Leadership & strategy Corporate governance
As globalisation increasingly compels companies of all sizes to engage with suppliers and customers in other parts of the world, or to move part or all of their production offshore there is a vital need to ensure that a robust corporate governance model - the system by which companies are directed and controlled - is in place. Senior managers who continue to see corporate governance as the remit of the Company Secretary are likely to find their companies mired in corruption and their products and vulnerable to dangerous defects. Good governance also provides the mesh that draws together disparate operations and personnel into a cohesive corporate vision and ethos – vital for ensuring consistency of product and service across the globe. This article will look at how British companies extending their global reach are responding to the challenge.
Design & innovation Simulation
Those who are able to get new or upgraded products to market quickly, and to do so with optimised design characteristics and economical use of materials, stand a good chance of staying ahead of the competition. This article will examine the part that product and part simulation can play in cutting time to market, cutting development and production costs and optimising manufacture.
World class manufacturing Sustaining the lean drive
Very often, enthusiasm for, and the progress of the lean initiative can flag or falter. Yet lean is a continuous and ongoing process, and should be the foundations of company culture. What are the secrets of keeping the lean drive fresh and alive? What does it take to create a lean culture where all staff are committed to, and involved in lean thinking and continuous improvement?
Skills & productivity Apprenticeships
Say the word apprentice in manufacturing and most people automatically think of a lad somewhere around the age of 16-18. In fact, that's a distorted picture. Today 'isms' against youth, gender or age will hurt you more than it hurts them. The Young Apprenticeship scheme, which starts at age 14, had an uncertain take-off but is now beginning to fly. Many manufacturers today are desperate to encourage more girls into their businesses as the early qualifiers prove their worth. And, despite the inherent ageism in the current funding structure for mature learners, many manufacturers are finding that training their older workforce is the best solution to their skills shortages. Annie Gregory looks at the problems and rewards of taking an unstereotyped approach to apprenticeship.
IT in manufacturing Manufacturing systems security
Companies are pretty slick at protecting their office-based IT from virus and hacker attack and their remote workers from the dangers of wireless operations etc, but the security needs of their manufacturing systems are often ignored. Yet the risks are increasing. Outsourced maintenance staff, for example, can introduce risk when connecting their laptops to the manufacturing systems, the increasing use of wireless systems can make IT extremely vulnerable, etc etc. This article will examine the risks to manufacturing IT, and will reveal what some of the best companies are doing to protect their systems. What protection should be considered, how should it be implemented and enforced, and what can happen when security is ignored?
Logistics & supply chain Demand
planning
Operations & maintenance Maintenance
This article will look at the value of predictive maintenance, and how it is implemented.
Energy & environment Energy
purchasing
As the price of oil looks set to break the $100 dollars a barrel ceiling, wise energy purchasing looks set to become even more important. Yet for the SME, employing a dedicated in-house energy expert is not an option. What can SMEs do to analyse the markets and make sensible choices for their energy purchasing? Is it possible for them to gain the benefit of expertise in this area, and if so, are the benefits likely to outweigh the costs?