January 17, 2012 News Created by the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a structured approach to deploy a comprehensive set of tools and techniques in order to eliminate losses across a whole organisation. TPM involves the capabilities of the whole workforce to ensure effective and sustainable improvements are implemented. Industry Forum will be hosting a TPM Seminar on 15th March 2012 at Jaguar Land Rover Visitors Centre. The seminar will give an overview on the structure of the TPM model, compare TPM to Lean Manufacturing, and include case studies from companies who have implemented TPM. There are a limited number of places are available at £75 + VAT per delegate inclusive of refreshments and lunch. Seminar Agenda Why TPM? TPM Vs Lean TPM Excellence Awards TPM Deployment Approach Case Studies Q&As Download TPM Seminar Agenda If you would like more information please e-mail [email protected] or call Tomomi Austin-Bailey on +44 (0)121 717 6619. Alternatively, you can book a place to the Semianr online. Download TPM Seminar 2012 flyer (pdf)
December 14, 2011 News This article was first posted on the SMMT website on Tuesday 13 December 2011 Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division has announced it is to invest £50m in its UK manufacturing facilities for new products and expanded production facilities in Leicestershire and Stoke-on-Tees. The news follows Caterpillar’s recent announcement to create 300 new permanent jobs across the East Midlands and North East UK regions, generating new supply chain possibilities for local engineering and manufacturing companies that supply components to Caterpillar. Commenting on the announcement Baljinder Sanghera, Managing Director of Leicester–based firm Kaby Engineering, said, “Kaby has been a supplier to Caterpillar for 33 years and with this new growth the future looks very bright for everyone here in Leicester”. He added, “Kaby has been working very closely with Caterpillar in strengthening the supply chain right from initial design of the product to delivery at the assembly line and removing waste throughout the whole process.” Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP said, “The news of the £50m investment, along with the recent creation of 300 permanent jobs is excellent for the East Midlands and the North East. This is a real vote of confidence in UK manufacturing and in our capabilities in construction equipment innovation and production. It’s manufacturers like Caterpillar and their UK supply chain that will help us re-balance the economy, create jobs and encourage sustainable economic growth that benefits the whole country.” Robert Droogleever, General Manager of Caterpillar’s Global Backhoe Loader Business, said, “This investment is the most recent example of the Company’s on-going strategy to invest in its UK operations to support customer demand in the long-term,” said. “Our UK workforce has demonstrated that they have the capability to design and assemble world-class products in Desford and Stockton to the benefit of the regional economies in which we operate and, with more than 90% of our products being exported, to send a strong signal about the ability of UK-based manufacturers to be globally competitive.” Caterpillar’s UK manufacturing facilities employ more than 2,000 people and since 2010 has increased its labour resource in the UK by more than 70%. To find out the latest news on investment within UK automotive, visit the SMMT website
December 14, 2011 News Industry Forum and the SMMT have launched a free to use TPM Forum. The purpose of the TPM Forum is to facilitate discussion on best practices used for TPM implementation and preparing for a TPM award assessment. The forum is divided into two sections, one focused on TPM consultancy and implementation, and one on TPM Assessment and Awards. The Forum is facilitated by JIPM Accredited TPM Assessors who are on hand to answer any questions that you may have and to help facilitate debate and discussion on all topics relating to TPM.
December 13, 2011 News This article was first posted on the SMMT website on Tuesday 13 December 2011 JCB, the world’s third largest manufacturer of construction equipment, today announced plans for a new £31 million engine development project in the UK that will create around 350 jobs across its Midlands and Wales plants. The programme will benefit from a £4.5 million grant through the government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) initiative. Design and research will take place at JCB Power Systems in Foston, Derbyshire, where the company’s Dieselmax engine is manufactured. The new engine will be installed in JCB’s own products, as well as being sold to third parties, and its development will create almost 50 new advanced engineering jobs at JCB Power Systems. When the engine goes into production, a further 300 additional jobs will be created across the company’s Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham factories between 2016 and 2021. “Since we began production in 2004, JCB has led the way in off-highway engine development, with a range of fuel saving, clean and highly efficient engines,” said JCB Chief Executive, Alan Blake. “The announcement that we now intend to invest £31 million developing our next generation engine is an important step in building on the success we have enjoyed so far and it will take the efficiency, productivity and environmental performance of our engines to new levels.” JCB’s own engines now power more than 70% of the company’s equipment range. The same engines also powered the JCB Dieselmax car to a diesel land speed world record of 350.092mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats, USA in 2006.
