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Master Class Bid Submitted Since our successful Conference at the RAF Museum in March, there has been plenty of activity on the Promoting Performance project. Maybe you have seen the press coverage or visited the CEA web site (www.coneq.org.uk). The CEA's Management Council has been considering and prioritising the recommendations set out in Off-Highway Research's DTI commissioned sector report. Discussions have taken place on the best way to implement the proposals - most importantly that sector companies engage in competitiveness programmes based on the SMMT Industry Forum (IF) model. We have had excellent co-operation from the DTI's Automotive Directorate and the IF in framing our proposals - which were formally approved by our Management Council in late June.
One of the strengths of the IF programmes is not only that learning is by doing, but that they work on the supply chain. Manufacturing Excellence will also include work on supply chain relationships - establishing a network of regional Supplier Forums to identify best practice and improve communications on sourcing and manufacturing issues. Three New Initiatives Confirmed The other three modules of the Promoting Performance strategy relate to technical regulations and export matters. They are: Regulatory Awareness - The Off-Highway Research report highlighted gaps in suppliers' knowledge on regulatory issues - many of which come from European legislation. The CEA will be working on a briefing and communications programme to address this challenge. Primed for Export will address the need for an export development strategy highlighted in last year's Arthur D Little report on Sector Partnerships. The idea is to provide a service, primarily for the benefit of smaller companies, to help them punch above their weight in overseas markets. Again the emphasis is on practical support and the pooling of non-confidential information and expertise on a regional basis. Export Success will be concerned with the development of existing overseas promotions, including our SESA supported exhibitions programme. See Exhibitions Round Up (pages 14-15) for the latest exhibition news. Ideas for action on all these initiatives will be sought from member companies over the summer. Right now we are looking for Master Class Pilot company volunteers. The programme is likely to be over-subscribed - but we do want the best choice possible. For
a full copy of the proposals or further information on Promoting Performance,
contact:
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PROMOTING
PERFORMANCE PROSPERS
We
envisage a four module approach, following up many of the recommendations
in the Off-Highway Research report. Manufacturing Excellence provides
the core to the project. It is proposed to conduct a demonstrator
programme of IF Master Classes for six supplier companies for completion
by March 2002. IF Master Engineers will put the pilot companies through
their paces, measuring key production processes and recommending practical
continuous improvement measures. Many automotive industry suppliers
that have been subject to Master Classes have made startling improvements
in efficiency. Part DTI funding is being sought so that the pilot
companies will pay a low rate for the programme - in return for co-operating
in spreading the word on the sort of lessons they learnt. The selection
of pilot companies will be based on product profile, location and
size - as we want a good representative group for the project.
