Pictured above: Rachel Eade, MAS-WM Auto Project
Manager
The Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands (MAS-WM) have
announced it is dedicating £300,000 of its existing funding
to provide a support package for manufacturers affected by
temporary production shutdowns caused by the tsunami in Japan.
The emergency funding will be available to companies who can
demonstrate they have been affected by events in the Far East and
will give them up to seven-days of specialist support in financial
management, re-negotiating finance terms and help in minimising the
possible impact of delays in supply by identifying immediate cash
savings.
Firms - involved in both component supply and sourcing products
from Japan - are being urged to ring the dedicated hotline number
0845 245 0845
They will be immediately dealt with by a MAS-WM Specialist
Adviser, who will identify the issues they are facing and, where
appropriate, bring in an industry-leading expert to deliver
one-on-one assistance.
"The tragic scenes in Japan have naturally caused a major
backlog in the supply of components being sent from the country and
a lot of global manufacturers are struggling to get the volume of
electronics parts, tools and spares needed to make cars,
aeroplanes, domestic goods and IT systems for example," explained
Rachel Eade, MAS-WM Auto Project Manager.
"We have developed this support package having spoken in great
lengths with the supply chain about what is needed. This immediate
assistance will hopefully help firms negate the potential issues
that may arise from temporary shutdowns."
She continued: "One of the biggest problems is that a lot of
companies have invested in new staff, more material stocks and even
additional machines to cope with major volume increases across the
globe.
"If they're not supplying they're not getting paid and this
could create short-term issues that, with the right level of
specialist assistance, can be overcome."
The support package will involve up to 7-days of support from a
MAS-WM adviser, a sourcing expert or a finance specialist.
Following the immediate assistance, there could be further
opportunities for business improvement activities to help with
efficiency gains, reducing waste and inventory management.
"The hotline is open from today and the funding will be
allocated on a first come, first served basis if a company can
clearly demonstrate its business is being affected by the Japan
crisis," added Rachel.
Simon Griffiths, Chief Executive of MAS West Midlands concluded:
"We have always listened very closely to the needs of manufacturers
in the West Midlands and develop our support in line with their
evolving requirements. With this latest programme, we are taking
fast action to deliver focused improvement activities to ensure our
local businesses remain competitive."
If you are interested in accessing the support package, please
contact the hotline on 0845 245 0845.