MAS Core Offerings
Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has a passion and belief that manufacturing has a great future ahead. We know that all manufacturers are different, which is why our help comes in a range of forms.
MAS delivers advice to UK manufacturers to improve their productivity and competitiveness. There are five main levels of service offered to businesses in need of manufacturing related support:
- FREE Direct helpline - A free quick query service. Our experts will be happy to help answer questions on a wide range of technical issues by email or phone. Tel: 0800 093 9077 or Email: info@mas-nw.co.uk
- Manufacturing Review FREE to SME manufacturers - our experienced industrial practitioners will carry out a hands-on assessment and diagnostic of your business that will highlight areas of opportunity or action you can take to improve operational performance. All initial advice relating to this is also free of charge. Contact MAS North West to find out more.
- Events - training and networking events to help improve awareness and skills related to manufacturing issues and best practice. See our events page for details of the events on in your area.
- Subsidised Consultancy Support for SMEs - MAS can provide heavy subsidies towards the cost of an expert to help you improve your business. This support includes:
- Help with developing new or more effective products or processes
- Innovation advice
- Identifying new markets and customers
- Reducing costs and improving efficiency
- Introducing best practice
- Signposting and Referral - for non-manufacturing queries, such as financial, human resources, marketing, legal or environmental
issues, MAS works closely with Business Link and other organisations to ensure manufacturers have access to a full range of business support services.
The MAS programme has always aimed to introduce lean manufacturing processes. The common services and tools used by MAS advisers focus on:
- Developing lean thinking
- Providing value stream and process mapping
- Introducing 5s and 6 sigma techniques
- Team building
- Improving layouts and space utilisation
- Reducing work in progress
- Improving quality and delivery
- Introducing materials and product innovational programme of visits to best practice exemplars
- Assistance in finding supplies, services or equipment
- Assistance to companies who want to improve their resource efficiency
- Assistance to companies developing and/or introducing new products
- Assistance to companies for working within a supply base or with supply chains
- Assistance in developing a medium to long term manufacturing strategy
- Assistance in applying lean techniques across their whole enterprise