December 9, 2011 News The following article was first published on the SMMT website on Friday 9th December 2011 Over the past 18 months, Vauxhall Motors has awarded more than €230m worth of contracts to UK suppliers, making a significant contribution to the UK economy, securing higher revenue, export value and employment within the automotive sector. Suppliers across the UK have been awarded contracts on the basis of quality, service, technology and price. The new business includes supply to Vauxhall’s two UK plants in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, and Luton, Bedfordshire, as well as export to General Motors (GM) divisions across the globe. In line with the Automotive Council’s strategy to ensure the long term strategic development of the UK automotive industry with a particular focus on the supply chain, Vauxhall/GM is committed to identifying and promoting sourcing opportunities in the UK. Bill Parfitt, Chairman of GM UK and Vauxhall Motors and also the first Chairman of the Automotive Council’s Supply Chain Group, said, “Vauxhall is keen to build on the momentum and push for new business with UK suppliers to the benefit of local economies and GM globally who are now increasingly aware of the great potential that resides in the UK.” One example of Vauxhall Motors’ investment is with Cobra UK in Wales. From its factory in Welshpool, Powys, Cobra UK has won a number of contracts to supply components for Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant and other GM facilities around the world. This led to Cobra UK being awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise this year in recognition of its export achievements. A flourishing UK supply base is fundamental to the future success of the wider automotive industry. Click through to read about how SMMT is strengthening the supply chain. Find out about other high-profile announcements from UK automotive companies regarding investment, expansion, new models and employment. Visit the Automotive Council website to find out more about the aims and objectives of the Supply Chain Group.
November 24, 2011 News Toyota has announced today, that it is to build all its new generation C-segment hatchback models at its Burnaston manufacturing facility in Derbyshire, pledging a £100 million investment in the site. Becoming the sole European manufacturing centre for the new hatchbacks, including hybrid, petrol and diesel models, the Burnaston plant will see a significant increase in production volumes, creating up to 1,500 additional jobs in the next two years. Welcoming the news of further investment into UK automotive manufacturing, Prime Minster David Cameron said, “This major announcement from Toyota is fantastic news and a massive vote of confidence for UK manufacturing. “This investment and the jobs it will create provide a terrific boost not just to the local economy but to the whole country, and is a tribute to the great skill, hard work and sheer professionalism shown by the Toyota workforce. Toyota’s commitment to the UK shows the growing strength of the UK car industry – it is our great British success story. “It is vital that we build a more balanced economy, one with manufacturing, innovation and exports at its heart. The automotive sector is leading the way in helping us achieve this – it is an extraordinary success story and one that we are very proud of.” Toyota’s £100 million investment will feed directly into tooling and equipment at the Burnaston vehicle plant, taking Toyota’s total investment in its UK manufacturing business to more than £2.1 billion since it was established as the company’s first European production centre in 1989. In addition, Toyota has promised a further a £85 million into the UK supply chain. “Toyota’s announcement is excellent news for employees at the Burnaston and Deeside plants and UK-based suppliers,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “This year’s wave of high-profile UK investment announcements is great news for the future of the industry, creating and protecting thousands of jobs and helping to secure economic recovery.” Together with the Avensis saloon and tourer, hatchback production at Burnaston will further strengthen the UK’s status as a global exporter, as approximately 85% of Toyota’s UK-built engines and vehicles are shipped to Europe and other world markets. Tony Walker, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, and Deputy Managing Director said, “This is great news for Burnaston and Deeside. The decision to bring all production of new generation C-segment hatchbacks to Britain reflects on the excellent work done by our members in delivering the highest standards in productivity and quality. “Going beyond our own operations, there will also be benefits for our local communities and regions, safeguarding thousands of jobs in the UK supply chain.” The Burnaston facility boasts a special status as one of Toyota’s global Sustainable Plants, setting industry standards in cleaner, low carbon production and the harnessing of sustainable energy sources. Toyota’s achievements in the UK include zero waste to landfill and incineration whilst significantly reducing the amount of energy and water required to build each vehicle. In July this year Toyota achieved another UK industry first with the inauguration of Britain’s largest industrial solar panel array, capable of capturing up to 4.6 million kWh of sustainable energy every year – enough to build around 7,000 cars. Toyota’s investment in manufacturing and the production of cleaner, more efficient vehicles such as the Auris Hybrid, fall in line with the UK government’s ambitions both for a stronger manufacturing sector and a low carbon society.
