshire reported increased output, up from 18% in the last quarter and the highest for more than a year. Orders balances also increased to the highest level of 2013 to 23% (from 13% in the last quarter and -3% in Q1), significantly higher than the 16% previously forecast.

The latest Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Barometer, revealed that 79% of firms surveyed in Yorkshire have gained new sales as a result of introducing new products or services in the past two years and 62% of SME manufacturers reported an increase in sales in the first half of the year.

MAS, which is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), works for manufacturers and through experienced advisors can help shape strategy, create new products, reduce waste and review supply chains.

Both surveys indicated that many manufacturers see positive signs of continued success in the future with the EEF research showing that Yorkshire firms are forecasting output (40% of firms surveyed) and orders (42%) will increase further in the run up to Christmas. The MAS Barometer recorded 70% of SME manufacturers predicting further growth over the next six months – a record high.

The positive signs mean that nearly half (48%) of companies questioned by MAS expect to spend more on new machinery and premises over the next six months, a 7% rise on the same period last year.

David Caddle, area director at MAS, said: "Manufacturers tend to be very cautious and traditionally would need significant confidence in the long-term future to relax the purse strings.

"Encouragingly, the latest Barometer provides the clearest indication yet that companies are prepared to invest in new machinery and their premises in a bid to remain competitive and take advantage of significant opportunities both at home and abroad."

According to the EEF, the only membership organisation dedicated entirely to the manufacturing industry, the improved outlook is also translating into better job prospects, with a balance of 12% of manufacturers in Yorkshire and Humber increasing headcount in the last three months compared to just 4% in the previous quarter. Looking forward, a balance of 16% expect to continue recruiting in the final quarter of the year whilst the MAS survey highlights that 41% of SMEs are planning to hire new people with a further 48% expecting to keep workforce levels the same.

Jason Whitworth, corporate finance partner at accountancy network, BDO in Yorkshire, said: "With a domestic market at its strongest for almost three years, backed by export sales at a two year high, manufacturers across all sectors and throughout the supply chain are feeling the benefits of an impressive return to confidence."

Andy Tuscher, Yorkshire and Humber region director at EEF, added: "While the signs of recovery that have emerged so far this year are positive, the need for better balanced growth from net trade and investment remains a necessity. As companies become more confident about their growth prospects, we need to see this translate into commitments to invest in new capacity, and for this to take place in the region.

"Government cannot afford to rest on its laurels at the first signs of positive economic news. We need on-going action to ensure the UK is a competitive location for manufacturers to invest and grow."

Manufacturing remains the most important sector to the Rotherham economy. It is responsible for 20.0% of GVA (the value of goods and services produced in an area), compared to 14.3% nationally.

The picture shows saw blades manufactured under the Bahco brand by SNA Europe in Bramley, Rotherham.

The Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI figures released today also gave a positive overview of the national manufacturing sector, showing that output and new orders rose at the fastest rates since 1994.

MAS website
EEF website

Images: Bahcon

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News: SMEs predicting future growth

Manufacturing SMEs in Yorkshire and Humber are predicting an increase in sales over the next six months according to the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Barometer.

53% of the companies questioned expect to grow between now and March 2013, with 39% of firms set to boost investment in plant and machinery. There was also a moderate increase in those planning to spend on new technology (36%).

This renewed optimism comes after a slight softening in the marketplace that has seen the number of businesses reporting increased sales drop to just 49%, down from the previous survey.

As part of the Special Focus, the Barometer also aimed to find out what sectors Yorkshire and Humber SMEs are selling into, with the findings showing materials/general engineering as the most popular (50%), closely followed by automotive (46%) and food and drink (42%).

When asked about future sales growth to 2016, marine, nuclear and off shore wind appears to be the most attractive propositions for SMEs looking to increase minority sales to a moderate or significant level.

Martin Coats, area director for the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), said: "It's reassuring to see more of our SMEs are expecting to increase their sales going forward and this despite a slight fall over the last six months.

