NAA Business Excellence Programme Update – programme has achieved target and looks set to exceed it
Since we re-modelled the Business Excellence Programme, the response from the industry has been outstanding. We have now achieved our target of having 55 members. If you haven’t already joined and wish to do so, then please contact me, as I am extremely happy to work with additional companies, as this will add value to the network we are building.
My focus over the next quarter is to help initiate and subsidise projects, which will help to drive forward companies. Such projects can be wide-ranging, from lean manufacture, to quality systems, to marketing strategy and implementation (almost anything revenue-based, utilising an external provider).
New companies that joined in this period are:
- Multipart
- Sanko Gosei
- Leyland Trucks
- NGF Europe
Projects
To date we are supporting 22 projects, which have a total value of £303,040, of which the project is contributing £115,755. We are also looking to progress a further 9 projects in the near future, valued at £122,000. If you are interested in receiving subsidised revenue funding towards projects, which includes access to a panel of pre-approved consultants, then please contact me. I aim to commit all funding by May/June 2012. Over the coming months, I will commence producing and promoting project-related company case studies, which will help to showcase our sector and share best practice.
AutoExpo, India 2012 Update
In January, the project subsidised four companies – Scorpion, Current Care, Hylomar and Performance Springs – to attend AutoExpo, New Delhi, India. All four companies had busy schedules, meeting new and existing clients, suppliers and officials (including the British High Commissioner at his residence). The feedback was extremely positive and hopefully the benefits will be a consolidation of existing business, combined with business growth. Besides attending AutoExpo, the delegation also visited a number of companies in Pune, including MCCIA (the local chamber of commerce/automotive cluster organisation). Our visit was supported by UKTI and UNIDO.
Business Excellence Network Meeting – 16 February
The next Business Excellence Networking meeting will be held at Morson, Trafford Park at 2pm, 16 February 2012. Please put this date in your diaries and let Zoe and or I know. The meeting will focus on sharing best practice, a project update and networking. The focus for this meeting will be lean manufacture, for which we will have a guest speaker who will introduce the process and benefits, plus there will be a case study from one of our first projects. As this is your meeting, please would you let me know what other themes you would like presented in future meetings.
Future Programme – Post December 2012
The current Business Excellence Programme runs until December 2012 and once we have proven that it adds value to the sector, then I will enter discussions with the European Regional Development Fund at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) with the aim of securing a project extension and additional monies until December 2015. I will need to measure the financial benefit of the programme for each member, for example, what income did your improvement project(s) and the networking opportunities provide? The principal being that you wouldn’t engage in the programme and invest money and time, unless there was a payback. Additionally, if you value the project and want to see it continue to support the sector, then it would be very helpful to receive a letter of support for the project. Realistically, I intend to open discussions with DCLG in April/May and submit an application in June.
Future Exhibitions
In September 2012 we will be attending two exhibitions.
• Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle – 5 and 6 September 2012 (venue to be confirmed early February)
• Automechanika, Frankfurt, Germany – 11 to 16 September 2012
Members of the Business Excellence Programme are offered a package of support, whereby we will heavily subsidise the cost of the stand and support delegates at the exhibitions.
If you are would like to exhibit, please send me an expression of interest. If you are attending other exhibitions, please contact me, as I may also be able to assist. Please note that interest in Automechanika is particularly high, so if you wish to attend, then please let me know before the end of February (slots are limited to six companies).
Contact Me
If you are interested in finding out more about joining the Business Excellence Programme and any of the above, then please contact me. My email and telephone numbers are as follows:m.andrews@nwautoalliance.com , telephone 0151 486 4986 (general) or 07870 812214 (direct mobile).
I look forward to hearing from you.
All the best
Martin
Dr Martin Andrews
Northwest Automotive Alliance
