Tata Steel to speak at leading national conference

Wilkinson’s highly interactive workshop examine some of the reasons for the Tata Steel disaster in order to demonstrate a world-class approach to analyse both the process and people issues that contributed to the outcome.

Tata Steel fell victim to a global economic slowdown and, with growth in China falling from double digit figures to around 7%, making losses of up to £1m a day in the UK.

It employs more than 15,000 people, with a further estimated 25,000 relying on Tata Steel for downstream employment – all of which are under threat if a rescue package is not agreed.

Editor of The Lean Management Journal (LMJ) and chair of the conference, Fred Tongue commented: “We are delighted that Tata Steel can give us a first-hand insight into the problems that the company has experienced and how these may be overcome in the months and years to come.

“There is much that can be learned from Tata Steel’s experience operating as a leading player in a global market place with such intense international competition’.

Alongside Tata Steel, the vice president of McDonalds will also give an inspirational talk on the importance of staff training, retention and investment – key to the successful development of the UK’s 100,000 strong workforce of this fast food retailer.

The conference features a diverse list of speakers, including senior personnel from Kellog’s; Fujifilm; HSBC; the National Grid; Volvo, and Philips.

All of whom will be discussing lean manufacturing and operational excellence topics, such as the leadership problems faced by an organisation, how to define the culture, and why leading with lean is the best way to engage people.