|
Back to news topics| Next news topic FROM THE PRESIDENT
The CEA programme for the last 12 months has been dominated by our response to the presentations at last year's AGM - Off-Highway Research's DTI sponsored report on UK Competitiveness in our sector and our own Promoting Performance initiative on Manufacturing Excellence. The report confirmed that the direction we were taking on improving manufacturing skills in our industry was vital in remaining competitive. It also indicated other areas where the CEA could use its position as the National Association, by sharing exporting expertise, particularly with SMEs, to promote enhanced export awareness. The need to ensure that the industry is fully informed of current and pending legislation was also raised. Whilst CEA members regularly receive detailed information on technical matters, not all companies in our industry are members. The result was a need to embark on a membership recruitment programme to ensure that the CEA was fully representative of the industry. Finally, the report encouraged the CEA to provide assistance to SMEs wishing to participate in construction equipment exhibitions around the world and help provide a comprehensive showcase of British products. These four issues have been grouped together under our Promoting Performance initiative as: Manufacturing Excellence, Primed for Export, Regulatory Awareness and Export Success. We were delighted to receive funding assistance from the DTI for the first two projects and both of these are now in full progress. 2001 was a good year for increased membership. We exceeded our target of 10% for the year - achieving 15%. We continue to be very well supported by the Secretariat team. Rob Oliver has been an inspiration, both to the team and the members, by his initiatives on Promoting Performance. Tim Faithfull has been a steadying influence on the vibration issue and Pam Hyde has played an important part in the Promoting Performance initiatives, as well as providing first class support to the Export Marketing Group. Joanna Oliver has continued to encourage increasing numbers of companies to support our CEA exhibitions programme and, as a result, many non-members have subsequently joined. Newsline, our quarterly publication, has been further improved under the management of Editor, Kim Fitzpatrick. Thanks also to Sharna, Bill, Charlotte, Barbara, Ray Golson and Grant Shannon. CEA meetings continue to be reasonably well supported and we are pleased to have welcomed new faces from Perkins Engines, Volvo Construction Equipment and St Gobain to the Management Council. We continued the policy set in 2000 to have one of our Council Meetings overseas, by holding our September meeting in Dublin. We had a useful meeting with the Irish Contractors Plant Association, but the occasion assumed a greater significance as the events of the afternoon unfolded in New York - the day was the 11th of September. The Technical Committee has continued to have their hands full. It is important to be able to influence the outcome of any proposed new legislation by putting forward practical arguments where necessary and to use the CECE Technical Forum to put these arguments to Brussels. Experience suggests that there is still some way to go in perfecting this process. The appointment of Ralf Wezel as the new CECE Secretary General based in Brussels is a welcome development. Other issues, such as the Plant Theft Action Group and non-compliant imports, continue to generate debate at Management Council Meetings. Overall, 2001 was a very positive year for the CEA, the first year under our new name. The CEA was influential in a number of high profile issues last year and I am confident that we will continue to make further progress in 2002. NEIL ALLEN |
 |
Extracts
from the President's 2001/2002 Report to the CEA AGM held on 5 March
2002