"Manufacturers have been reporting fluctuating demand and softening in certain sectors so to see the renewed optimism suggests many believe these markets are coming back on stream."

"83% of Yorkshire and Humber companies told us that they intend to maintain or increase their workforce, which shows a general stability in these figures."

Michael Fallon MP, business minister, added: "It's encouraging to hear of the optimism amongst manufacturing SMEs in this Barometer. Of course, these are still challenging times, but the recent GDP output is the latest sign yet that the wider economy is starting to recover.

"We will continue to support manufacturers through MAS to ensure they are best placed to take advantage of opportunities to grow."

This is the third National Barometer conducted by MAS and provides a snapshot of trends in English manufacturing SMEs from July to September 2012 as well as an overview of economic conditions and issues faced by the sector.

A key focus this time was the barriers to growth for companies entering specific industries.

Companies said that market knowledge was the biggest challenge to entering three of the twelve sectors listed (aerospace, marine and off shore wind), with production costs the major concern for firms looking to get involved in automotive, electronics and materials/general engineering.

Regulation, unsurprisingly, is the pressing issue for chemical, defence and pharmaceutical while material expenditure, accreditations and capacity were the barriers to entry in securing sales in food and drink, nuclear and rail respectively.

"30% of the companies we questioned classed themselves as advanced manufacturers and there is a definite trend suggesting that SMEs are generally adding more value by converting material," explained Martin.

"I don't think anyone will be surprised that market knowledge was the biggest barrier for firms across three sectors as this can be difficult information to access and interpret.

"MAS can help with this as we have a number of sector specialists who will be able to provide valuable insights and the right contacts to help SMEs get started in new markets."

MAS, which is funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), works for manufacturers and through experienced advisors can help shape strategy, create new products, reduce waste and review supply chains.

MAS website

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News: Manufacturers in Yorkshire and Humber are increasing sales, creating jobs and investing more

Manufacturing SMEs in Yorkshire and Humber are bucking sluggish growth forecasts with encouraging reports of increased sales and new jobs.

Yesterday, the CBI reported on the national picture where UK manufacturers reported weaker order books in May, and the pace of expected output growth over the next three months has slowed.

However, more than half of local respondents (53%) to the first ever Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) National Barometer had seen turnover rise in the last six months, with 61% expecting further growth between now and the end of the year.

The quarterly survey also revealed that 49% of companies are planning to take on staff in the coming year with another 41% expecting employee numbers to remain the same, as the level of new business enquiries holds strong despite difficult economic conditions.

Martin Coats, Area Director at MAS, said: "This is the clearest indication yet that our manufacturers are enjoying increases in sales and, reassuringly, they expect this trend to continue.

"Investment by the major Original Equipment Manufacturers and interest from overseas companies to source from England has helped facilitate demand.

"The Barometer includes the views of manufacturers from all sectors and, against the backdrop of improvements in turnover, is showing a renewed commitment to create new jobs.

"It will be interesting to see if employers can find the skilled staff they require to fill the positions, bringing into focus the need for companies to create and support Apprenticeships so we can start to fill the talent pipeline again."

The MAS National Barometer has been based on the successful model conducted in the South West for the last three years. It predominantly provides a snapshot of trends in English manufacturing SMEs, as well as an overview of economic conditions and issues faced by the sector.

The report revealed that 49% of companies in Yorkshire and Humber are planning to increase spend on premises and machinery, whilst 37% plan to invest in developing new technology which will help them to remain ahead of global competition.

It appears that the MAS message of continuous improvement is also being understood, with more than 82% of firms admitting they would secure business growth through making improvements in operational efficiency.

MAS is funded by the government and is available to all manufacturing businesses across England. It is delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC), which is comprised of Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium Ltd and SWMAS Ltd.

MAS website

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News: MAS to target SMEs

A new nationally operated Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will focus on helping small and medium sized manufacturers to grow.

