Latest News from IOMNet.org.uk

Labour proposes implementing Japanese operations management in education

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:12:00 GMT

Japanese principles of continuous improvement should be implemented in UK schools in order to ensure that they reach the highest standards possible.

This is the claim made by Labour, which has advocated looking to high-performing nations such as Japan in order to transform schools in England.

According to the party's shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg, employing operations management principles to the sector could reform classroom teaching and practices.

"Labour will bring reform into the classroom by learning from the Japanese system of lesson planning, known as 'jugyou kenkyuu'," stated Mr Twigg.

He pointed to the work that has been done improving classroom practice in Japan in recent years, adding he will visit the country to see its education reforms firsthand and its committed to continuous professional development.

One area in which standards in schools could be improved is swimming, with recent research from the Amateur Swimming Association indicating one in three primary school pupils are leaving unable to swim.

Manufacturers ''need practical support''

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:40:00 GMT

Over three-quarters of manufacturers in the UK believe the government has adopted the correct policies to encourage growth in the sector, according to the latest survey from BDO.

Its report found that 51 per cent of people in manufacturing management positions feel the industry may not be a key part of the British economy in a decade.

However, 73 per cent of respondents are confident that the overall economic picture will improve over the coming months, while 93 per cent value the government's apparent commitment to helping the manufacturing sector expand.

Tom Lawton, national head of manufacturing at BDO, said industry leaders are demanding the government backs up its rhetoric with decisive action.

"We need longer term strategies that go beyond the term of a single parliament in order to rebalance the economy towards manufacturing," he suggested.

The EEF recently called for more government support for the manufacturing sector as emergent markets play an increasing role in developing goods and products.

Sheffield manufacturer honoured for continuous improvement

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:32:00 GMT

A company in North Yorkshire has been honoured for its commitment to continuous improvement principles.

Mechan, based in Sheffield, has been recognised for its success in production by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), winning praise for a series of operational and business gains it has made.

The heavy lifting equipment specialist - which supplies rail depots - welcomed the award, presented after MAS advisor Peter Rooney put it forward for the prize.

It is one of the first firms in the UK to have been honoured with a MAS Works Award and Mechan managing director Richard Carr stated: "Despite recent economic turbulence, we have managed to maintain sales and profit and even open up new markets in Taiwan, New Zealand and Belgium, to continue the growth of our export business."

He added the organisation has also reduced waste with assistance from MAS, which provides tailored help to manufacturing businesses in England to "grow and thrive".

Operations management ''should make use of energy efficiency savings''

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:17:00 GMT

Becoming greener and more energy efficient can benefit both a company's reputation and its bottom line.

This is the claim made by the organizers of Green Office Week, who have published a report stating those firms failing to implement environmentally-friendly policies as part of their operations management lose out on productivity and employee motivation.

According to the study, firms that make efforts to become greener are more likely to have engaged employees, with more than half of the 1,000 office workers polled stating they would be happier and more productive if firms were more eco-friendly.

Carried out for Green Office Week, the research also discovered that individuals are twice as likely to make environmental efforts at home than they are at work and eight out of ten wanted their employer to lead the way in this area.

"Being green can bring real cost-saving and productivity benefits to companies," stressed Gregg Corbett of Green Office Week.

A decline in producer price inflation during April 2012 from 3.7 per cent the previous month to 3.3 per cent has been welcomed by the British Chambers of Commerce and could free up additional funds for companies to invest in green measures.

Operations management could reduce wasted meeting time

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:52:00 GMT

Addressing waste in organisations need not only apply to physical rubbish, but also to inefficiencies in areas such as use of time.

A new report from Epson and the Centre for Economics and Business Research has indicated that organisations in the UK are spending £26 million on wasted time in meetings through problems such as repetition, unstructured agendas and a lack of focus among those present.

The study revealed UK workers believe that over half the time they spend in discussions is wasted, with efficiencies offering the potential to generate 13 million extra productive hours per week and boost GDP by 1.7 per cent.

It highlights the potential for applying continuous improvement and other operations management principles to non-traditional areas such as office activities, with significant savings available to companies that are successful.

