Making it in Britain or defecting to Asia

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Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer
Published : 22 Nov 2002 14:21

ALLIANCE: November meeting to tackle migration

The long-time trend for UK manufacturers to move on to new and foreign pastures in search of cost savings only really entered public consciousness when James Dyson, one of the few home-based boffins to see his invention become a ‘Made in Britain’ reality, decided last year to move his factory from Malmesbury to Malaysia. Since then, other household names like Thermos, Massey Ferguson, Black & Decker and Dr Martens, among many less well-known brands, have followed suit. Now, it’s time for a meaningful debate on the issues that arise from such defections.

The subject has been chosen as the theme for the next meeting of the newly constituted Manufacturing Alliance, formed, under the auspices of The Manufacturer and sponsored by Deloitte Consulting (soon to become Braxton), Microsoft and SAP.

Senior managers drawn from UK manufacturing enterprises plus key representatives from academic, consultancy and government institutions are being invited to the forum; a breakfast briefing at The Institute of Directors in Pall Mall, London on 27 November.

The line-up of panellists already includes Alan Thompson, chief executive of Toshiba Information Systems, Europe, and Martin Temple, high profile director general of the EEF.

Places are very limited but applications to attend can be made on line at: www.themanufacturingalliance.org