The new service will be delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) and will help create an estimated £1.5bn in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 jobs.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service will continue to deliver a national service to all manufacturing businesses in England but the new consortium now means that there will be a specific focus on technical support SMEs developing advanced manufacturing capabilities and creating high value jobs.

Other target areas include business improvement with manufacturers operating in global supply chains, and boosting the number of apprentices at SMEs.

Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "Manufacturing contributes half of Britain's exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth. That is why we are taking steps to ensure our industrial base is thriving as part of a strong and balanced UK economy.

"Britain has world class manufacturers and the new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will help them grow and create more outstanding companies with a particular focus on helping SMEs."

Previously delivered through the Regional Development Agencies the new service is expected to deliver four times the current return on investment. The Manufacturing Advisory Consortium comprises Grant Thornton, Pera, WM Manufacturing Consortium Ltd and MAS SW Ltd.

MAS in Yorkshire & Humber operates from offices on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

MAS Yorkshire & Humber website

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News: Inside Industry at Garnett Dickinson

Rotherham print group, Garnett Dickinson are opening up the doors to their state-of-the-art facility in Manvers, Rotherham.

The Inside Industry event on March 16 will show how the company are waging a successful war on waste with help from the Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire & Humber (MAS Y&H).

Four years ago, as part of a £20m investment, the privately owned company which has a turnover of £22m and employs 143 people, relocated from Pontefract to a state-of-the-art factory at Brookfields Park, Manvers.

MAS consultant, Dave Roberts held a series of strategic workshops with directors and trained key employees and members of the management team to develop their knowledge of "lean" improvement techniques.

The intervention has involved all of the Garnett Dickinson Print employees in the business improvement process and has led to many tangible improvements including waste being reduced annually by £368,000 and machine downtime by £1600 a week.

Inside Industry is a factory visit programme enabling manufacturers to benchmark their performance and learn best practice tools and techniques from some of the most successful businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

MAS-YH website
Garnett Dickinson

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News: £50m to continue the Manufacturing Advisory Service

The Government has announced that they are investing £50m over three years in the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) which provides a highly valued advice service to industry making SMEs more productive and competitive.

The announcement came as Business Minister, Mark Prisk launced a review into Advanced Manufacturing.

Mark Prisk said: "I am pleased to announce that we are investing £50 million over three years in the Manufacturing Advisory Service so it can continue giving the support SMEs need to become more productive and competitive.

"While recent statistics have shown the future is bright for manufacturing the job losses announced by BAE systems yesterday show that there remains challenges that the Government will need to work with industry to address."

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has been a huge success since its launch in 2002. MAS now plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasing competitive global economy.

With a base on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the Yorkshire and Humber MAS is the best performing MAS in the country; delivering £170m of additional gross value added in the companies it has assisted to date.

The service is managed in the region by YFM Business Development and has been jointly funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

With a reduction in funding, MAS Y&H submitted a business plan ealier in the year in a bid to secure £1m of ERDF funding to enhance the service until 2012.

MAS Y&H website

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News: Conference helps manufacturers get a competitive edge for the future

Over 200 manufacturers from across the region gathered in Rotherham earlier this month for the annual Manufacturing Conference organised by The Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire & Humber (MAS Y&H).

Held at the Advanced Manufacturing Park Technology Centre in Rotherham, the "New Era for Manufacturing" event was specifically designed to provide delegates with key information and advice needed to move their businesses forward including how to develop strategic direction, gear up for the future with innovative and advanced manufacturing techniques and make the most of "low carbon" opportunities.

Industry experts who addressed the audience included Cheryl Kindness, design & development director of multi-award winning Camira Fabrics (Mirfield). Camira manufacture 8m metres of fabric every year and export to over 70 countries.

Cheryl shared some of the secrets of the company's success including how it had successfully innovated its way ahead of its competitors with the clever use of sustainable design and manufacture.

Peter Hopton, chief executive of the Sheffield-based energy efficient computer manufacturer Very PC talked about the importance of capitalising on the "green" revolution and gave delegates a valuable insight into making the most of the funding available to them.