Energy efficiency can also provide a way of saving money and enhancing operations management while also benefiting the environment, with firms increasingly looking for green skills when seeking new employees, according to a study by Hays.

Manufacturers predict rise in emerging markets export orders

Thu, 10 May 2012 22:37:00 GMT

UK manufacturers have forecast an increase in exports during the coming years, particularly within emerging markets.

This is the finding of a new study by RBS and EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which found that 70 per cent of companies in the industry anticipate a rise in overall sales overseas in 2012.

Meanwhile, half (50 per cent) are expecting to see their exports to emerging nations grow this year and 90 per cent of respondents reported that they already sell in such economies.

Such forecasts could place additional responsibilities on manufacturing management teams and those concerned with continuous improvement in meeting the diverse needs of international customers when it comes to factors such as cost and quality.

Rapid increases in trade are particularly likely with China and India, with EEF chief economist Lee Hopley stating: "All the evidence shows that companies with a greater involvement in multiple export markets tend to be better performing."

The EEF-RBS data comes as the Office for National Statistics' seasonally-adjusted Index of Production for the UK dipped year-on-year in March 2012 by 2.6 per cent, with manufacturing down by 0.9 per cent from the same month of 2011.

CBI reveals jump in manufacturing confidence

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:32:00 GMT

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has noted a boost in confidence over the first quarter of 2012, with improving manufacturing processes playing a role in encouraging a positive outlook in the sector.

Some 22 per cent of respondents to the CBI's survey said they feel confident about the upcoming year, marking the first rise in sentiment among small to medium-sized manufacturing firms for a year.

Although output remained fairly flat, many companies expect it to be revitalised over the next three months as wider economic conditions begin to improve.

Lucy Armstrong, chair of the CBI's small-to-medium enterprise council, said manufacturing companies continue to play a "central" role in the British economy.

"Firms expect orders and output to rise strongly in the coming quarter and plan to invest more in the year ahead, pointing to growing momentum in manufacturing activity," she added.

The CBI recently suggested that the UK economy will recover from its slump by 2013, when it will enjoy growth of roughly two per cent.

IOM Promark Manufacturing Benchmarking Club Launch

Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Your invitation to join the IOM Promark Manufacturing Benchmarking Club Launch

In these challenging times, the need for manufacturers to compete effectively and efficiently is more critical than ever. Glacially slow economic growth, austerity measures and reduced budgets require that companies’ supply chains operate as efficiently as possible. With this in mind, The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is launching Promark, a benchmarking club dedicated to manufacturing processes and production, founded on salient metrics.

You are invited to attend the Promark launch event on Thursday 31st May; the purpose of which is to focus attention on the inherent benefits of benchmarking. This event is being hosted by Rolls Royce, one of the most famous names in engineering and manufacturing in the world. The Promark launch event will also provide an opportunity to visit the world-class Rolls Royce Heritage Centre in Derby.

Benchmarking as a business discipline is essential for continuous improvement, development and progress. Comparing and contrasting your business processes with your peers and competitors will provide an insight into the necessary improvements for your continued effectiveness and competitiveness.

Benchmarking facilitates performance gap analysis, a strategic review of business methods and procedures and identifies processes that have proven to deliver superior results. The Promark steering group currently includes members from Rolls Royce Plc and Selex Galileo together with senior IOM members with experience across a range of manufacturing businesses.

The IOM is delighted to invite operations professionals interested in finding out more about how benchmarking can benefit their organisation to our launch event. The event also provides an opportunity to give your input into the development of the Promark benchmarking questionnaire.

Places at this unique event are limited, so please book your FREE place today. Contact: Nicola Keane. Tel: 01536 740123 or Email: nicola.keane@iomnet.org.uk.

I look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards,

Leonie

Leonie Edwards
Manager - IOM

The Institute of Operations Management, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 4AX.
Tel: 01536 740105. Fax: 01536 740101. Email: members@iomnet.org.uk Web: www.iomnet.org.uk

Tough retail conditions make operations management more important

Tue, 08 May 2012 15:23:00 GMT

The UK has witnessed a decline in consumer spending this spring as poor weather and cold conditions have struck the country.

