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Northern Powerhouse

Are you Made For Manufacturing?

Focused on Growing Your Business, Growing Your Profits?

Manufacturing good practice / Lean thinking has an end goal: Improved quality, better lead times, reduced costs. This is achieved through leaders taking action, exhibiting good behaviours, coaching good behaviours and leading by example.   

Are you Made for Manufacturing?

Now through a combination of two visits to good practice sites, expert speakers in Lean thinking, and peer learning,  the BGH Manufacturing Team is presenting you and your organisation with an opportunity to demonstrate that you too could be Made for Manufacturing in 2023 – A Manufacturing Champion.

This programme is for Business Leaders, Manufacturing Leaders, Improvement Leaders.

Objectives of the programme – the characteristics of a Made for Manufacturing organisation:

  • To be a results driven company that has measurable targets for Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD), taking quantifiable actions to address shortfalls. Identifying a next step.
  • A Lean Thinking organisation – everybody empowered to solve problems every day to deliver QCD improvements.
  • To have a network of fellow Made for Manufacturing alumni who share your passion for doing and your passion for learning.
  • Never losing sight that the people who determine if you are Made for Manufacturing are your customers. Your profitability and future prosperity depend on them.

 

The next Made for Manufacturing Programme will begin on September 2023. Please complete the Expression of Interest Form here or contact Nick Brandwood, Programme Manager on nick.brandwood@growthco.uk or 07718 301 235 to discuss the programme.

'Go Look See’: A Peek Behind the Curtain at Our Region’s Best and Brightest

Modules

Day 1: Lean Thinking

It is not just about global car companies. Delivering and sustaining the quality, cost, delivery benefits of lean thinking in manufacturing SMEs.

Day 2: Maximising Productivity / Towards Manufacturing Excellence

Observing good practice in a manufacturing SME. Understanding the challenges and mindset of continuous improvement.

Day 3: Leadership

Developing a culture to engage and empower your people. Everybody solving problems every day.

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Made for Manufacturing testimonials

“The programme has taught me to change the way I think about things and given me a good basis for how to go about solving problems. I am now thinking ahead and planning things in advance rather than waiting to be reactive. The networking side of the programme has been very beneficial.  It is good to be able to bounce ideas off other people and gain a new perspective from people outside the business. We are now working on a couple of projects which will make a huge difference to the productivity of the business."

Tony Lynch, Works Manager, Arden Dies Ltd

“I’ve enjoyed the programme and it is already helping in our growth plans. It was interesting to see how other companies face similar fire-fighting challenges – it’s good to see it is not just us.  I am now focusing on a more formalised structure, taking time to measure and improve first things first.”

Andy Mosley, Production Manager, Manchester Manufacturing Group Ltd

“I’ve found the Made for Manufacturing programme really useful – especially having an external perspective on the issues we don’t always see and what others have achieved. It has focused our vision on the real priorities. As a company we have challenges, we all do, but we are in a great place and excited about where we can be in 12 months’ time.”

Neil Mullarkey, Director, Polyfab Coatings and Systems Ltd

“We now analyse and address issues as they arise rather than on a weekly basis, as this can just be too late.”

Phil Coffey, Managing Director, Leighton Packaging Ltd

“The course has been fantastic, and it has been somewhat reassuring to know that there are others out there who are experiencing the same challenges – even though they are operating in very different market sectors. Personally, I feel like I have started to make the first significant moves and it has given me a huge amount energy and positivity that I fully intend to carry through to 2021 – I highly encourage the others to do the same! I think that the course has also shown us what kind of support is on offer – all we have to do is seek it out and make the most of it!”

Paul Mellish, Engineering and Operations Director, Farrat Isolevel Ltd

“The sessions were jam packed full of useful information, insights and experiences.  I almost didn’t do the course because I didn’t think I ‘d be able to fit it in, but I’m so glad I did.  I’ve been trying to introduce continuous improvement into the company for the last 18 months, but I feel the course has given a structure I can follow and resources I can tap into.”

Ben Allan, Creative Director – Multiwood Products Ltd

Made for Manufacturing’s Hall of Fame

Grow your business, grow your profits

Delivered in short sprints, Made for Manufacturing's workshops enable you to improve your quality, customer satisfaction, lead times and reduce costs.

Results driven

To be a results driven company that has measurable targets for Quality, Cost and Lead Time taking quantifiable actions to address shortfalls.

Vision & values

To have a strategic vision and company values linked to continuous improvement. Your individuals and teams aspiring to exhibit these values every day to achieve the goal.

Best practice

Relentless pursuit of best practice and standardisation. Your people are excellent problem solvers who pursue root cause to identify and eliminate the major causes of variability within your processes and share, standardise and celebrate the learning.

Visual

A visual company, utilising clear visual controls to set the standard and to highlight and eliminate abnormal conditions.

Digital

Taking all opportunities to identify, assess and implement new digital technologies that provide a competitive advantage.

Peer network

To have a network of fellow Made for Manufacturing alumni who share your passion for doing and your passion for learning

Customer-centric

Never losing sight that the people who determine if you are “Made for Manufacturing” are your customers. Your profitability and future prosperity depends on them.

Meet the Made for Manufacturing programme leaders

Nick Brandwood

Nick Brandwood, Manufacturing Advisor

Nick has over 20 years' experience of implementing Lean and overseeing Six Sigma Improvement projects. 

Originally employed as a graduate Polymer scientist he has subsequently been employed in technological, continuous improvement and senior line management roles in automotive, textiles and secure printing manufacturing organisations. 

Nick is very hands-on and likes to understand and analyse problems, questioning perceptions and speaking with data. He has significant experience in facilitating change having previously worked as a Manufacturing Advisory Service advisor and has undertaken Lean transformations in automotive, aerospace, food and textile manufacturing companies.  

He has also trained over 30 six sigma greenbelts, and specialises in understanding and controlling variation and risk within the manufacturing process.  

Most recently, Nick was employed as the Quality and OPEX manager in a secure print company – ensuring that the productivity, quality and process capability targets for the imminent £20 plastic banknote were achieved to the satisfaction of the client.

To view Nick's full profile including technical capabilities and industry experience, please click here.

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