Print

Universal approval for manufacturing ‘Do’ tank

Published:  28 January, 2015

A ‘Do’ Tank for manufacturing was launched at the recent British Industrial Entrepreneurship Summit (BIES) held in London recently.

The event brought together global brands, young inventive engineers, SME manufacturers, leading industry spokespeople and journalists along with representatives from academic institutions and students to understand together how to boost British manufacturing and engineering.

Sponsored by Rockwell Automation, delegates heard from chief economist at EEF, Lee Hopley and IMechE’s head of engineering in society, Dr Helen Meese who presented alongside two established engineering SME’s and a young female entrepreneur who invented a new product at school and has taken it on to build a successful business. Attitudes to Industry research from organisers Cadence Innovation Marketing showed that not enough students saw the value of STEM in later life, as well highlighting changed attitudes to women in engineering.

Mark Daniels, European market development manager at Rockwell Automation addressed the interests of SME manufacturers present by demonstrating the importance of the internet of things in process and information systems while Young Engineer 2006, Ruth Amos took the audience on a rollercoaster ride of how she invented Stairsteady as part of her GCSE Resistant Materials project and went on to take it into full production and sales.

The event was held during Global Entrepreneurship Week to highlight Britain’s manufacturing’s heritage built on brave risk-taking and pioneering industrialists. Andrew Green, senior practice expert at Gallup revealed research from the company’s Strengths Finder to show ten key entrepreneur talents that matter and he illuminated this with a specific manufacturing based case study.

Dr Helen Meese, from IMechE addressed the issue of STEM education shortfalls and women in engineering. Keith Pickering from Pickering Test, a second generation leader of the company charted the course from his father’s founding of the business to the company’s current direct operation in seven countries. Paul Cornwell of Brighter Energy Solutions applauded UKTI’s support for growing manufacturers and cited a recent export win directly attributable to the government support agency’s services. Lee Hopley, chief economist at EEF gave a stimulating presentation and said that ‘The best of UK manufacturing is in the future, not the past!’

Dan Doherty of Cadence Innovation Marketing which conceived and produced the event explained that there would be several outputs from the Summit including a white paper and video of the proceedings but there would not be a ‘Think Tank’, there would be a ‘Do’ Tank which was met with universal approval and willing participants. The group will meet to set specific objectives and engage widely across the manufacturing spectrum from education through industry to trade bodies, the finance and regulatory sectors.

Related Articles

  • Collaborative action needed  

    As the UK economy recovers, those in the manufacturing sector need to work together with education providers to close the skills gap and create a high-quality talent pool, says Andy Jones, managing director at Mattei Compressors.

  • Next step in supporting manufacturers as they approach 4IR 

    EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has announced a free webinar, ‘Be Business Ready – the 4IR journey’, as its next step in helping UK manufacturers to gear up for 4IR.

  • Independent review identifies key areas for development in UK shipbuilding 

  • Safer and speedier lifting  

    O’Reilly Concrete, originally established in 1939 as a small sand and gravel business, has seven production facilities across Ireland. Ballyhoe Plant, which is just outside Carrickmacross in Co Monaghan, specialises in the manufacture of precast walls for rapid build modular construction. As with the majority of the company’s products, these are extremely heavy, oversized and potentially hazardous to lift and transport. Since a Combilift Straddle carrier has been in operation these processes have become much safer and speedier.

  • Emerging battery solutions 

    For decades electric vehicle fleet operators and OEMs had very little choice when it came to power sources, with batteries built using flooded lead-acid cells the only practical option. While these batteries evolved to give more power, efficiency and reliability there have always been limits to their potential. Recent innovations such as lithium-ion offer an alternative but are still relatively expensive while novel technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells have yet to find practical or affordable applications in the mass market. PWE reports.

Sign up for the PWE newsletter

Latest issue

To view a digital copy of the latest issue of Plant & Works Engineering, click here.

View the past issue archive here.

To subscribe to the journal please click here.

Poll

"How is your manufacturing business preparing for a net Zero target?"






Twitter