According to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium, overall shop price inflation dipped between March and April from 1.5 per cent to 1.3 per cent, as stores reduced their margins in order to attract consumers.

Spending has been down in recent weeks as a result of a lengthy spell of wet weather, with the Visa UK expenditure index showing a year-on-year drop in April of 4.3 per cent and a monthly contraction of 1.9 per cent.

A new study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) also highlights the need for retail organisations to invest in operations management in order to enhance their margins and ensure they are able to survive the current spending downturn.

PwC partner of business recovery services Mike Jervis explained that the sector is "one of the most vulnerable parts of the economy" at present and he predicted it "will continue to be until the consumer regains some confidence".

Data from the organisation showed the number of retail insolvencies in the UK climbed from 24 in the last quarter of 2011 by 138 per cent to 57 in the first three months of 2012.

Welcome for further improvement in UK manufacturing

Fri, 04 May 2012 13:55:00 GMT

A new report on manufacturing activity in the UK is "good news" for the industry, as companies "tap into growing global demand".

This is according to EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which stated it is important that this ability is supported in order to regain the momentum behind the nation's economic recovery.

One way of accessing rising levels of demand in other countries for UK-produced goods is to enhance manufacturing management practices to ensure businesses are competitive and this could include employees taking a CPIM exam.

"The good news is that manufacturing clocked up a fifth straight rise, whilst cost pressures have eased a little and some firms are still recruiting," chief economist Lee Hopley stated.

However, according to Ms Hopley, there are concerns about "ever-present Eurozone woes" in the short term, as the PMI data showed a decline in export orders during April.

The month marked the fifth consecutive increase in UK manufacturing activity and both employment and average output price inflation continued to increase over the period from March.

April PMI data proves positive

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:33:00 GMT

The latest Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) has revealed UK manufacturing management activity posted further gains last month.

Figures for the headline data from the Business Activity Index were slightly subdued from March (55.3) at 53.3 in April, but further gains in terms of new business for the sector continue to push the industry forward.

In addition, employment within the manufacturing industry rose during the course of last month.

"Expectations are at their strongest for over two years as a result of new business. However, there is continued evidence of increasing pressure on profit margins," commented David Noble, chief executive officer at CIPS.

He added that growth has been solid rather than spectacular over the last month, but the data continues to bode well for the future of the UK manufacturing sector.

The Markit/CIPS PMI figures for March revealed an acceleration of growth within the manufacturing sector, with the business index rising to a ten-month high.

Small food manufacturers invited to have their say on enforcement

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:21:00 GMT

A new consultation has been launched by the government that provides an opportunity for small businesses in the food manufacturing industry to express their opinions about the enforcement of regulations.

Operations management professionals may be ideally placed to provide input to the exercise, which marks the first review theme of the Focus on Enforcement campaign.

Aimed at making a difference to the way in which visits, inspections and advice are carried out and delivered by regulators, it is being run by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

According to business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk, it offers the chance for small food manufacturing firms to "make a real difference" to enforcement.

"I want all small businesses involved in food manufacture, and those that advise and assist them, to visit the site and tell us their views," he stated.

The review has been welcomed by the Food and Drink Federation as potentially reducing the burden of regulation on businesses, with an estimated 400,000 people directly employed in the industry.

Consumer confidence stabilises in April

Tue, 01 May 2012 11:53:00 GMT

Last month saw consumer confidence in the UK remain stable compared with March, but remained "in the doldrums", new data show.

According to the figures from GfK, operations management professionals in the private sector are facing a difficult time, particularly with the news that the economy has slipped back into recession.

The analyst's managing director of social research Nick Moon explained that the past year has seen consumer confidence "stuck within a narrow range of minus 29 to minus 33".

He added: "Unfortunately, there are no signs either within the survey or in the recent economic figures to suggest any immediate improvement."

The figure of minus 31 for April 2012 was the same as 12 months earlier and equal to March's rating, while their personal financial situations were deemed by respondents to be the same year-on-year at minus 23 and outlook for the coming year worsened from March, dropping from minus 10 to minus 13.

