Pictured above: MAS-WM's Cliff Johnson
One of the largest aerospace and defence gatherings ever held in
the West Midlands is due to take place next week (15th October),
with more than 150 companies set to descend on RAF Cosford in
Shropshire.
The combined SC21 dissemination and national Task Force event -
organised by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in association with
ADS group - will chart the progress of the World Class Supply Chain
initiative, which is already helping more than 30 local
manufacturers become more competitive and in a position to win a
share of the £billion pool of global contracts.
A number of keynote speakers will outline the progress of the
internationally recognised SC21 programme and its growing impact in
the industry, whilst ongoing and new funding opportunities will be
outlined for companies looking to deploy the SC21 principles.
Delegates will also see video case studies and presentations
from a number of West Midlands companies, who are on the journey
towards world class recognition, including Arrowsmith Engineering
(Coventry), Burcas, G&O Springs, Precision Micro and
Technoset.
"We launched the Advantage West Midlands and European Regional
Development Fund-backed £1.5m World Class Supply Chain
initiative in January in front of 170 people and I'm delighted to
say the response was tremendous and a lot of businesses came
forward to take advantage of the in-depth support on offer,"
explained MAS-WM's Cliff Johnson.
"These companies have been working with specialist aerospace and
defence experts to identify and implement key manufacturing
improvements, all geared towards recognition within the SC21
programme and importantly making them more efficient and
competitive when looking to win new business on the next generation
of aircraft and numerous defence projects set to be tendered.
"The fact we have more than 150 businesses set to attend tells
you how important the industry is taking this programme and we are
delighted that the West Midlands is helping lead the way in setting
standards that others should follow."
Other keynote speakers on the day will include Peter Hogg (SC21
Chairman), Phil Curnock (SC21 Programme Manager) Ian Wilcox
(National Skills Academy for Manufacturing) and Iain Low and Huw
Gullick (Rolls Royce Submarines).
Some of the first companies in the UK to secure SC21 Awards will
also be announced at the event, including one from the West
Midlands.
Cliff concluded: "The aerospace and defence industries are
crucial to our region and we are determined to do everything we can
do help support companies to be truly world class."
SC21 is the single, co-ordinated industrial change programme for
the UK aerospace and defence industries and has been established to
accelerate national competitiveness.
It is recognised by the MOD and all sixteen of the UK aerospace
and defence primes such as Aero Engine Controls, Goodrich,
Rolls-Royce, GKN and BAE Systems, as a framework for
excellence.
There are a limited number of places still available. Interested
companies should register by contacting Carrie Holmes on 07766
470505 or email cholmes@mas-wm.org