South West Firms make pledge to be ‘Fit for the Future’
GKN Aerospace, the world’s leading first tier supplier for aircraft component and structures manufacturing, opened its doors to host an interactive event both to challenge and assist regional manufacturers looking to make the most of new business opportunities in 2010 and beyond.
Led by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the South West (MAS-SW), senior managers were invited to attend the first in a series of ‘Fit for the Future’ practical workshops. The event provided essential design know-how in order for manufacturers to develop new products or improve current product ranges, enabling companies to better satisfy market requirements. Additional expert support was provided by the Enterprise Europe Network and UK Trade & Investment.
Coupled with a tour of GKN Aerospace’s extensive integrated machining centre and A380 Fixed trailing Edge assembly facility, delegates were shown how to design for competitive advantage, re-design today’s products for tomorrow’s demands, protect designs, explore new markets in the UK as well as overseas, and form commercial partnerships.
Dr Richard McIntosh, a MAS-SW new product, innovation and design specialist from the University of Bath, provided insight into the importance and techniques of on-going design innovation and was subsequently available for one-to-one trouble-shooting sessions with delegates.
Matt Otley, production manager at Rexquote Ltd, said: “The tour gave us a fantastic insight into the scale and complexity of such an operation as GKN Aerospace, and from the specialist advice given on the day and knowledge gained from the tour, we will take away more efficient production processes, to grow opportunities in other areas.”
“Good design practice, including advanced manufacturing, is vital if manufacturers are to capitalise on the new market opportunities that a low-carbon future will offer.”
Dr McIntosh said: “The variety of manufacturers attending this session shows that no matter the scale of activity, structured, innovative design can be readily undertaken by all companies – something which has been acknowledged by delegates aspiring to compete successfully in the future.”
John Thompson, senior international trade advisor at UKTI also added: “The event was a blast of fresh air and gave those attending an opportunity to collect new ideas. These ranged from improving processes and designs, thinking about the value of intellectual property that is invested and often inherent in businesses, through to strategic growth planning and opportunities in new markets.
“The GKN site visit brought into focus alternative ways of working and with it additional practical applications for the future.”
To take advantage of these new opportunities, MAS-SW urges manufacturers to embrace advanced manufacturing methods, getting ahead of the game in product design, production processes and time to market.
The commercial benefits of modern manufacturing skills are clear – MAS-SW’s manufacturing barometer reveals that over 50 per cent of the South West’s manufacturing companies have seen a rise in enquiries compared to six months ago.
As the UK’s first Low Carbon Economic Area, the region also has significant opportunities in marine renewables (including £19.5 million of government funding), clean technologies in the aerospace industry and supply chain products for low-carbon energy infrastructure – three sectors in which the South West excels.