GfK's monthly barometer comes after Office for National Statistics data showed the economy shrank by 0.1 per cent during the first quarter of 2012, pushing the UK back into recession after a 0.3 per cent contraction in the last three months of 2011.

Better operations management needed ''to meet public sector efficiency targets''

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Goals to reduce public sector spending and make organisations more efficient will not be met unless more is done to ensure measures are put in place.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), while progress has been made by central government departments, "we need to see bold action to transform the way in which departments operate and public services are delivered".

This could see bodies invest in operations management expertise in order to cut expenditure still further and attain targets set for 2015.

CBI director for public services Matthew Fell commented on a new report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, suggesting that the abilities of alternative providers need to be harnessed in order to "supply [public sector] services at a lower cost while delivering the desired outcomes".

The Public Accounts Committee's report on cost reduction in central government noted that there is still a "major challenge" faced by organisations to meet requirements set out in the coalition's austerity programme, although "departments have started well".

UK retailers warned to expect worse before conditions improve

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:48:00 GMT

Retailers in the UK have been advised to prepare for worse trading conditions before the sector starts to see signs of improvement.

This makes effective operations management more important than ever, as a statement issued after a meeting of the KPMG and Ipsos Retail Think Tank (RTT) suggested the industry will slump to record levels.

According to the RTT, its Retail Health Index is predicted to fall to a low of 77 by the end of June this year, slipping from 79 for the three months to March, although the decline is not expected to be as acute as initially estimated.

Rising costs of fuel and energy are placing additional pressure on planners, as well as consumers, with customer demand remaining sluggish as household budgets are constrained.

"It would be fair to say that, for as long as they could, consumers have ignored some of these economic pressures, but they are not going away and if anything are becoming worse," stated KPMG UK partner and head of retail Helen Dickinson.

These predictions could lead to more firms struggling to survive, with CB Richard Ellis head of UK retail research Mark Teale's recent remarks indicating that debt problems resulting from private equity deals are responsible for many recent administrations in the sector.

Manufacturing ''facing severe skills shortages''

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:58:00 GMT

Manufacturers around the world are facing a significant skills gap that means there are an estimated ten million positions currently unfilled.

This could well include roles for those with operations management and APICS qualifications, with the sector warned in a new report that it needs to do more to nurture talent.

According to the document - entitled The Future of Manufacturing: Opportunities to Drive Economic Growth - highly-trained workers and engineers are being sought by many businesses, including those in nations with relatively high levels of unemployment.

Produced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, the study also cautioned that economic growth in emerging countries is being constrained by manufacturing skills gaps.

"The skills gap that exists today will not likely close in the near future, which means companies and countries that can attract, develop and retain the highest skilled talent … will come out on top," stated Deloitte US vice-chairman and consumer and industrial products industry leader Craig Giffi.

WEF senior director of mobility industries John Moavenzadeh, explained that coordinated policies are being developed that boost those parts of supply chains that add substantial value are needed.

UK call centres ''take steps to enhance operations management''

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:32:00 GMT

Call centres in the UK are attempting to improve their operations management practices in order to enhance efficiency.

This is the claim that has been made by data centre and communications specialist Node4, which has pointed to a growing trend for moving overseas call centres operations back to Britain.

In order to do this, firms are investing in smarter technology in order to increase productivity "without excessive costs", generating new jobs and boosting customer service.

One way in which it was recently suggested by Rostrvm Solutions that contact and call centres are improving efficiency and customer relations is through the use of automated dialling systems such as predictive diallers.

Node4 managing director Andrew Gilbert commented: "We have found that through making an investment in the right technology and implementing it in UK centres, companies can add value instead of detracting from it."

He added that "customer demands have changed drastically" in recent years, with callers expecting to be put through to the right person quickly and a smooth experience when having their queries dealt with.

Firms ''reconsidering global manufacturing operations''

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:37:00 GMT

As a result of rising wages and logistics costs in China, manufacturing companies are starting to rethink their operations in the country.

