Pictured above: Mike Carr, emda's Executive Director of
Business Services
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has announced a further
£7.5m investment over the next 5 years to support
manufacturers. This investment is seen as critical in supporting
manufacturers during the current economic climate and beyond.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service in the East Midlands (MAS EM)
helps businesses to improve efficiency, raise productivity, exploit
new ideas or solve problems. All support provided to small to
medium sized businesses is either free of charge or assisted in
part by the availability of grants.
According to figures just released by emda, MAS EM assisted a
record number of manufacturing businesses over the last 12 months.
MAS supported over 500 businesses last year and estimates that it
helped businesses to create or secure 484 jobs, save about
£11 million and increase profits by £8.5 million.
MAS EM will continue to provide practical, hands on support to
regional manufacturers. Support includes; a telephone helpline; a
free on-site review of company manufacturing operations to identify
improvement actions; and help for businesses to implement and take
advantage of the recommendations.
Pera Innovation Ltd based in Melton Mowbray, in partnership with
East Midlands Business Ltd, has won the contract to deliver the
Manufacturing Advisory Service in the East Midlands (MAS EM). There
are more than 13,000 manufacturing businesses in the East Midlands.
As a sector it is responsible for 23% of the total economic output
of the region and almost 16% of all jobs - equating to 290,000
people.
One of the companies that has benefitted from MAS EM support is
the Specialty Pharmaceutical Company, Vectura Group. The
Company, which has operations in Ruddington, Nottingham, has
achieved significant financial benefits by altering the way that
staff approach their work.
Janet Worrell, Operations Director at Vectura explains: "The
10-day project that the MAS EM advisers undertook had a significant
impact on our bottom line immediately, cutting down the time taken
to carry out one test by nearly a quarter and reducing wasted time
spent on activities such as moving between the different labs to
find the correct equipment to use, waiting for equipment to become
available and filling in unnecessary paperwork."
"But it's had far greater benefits beyond just the substantial
cost savings, signalling the beginning of a cultural shift for our
company."
The MAS EM adviser that worked with Vectura trained the team on
some of the lean tools they could use to make improvements, which
included reorganising and managing the work space and work flow to
improve productivity.
As a result of the support that Vectura received, within just
six months, they had cut down the processing time taken to
undertake tests by nearly 25%. The company was also making more
efficient use of the testing facilities and staff morale improved
as a result of having cleaner and tidier workbenches.
Mike Carr, emda's Executive Director of Business Services
believes that MAS EM is an invaluable part of the business support
offer. Speaking about the service, he said: "MAS EM provides an
invaluable service for manufacturing businesses in the region. At
this time, it is more important than ever that manufacturers are
able to access the support they need to survive the recession and
to be in the best position to develop and grow when the upturn
arrives."
For more information about how MAS EM can help your business,
call 0845 2707620 or visit www.mas-em.org.uk