Steve Watson, managing director of Global Aftermarket Services at Huddersfield-based David Brown Gears (which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year) led delegates through the journey of moving a traditional business into renewables, whilst Nick Hussey of Manufacturing Insight stressed the importance of improving the image of manufacturing amongst young people.

A range of MAS supported businesses also hosted pracitcal workshops at the conference.

Robin Watson, regional director of MAS chaired the conference and said: "Due to the current position on future funding of MAS, we are entering a period of great uncertainty. However, we remain committed to do everything we can to continue to support the region's manufacturing community; the success of which we believe is firmly linked with the UK's route to future prosperity."

The event also included the opportunity of a guided tour of the Factory of the Future at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC).

MAS-YH website

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News: Inside industry at PMS Diecasting

PMS Diecasting is offering an opportunity to see inside their Rotherham factory as part of the Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire & Humber (MAS) Inside Industry programme.

The latest in a series of factory visits enables manufacturers to benchmark their performance and learn best practice tools and techniques from some of the most successful businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

On October 20, Yorkshire manufacturers can find out how PMS Diecasting, the UK's most technologically advanced zinc diecaster – has invested in robotic technology alongside its Lean programme to give the company a great advantage over its competitors.

The company has successfully broken away from traditional methods of diecasting and built up a modern, forward looking business capable of fulfilling complex bespoke orders in vast quantities.

Founded in 1975, PMS developed a precision manufacturing process to produce handsaws that proved so successful that every DIY retail outlet and most handtool distributors sold an "own brand" saw which was made and branded by PMS in Rotherham. In just five years PMS became the largest volume manufacturer of handaws in the UK.

Founder Gordon Panter, and colleague, Robin Mokryj, acquired the company in 2000 and started an intensive investment programme to move into specialist diecasting work.

The employee-owned business, which has 30 staff and has pioneered environmentally-friendly manufacturing techniques, expects turnover to rise by £500,000 to £3.5m. Customers include Yale, Chubb, Britax and Gripple.

Tours are led by staff at the company, and there are plenty of opportunities for questions and networking. Places are charged at just £50 per person, which includes buffet lunch.

PMS Diecasting website
MAS-YH website

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News: Rotherham heralds a New Era for Manufacturing

The region's senior manufacturers will head to Rotherham in October for the 2010 Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS Y&H) Manufacturing Conference.

Called a "New Era for Manufacturing", the conference is focused on helping companies make the most of low carbon opportunities and push forward with innovative and advanced manufacturing techniques.

The event will take place at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham on October 14 and attendees will be able to pick up practical tips and advice from local companies and respected business leaders and network with over 200 members of the local manufacturing community.

In addition, they will also be able to take away ideas about how to capitalise on potential opportunities and find out about the grant subsidised support available from MAS.

Keynote speakers include Steve Watson from David Brown Gears who will discuss moving a traditional business into renewables and Cheryl Kindness of Camira Fabrics will discuss product innovation and sustainable manufacturing. Peter Hopton of Very PC will talk about Capitalising on the green revolution and Nick Hussey of Manufacturing Insight will take about improving the image of UK manufacturing.

Through interactive workshops, MAS supported businesses will share with you how they have used specific tools and strategies to improve their performance. The focus will be on manufacturing strategy, innovation in practice, developing your team and a business case for green & sustainable manufacturing.

Also included is the opportunity of a guided tour of the Factory of the Future at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC).

Robin Watson, regional director of MAS said: "The last two years have been a turbulent time for manufacturers but we now have the chance to create a new era for manufacturing. Through this year's conference, we want to reinforce the strong message that manufacturing in Yorkshire & Humber is alive and well, and that MAS will continue its support to ensure that the industry prospers.

"Our aim is that by the end of the conference delegates will have gained innovative ideas about how to capitalise on potential opportunities for their business and are aware of the support available from MAS to help achieve their goals."