October 27, 2011 News Developed by the German automotive industry VDA 6.3 defines a process based audit standard for evaluating and improving controls in a manufacturing organisation’s processes. Revised in 2010, the standard was comprehensively restructured to reflect the changes to ISO9001 and customer specific requirements in the automotive industry. The standard can be used by any organisation, either for internal process audits, or for evaluating potential or existing suppliers. Overview This awareness seminar will provide an overview of the structure, content and scoring evaluation systems of VDA 6.3 together with an overview of customer specific requirements in terms of VDA 6.3. The seminar will be delivered by Paul Hardiman, one of our approved VDA trainers and a member of the IATF Training & Exam Commission for ISO/TS16949. There will be plenty of opportunities for questions and answers throughout the session. Tea, coffee and lunch will be provided. Seminar Details Time: 9.00am – 12.30pm Location: IF Learning Centre, SMMT Industry Forum, 2410 Regents Court, The Crescent, Birmingham Business Park, Birmingham, B37 7YE, UK Cost: £75 per delegate plus VAT To book a place…. Please contact Sophie Meeson on 0121 717 6628, email [email protected] or fill in the enquiry form below. [contact-form-7 id=”4477″ title=”VDA Seminar”]
October 7, 2011 News Ever had difficulty finding the benefits of all that improvement activity on your bottom line? Perhaps you’re looking in the wrong place in the wrong timescale…….. If there are unrealistic expectations about the short-term financial returns to be made from improvements this can lead to disillusionment and a scaling down of activity just when the financial benefits are within your grasp. SMMT IF is hosting a workshop exploring the link between improvement activities and financial performance. This workshop will start by building a simple model of how all businesses work in financial terms and then use that model to explore the financial impact of different types of improvement activity. Concepts such as the difference between Profit and Cash Flow will be explained in straight-forward terms and the likelihood of current reporting methodologies encouraging ‘bad behaviour’ will be discussed. As the subject is approached from a ‘common-sense’ perspective, the session caters for all levels of existing financial knowledge from those who consider themselves financially illiterate to those with substantial previous exposure to financial issues. The workshop will be lead by Anne Hawkins who has worked with Industry Forum as an associate since 2003. Anne has an enviable reputation for explaining seemingly complex financial issues in straight-forward terms and is the author of a number of books including ‘Lean Means Beans’ and ‘Mastering The Numbers’. The workshop is on 8th November 2011 and costs £50 + VAT per delegate which includes a copy of ‘Lean Means Beans’ for each delegate. To book a place online please click here Industry Forum are preparing a range of courses in Finance to be delivered in 2012 and will be using this workshop as a means to gain feedback from delegates to ensure that these courses are tailored to meeting the needs of their clients. To book a place online please click here Download Agenda Further Information: [email protected] +44 (0)121 717 6614 Download Flyer
September 13, 2011 News Rolls-Royce has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility at Goodwood in West Sussex as the brand celebrates significant growth in global sales. The expansion will see total investment of approximately £10 million and will complete the final phase of the site’s development. Work will see the assembly hall increased in size by more than 2,500 square metres, and a new extension added to the Surface Finish Centre, expanding it by more than 640 square metres. Rolls-Royce say that the new development, coupled with a number of additional infrastructure changes will allow significant growth in manufacturing capacity as well as its ‘Bespoke’ operation, which allows customers to commission motor cars that are completely personalised to meet their lifestyles and creative ideas. The decision to expand the plant follows record sales across all markets, both at home and internationally as the company continues to increase its dealer network with several new dealerships launched in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce said, “We continue to see increased demand from customers all over the world and the new facilities will allow us to increase the capacity for our hand-built, highly personalised motor cars. Business Minister Mark Prisk MP said, “It is good news to hear that Rolls-Royce has plans for expansion at the Goodwood site. It is a further endorsement of the strength of the automotive sector in the UK.” Expansion of the site is scheduled to commence later this year and will be completed in late 2012.
September 12, 2011 News Released 5th September 2011 Jaguar Land Rover today welcomed its largest single intake of graduates in the company’s history. The 336 new recruits are beginning a two year programme developed to provide the right blend of technical expertise, personal development and knowledge needed for a truly rewarding career at one of the world’s leading automotive businesses. The 2011 graduate intake are joining Jaguar Land Rover during one of the most exciting and challenging periods in the automotive industry as climate change, global consumer demands and economic volatility combine to challenge current ideologies and demand greater technological innovation. Jaguar Land Rover HR Director, Des Thurlby, said: “Today marks an important day both for the graduates who are embarking on their careers with us and for our business as we enter a phase of intense investment in our future – investment in products, people and infrastructure. This is an incredibly exciting time for Jaguar Land Rover and these new recruits have a critical role to play in shaping our business and delivering our future success.” As the highest ranking automotive manufacturer in the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers index, Jaguar Land Rover has a proven track record in developing the future generation of innovators, engineers, buyers and marketeers needed to support its ambitious plans for growth and fuel expansion in to new and emerging markets. In the last four years alone Jaguar Land Rover has employed nearly 700 graduates who bring to the business energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas. During their first day with the company the graduates took part in an in-depth induction programme during which they met with members of the Jaguar Land Rover Board, got to grips with the latest product line up and were given an inspirational speech on team work and leadership from Olympic Champion and Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, Sir Steven Redgrave. Commenting on his appointment, Abhishek Sampat, a graduate in Automotive Engineering Design said: “I knew from beginning my course at Coventry University that I wanted a career in the automotive industry. As the largest investor in automotive R&D and engineering in the UK it was clear that Jaguar Land Rover could provide me with the opportunity to learn from industry leaders in this field. It was also clear that a role here meant I would be able to make a strong and tangible contribution from the outset “. Competition for the places was fierce with over 8,500 applications and in the coming months the company is set to launch its next campaign to find graduates for 2012. To find out more about career opportunities in UK automotive, click here.
