One of the UK’s largest engineering support services groups has teamed up with the Manufacturing Advisory Service West Midlands to launch a new regional cluster.
Babcock International Group, which delivers asset support to the defence, transport, energy and telecommunications sectors, is adopting a joint approach to meeting world-class supply chains for the 21st century. It believes that SC21 — the specialist programme for the aerospace and defence industries — offers an excellent opportunity to manage its complex supply chain so that it continues to offer high levels of competence in supply planning, inventory forecasting and modelling.
More than 30 suppliers from the region heard keynote presentations from the company and MAS-WM, with the latter announcing a £1m funding pot for firms keen to make the commitment. Andy Chapell, head of supply chain capability development at Babcock, said: “As a leading support service provider, we see the Supply Chains in the 21st Century programme as forming a significant and fundamental part of our wider supply chain management.
“SC21 encourages greater collaboration, which is why we wanted to introduce this regional cluster approach so that we can work with our suppliers from the outset on improving all aspects of our engagement.”
Babcock, which turns over £1.9bn, is the major industrial support partner to the Royal Navy. It provides integrated operational support and military flying training to the Royal Navy and RA, and is a chosen support partner of the British Army. It is anticipated that SC21 will help to continually improve quality and on-time delivery performance, potentially generating significant performance and cost improvements throughout its supply chain in the process.
West Midlands companies involved in the cluster can access individual grants of up to £20,000 to help them deploy the SC21 programme, which is funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, and is delivered by MAS-WM.