This is the claim made by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which has published the results of a recent study showing more than one in three (37 per cent) US firms in the sector with over $1 billion (£620 million) in annual sales are either planning to shift production back to the country from China or thinking about doing so.

According to the poll of 106 executives, manufacturing management teams are exploring the potential for reshoring activities, with the decision fuelled by climbing labour costs, concerns over product quality and the relative ease of doing business in home markets.

China's rapid economic growth in recent years has led to skills shortages in a number of industries including manufacturing, pushing up wages and causing some businesses to struggle to find the right recruits for jobs.

A total of 92 per cent of the decision-makers questioned by BCG forecast a continuing increase in labour costs in China.

Firms ''reconsidering global manufacturing operations''

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:37:00 GMT

Operations management challenges continue in UK retail industry

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:05:00 GMT

Although sales for retailers in the UK rose overall last month, many financial and operations management challenges remain for the sector.

This is the claim made by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which has suggested the early warm weather helped to encourage Britons to spend on items such as garden furniture, plants and summer clothes.

The BRC comments were made after recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showing that retail sales in the UK climbed by 5.7 per cent in terms of value during March 2012.

However, according to the trade body's director general Stephen Robertson, "the boost to business is likely to be short-lived" as consumers continue to struggle with constrained household budgets caused by rising costs for utilities and transport.

The ONS report for last month stated that much of this expansion was driven by non-store retailing, automotive fuel purchasing and other stores, with internet sales values standing 15.2 per cent higher year-on-year.

Take the APICS CPIM survey and enter for a chance to win an iPad!

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The supply chain and operations management landscape is changing. As the global leader and premier source of the body of knowledge in supply chain and operations management, APICS recognizes that as the needs of the industry change, so should our certification programs. We would like your help in shaping the future of our APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) designation.

About the APICS CPIM survey
By taking this survey, you will identify key job responsibilities and tasks associated with your profession to help us maintain relevance and applicability of our certification and to ensure we are preparing our members for successful careers in supply chain and operations management. Your participation will help determine the future of the APICS CPIM program.

APICS certification or membership with APICS are not required to participate in this survey.

Along with our thanks for completing the survey, you will also be entered for a chance to win an iPad.

You have the power to shape the future of your industry. Take the APICS CPIM survey now.

iPad Drawing Rules
Participants completing the survey may enter to win by providing their name and email address in the survey.

If you choose to provide your name and email address at the close of the survey you will become eligible to win an Apple iPad or equivalent prize. After the survey closes APICS will randomly select a name and email from names and email addresses provided in the survey. APICS will use the provided email to request information necessary to send the prize to the winner. If for any reason the prize winner is unable to provide APICS with shipping information, APICS will perform subsequent random selections until a qualified winner is drawn. Prize is nontransferable. Void where prohibited. Prize winner may be subject to state, local, federal or national taxes where applicable. All decisions of APICS management with regard to rules, specifications, qualifiers, winners, and prizes, are final. APICS employees, employee families, and partners of APICS and their families are not eligible.

May public sector strikes could require operations management strategies

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:18:00 GMT

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) are set to embark on industrial action on May 10th 2012 as a result of disputes over pensions.

The proposed action is set to have a significant impact on company operations management, as the union aims to carry out a coordinated plan of nationwide strikes.

PCS is calling on the government to engage in genuine negotiations regarding its plans to increase the state pension age to 68, as well hoping that its actions will result in an increased awareness among the public of this burning issue.

The PCS industrial action will be mirrored by NHS Unite members, who also plan to strike on May 10th over the issue of pension provision.

Up to 100,000 members of the union could be involved, with the organisation claiming its members face the prospect of paying an additional £30 per month on average into their pension pots at a time when inflation is applying more and more pressure to household bills.

Rising material and fuel costs pose manufacturing challenge

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:50:00 GMT

Manufacturing management professionals are facing a growing challenge from rising materials and fuel costs.

As the amount businesses in the sector are forced to pay for the items that go into making their products increases, a business group has also warned inflation rates are likely to be pushed up by increases.

The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group (BCCG) has found that recent climbs in prices for steel, coal and gas are responsible for the greatest pressure on companies.