MAS Y&H website

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News: Garnett Dickinson's war on waste

Rotherham-based print group, Garnett Dickinson, are waging a successful war on waste with help from the Manufacturing Advisory Service Yorkshire & Humber (MAS Y&H).

With expert assistance, the intervention has involved all of the Garnett Dickinson Print employees in the business improvement process and has led to many tangible improvements including waste being reduced annually by £368,000 and machine downtime by £1600 a week.

Sales are on target to rise by 14% and productivity and efficiency are on track to improve by £300,000 in the current trading year along with added value rising by £368,000.

Garnett Dickinson was originally a newspaper company (it still owns the Rotherham Advertiser) and now manufactures a range of magazines and personalised printing services for a range of clients.

Four years ago, as part of a £20m investment, the privately owned company which has a turnover of £22m and employs 43 people, relocated from Pontefract to a state-of-the-art factory at Brookfields Park, Manvers.

MAS consultant, Dave Roberts visited Garnett Dickinson to carry out a manufacturing review which highlighted the need to develop a business and manufacturing strategy and get everyone in the business to "buy in" and really get involved in the changes.

As a result, Dave Roberts held a series of strategic workshops with directors and trained key employees and members of the management team to develop their knowledge of "lean" improvement techniques.

Project manager, Christine Davies said: "Working with Dave on our "War on Waste" campaign made me realise that to make lasting and sustainable changes, people involvement was essential.

"However, the savings and improvements have gone far beyond just the initial remit of cutting waste and has led to a whole culture change taking place in the business."

The group were highly commended at the BPIF Print Week Excellence Awards 2009 for improved company performance through the adoption of lean techniques.

Dave Roberts is also mentoring Garnett Dickinson Print's divisional director, Andrew Barker. "We have three other MAS projects currently in the pipeline including 5S (workplace organization methodology)," said Andrew.

"Being able to access funding through MAS to move these projects forward is very important during these challenging economic times. The 5S project, in particular, will enable us to have the capability to effectively handle big volume direct mail such as the distribution of five million leaflets for larger clients."

Garnett Dickinson website
MAS Y&H website

Images: garnett-dickinson.co.uk

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News: Specialist support for the aerospace industry

The area now has a new resource for SC21 guidance and Aerospace AS9100 quality management systems courtesy of Peter Thornton-Smith at The BPAS Group based in Rotherham.

The 21st century supply chains (SC21) initiative is a change programme designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the aerospace and defence industry by raising the performance of its supply chains.

AS9100 is the quality management standard specifically written for the aerospace industry.

To comply with the new Revision C of AS9100, Peter renewed his qualifications by attending a foundation course and examination provided by the SC21 strategic partner TEC Transnational.

In addition, Peter was recently approached by SC21 training partner The ICE Partnership to be their Associate Member responsible for quality management systems, both aerospace and ISO.

Senior Partner of the BPAS Group, Peter is a qualified metallurgist, a member of the Chartered Quality Institute, a Chartered Engineer and former Technical Director who can offer a broad range of experience to the manufacturing sector.

From the base at Moorgate, Peter has been working closely with both Business Link as a quality assured provider and the Manufacturing Advisory Service as a MAS Specialist. He has installed both basic and aerospace systems around the area with clients in such diverse business sectors as fire protection; aluminium pressure die casting; commercial interior installation to the manufacture of aircraft covers.

The BPAS Group website

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News: Get involved in the future of manufacturing

Local manufacturers are being urged to think about how they can get involved in emerging sectors such as the civil nuclear industry.

The call comes from Robin Watson, the regional director of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in Yorkshire & Humber and follows the announcement that the Rolls-Royce Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) will be created in Rotherham, making the region a centre of excellence in the UK's civil nuclear industry.

Robin described the announcement as fantastic news for South Yorkshire manufacturing as it is set to create hundreds of local jobs down the supply chain.

