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CEA AGM CONFERENCE

5 March 2002 - National Railway Museum, York

PRESENTATION PACKED AGM CONFERENCE

The theatre at York's National Railway Museum was full on 5 March for this year's CEA AGM Conference. The theme of the day was Promoting Performance - Pursuing our Goals and featured a host of presentations on the CEA's work. Our President (Neil Allen) and Chief Executive (Rob Oliver) opened the day with a review of the main activities over the previous year before Engineering Employers' Federation Economist, Lee Hopley, gave an overview of the UK manufacturing position - pointing out the need to bridge the productivity gap with our international competitors. Export Services Manager, Pam Hyde, then gave an exposition of the work of the Export Marketing Group, with a briefing from Grant Shannon on the progress of our Primed for Export campaign.

Neil Allen introduced his JCB colleagues, Miles Pixley and Mark Ireland, who gave an effective presentation on the threats and challenges of the proposed Vibration Directive. The hubbub after the talk underlined that they had conveyed an effective but disturbing message to the audience - that this is another piece of largely unnecessary and probably unworkable Euro-legislation. The issue has been well documented in Newsline's technical pages.

Our Manufacturing Excellence Project Manager, Ray Golson, led a session on our pilot programme aimed at improving Quality, Cost and Delivery (QCD) amongst suppliers. Rob Brown of the SMMT Industry Forum explained the background to his organisation and its services - and gave a brief introduction on the emergent new quality standard, TS16949. Powerful personal testimony on the success of the MasterClass programme came from Peter Miles (Peter Miles Engineering) and Reg Hardy (ASL Systems). Peter explained how the rigorous analytical methods employed had identified 90% plus savings in necessary overtime for a key product line and, at the same time, boosted production. ASL Systems used their MasterClass to contribute to complete the re-organisation and turn-round of the company. Reg Hardy's message was "I am convinced that we (British manufacturers) can compete with the low cost producers of Eastern Europe".

Lunchtime displays included material on the CBI backed Fit for the Future initiative presented by Ann Strahan.

 

YEAR IN FOCUS

A Review of the CEA over the last year

Spring 2001

The Spring issue of Newsline recorded our 4th name change in 60 years as the Construction Equipment Association formally came into being. At our AGM, Competitiveness Minister, Alan Johnson MP, set us a competitiveness challenge in the words of Bob the Builder, "Can we build it? Yes we can!". March saw the passing of industry legend Joseph Cyril Bamford - "Mr JCB". We also reported the visit of the CECE Executive Committee to London and another large British Group at Bauma, in Munich.

Summer 2001

New links were established with the Irish Contractors Plant Association and the 5th Edition of our Business Tracker CD Rom received its full circulation to over 100 countries worldwide. Meanwhile at SED 2001 we were mentioned in dispatches for the best new exhibitor award at the show. "On the Road" - the CEA Secretariat team launched a programme of over 40 visits to member companies. Our free Business Support Helpline was launched - and the Promoting Performance programme was confirmed.

Autumn 2001

Coverage was given to our upgraded and re-launched web site - www.coneq.org.uk. The CEA recorded its 2 millionth page enquiry since the original site was launched. A new "Members Only" section was added. The CECE Congress was held in Belgium with a new Secretary General announced. Funding for our Primed for Export project was confirmed and the range of CEA Technical Briefings was extended.

 

New Year 2002

The New Year issue set out our goals for the coming year. Amongst them more members and the development of our Manufacturing Excellence and Primed for Export programmes. Over the previous year it was recorded that we had assisted 102 different companies with their overseas exhibits - another record.