He said: "Manufacturers need to start thinking about how they can get involved in supplying to these emerging markets now, as these are the sectors that will drive significant growth and strengthen advanced manufacturing in South Yorkshire in the years to come.

"Don't be afraid to seek advice – there is a wealth of support out there to ensure Yorkshire manufacturers are supported in maximising the economic opportunities and minimising the costs of transition to a low carbon economy."

The Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham was chosen as the base for the UK's new £25m NAMRC and Rolls-Royce's planned civil nuclear facility will also be developed in South Yorkshire.

As a government service, MAS plays a vital role in helping UK manufacturers to share knowledge, improve productivity and achieve success in an increasing competitive global economy.

MAS has put together a specific offering of manufacturing reviews and improvement projects to help manufacturers access new markets, develop resource efficient products and processes and put action plans in place for continuous improvement.

Robin is also promoting AEM Yorkshire, managed by NAMTEC in Rotherham, that is currently developing specialist networks that will bring companies from these emerging market sectors together and deliver a range of initiatives to exploit opportunities for the region.

The Innovation Network around the Advanced Engineering and Materials (AEM) sector in Yorkshire and Humberside is holding a launch event on the AMP this month.

MAS website
AEM Yorkshire website
Rotherham

Images: MAS Y&H

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News: Manufacturing convention to see the MANTRA

The Manufacturing Transporter (MANTRA) will be displaying the future of manufacturing at an upcoming convention organised by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).

MANTRA is a mobile virtual reality demonstration unit designed to highlight the manufacturing technologies being developed at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) in Rotherham.

The MANTRA display unit is equipped with advanced CAD/CAM stations, a four axis machining centre and associated analysis equipment, including vibration monitoring, tool path verification software, modular fixturing and a range of novel cutting tools.

Visitors can learn how to use vibration monitoring equipment and how to set up a machine for optimum performance. It will also highlight constraints on machining performance, such as vibration for thin walls, cutting tool vibration and machine tool wear and methods of eliminating their impact such as novel tool paths, novel fixturing concepts and process damping.

MANTRA also has an advanced assembly demonstrator including the use of indoor GPS, laser alignment and smart tooling. A virtual reality assembly problem can also be analysed and demonstrated. Case study demonstrators of assembling a small gear box using low cost robotics, and positioning and aligning components using iGPS and laser alignment are used to demonstrate the technologies now available to improve the assembly process.

The MAS Manufacturing Convention - "Looking to the Future in Manufacturing" takes place in Harrogate on November 12.

MAS website
AMRC website
Rotherham

Images: EPSRC

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News: Best practice on show at TWI

TWI are throwing open the doors of their high tech centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham.

The Inside Industry factory visit, organised by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Yorkshire, will allow visitors to see the wide range of technical expertise and technology at TWI, and gain an insight into the future of manufacturing.

TWI is one of the world's foremost independent research and technology organisations. It provides industry with engineering solutions in structures incorporating joining and associated technologies.

TWI's expertise covers materials properties and applications; joining, fabricating and assembling technologies; and manufacturing management. The two main technologies housed within TWI's Yorkshire Technology Centre are laser processing and friction stir welding.

The event takes place on October 6 at 9:00am.

TWI website
MAS website

Rotherham

Images: TWI

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News: Rotherham hosts manufacturers event

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) are hosting an event in Rotherham to help manufacturing companies through the recession.

The event, at the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre in Rotherham will include a series of workshops, presentations and networking.

The event will provide the opportunity to find out how MAS has helped other businesses through difficult times and what funding is available.

MAS workshops will be run by manufacturing specialists highlighting the "top-tips" to improve manufacturing output.

Presentations include "Sustaining manufacturing improvements for survival" from Mike Brook,Brook Corporate Developments and "How implementing Lean principles is helping my business to survive and gain market share" from Martin Nettleton, MD of Euroglaze, Barnsley.

The event takes place on July 8, 9am - 12:30pm.

MAS website
Rotherham

Images: mas.berr.gov.uk

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