According to a study by the BCCG, businesses are now under pressure to raise prices, although effective operations management could assist them in driving down costs and inefficiencies in order to avoid such moves.

Michael Ward, president of the organisation, commented: "While many of the major utility companies have dropped their prices, rising fuel prices are now impacting on a rise in food prices."

The report comes after data from Markit and the CIPS indicated input price inflation reached a seven-month peak at the end of the first quarter of 2012 as cost pressures rose sharply for UK manufacturers.

Manufacturing operations management may have to consider carbon emissions

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:10:00 GMT

Businesses in the manufacturing sector may have to employ improved operations management procedures in order to tackle their CO2 output in the coming years.

According to MP Tim Yeo, chair of the Energy and Climate Change Committee, the government has claimed for many years it is cutting UK emissions, but this is not necessarily the case.

He argued that the nation's consumer culture has resulted in more goods being imported from places like China, which has resulted in the emissions from these countries rising.

Mr Yeo commented: "Successive governments have claimed to be cutting climate-changing emissions, but in fact a lot of pollution has simply been outsourced overseas."

The latest figures from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) have revealed the UK's CIPS purchase managers' index achieved a ten-month high at the end of the first quarter of 2012.

However, the growth of production and new orders for UK firms has shown signs of improvement.

Manufacturing operations management may have to consider carbon emissions

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:10:00 GMT

Operations management may form part of TMAT success

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:04:00 GMT

Operations management systems may be helping UK business TMAT to lead the way in terms of recovery in the UK manufacturing sector.

A provider of polyurethane acoustic components for the agriculture and construction markets, TMAT continues to rapidly expand both in the UK and abroad, with east Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin congratulating the company on its ongoing efforts and successes towards driving growth.

Ms McClarkin noted: "Britain has the skills, the trading ability and spirit of enterprise ... to build for the growth that is essential for our economy to keep on the road to recovery."

She added that the success of TMAT is a testament to the endeavour and spirit of UK firms to forge ahead with recovery, even in today's difficult trading environment.

According to former Paris bureau chief for the Daily Telegraph Philip Delves Broughton, operations management modules are an extremely important element of MBA programmes.

He told Business Week that "operations drive everything" when it comes to businesses developing global supply chains, management and marketing for firms.

Outsourcing could form part of cost-cutting operations management

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:10:00 GMT

As companies increasingly look at ways of enhancing their operations management and reducing costs, outsourcing could play a greater role in areas such as sales as marketing.

This is according to PerDM, which has noted 90 per cent of companies reported that they had reduced expenditure in 2009 during the economic downturn.

The firm explained that sales and marketing outsourcing has been identified as a key trend enabling businesses to do this, with the global recession prompting companies to look more closely at ways of cutting costs.

Outsourcing activities such as these allows organisations to focus their efforts more fully on their core operations

This could free up extra money for investment in new equipment, with the Finance & Leasing Association recently reporting that plant and machinery finance activity rose in February this year.

According to PerDM director Ian Attwood, using a specialist company for non-core aspects of a business can enhance efficiency, productivity and service quality.

PwC calls on UK industry to cash in on Government R&D consultation

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Experts at PwC today urged Research & Development (R&D) leaders across key industries to take the credit for their work from a £700m pot by feeding now into a Government consultation. By feeding into the new consultation into how R&D credits are granted, PwC says they have a unique chance to help shape the new scheme, due to become legislation from April 2013.

PwC estimates there are over 2,000 large firms applying for the credits each year, but claims for the credits are almost always handled by the tax teams in the businesses instead of those in R&D.

R&D and Patent Box partner at PwC, Diarmuid MacDougall, said:

“R&D is a lifeline for this country. Currently the R&D credits are dealt with by the tax function of a large company, often not affecting the R&D teams. Change is afoot however, to help the R&D leaders apply for and secure the cash directly so they can spend it on developing the products.”

The consultation is aimed directly at large UK firms (500 plus employees) who spend around £10bn on R&D each year. Change to the new credit scheme could encourage businesses to spend an extra £700m in R&D which PwC estimates could create up to 30,000 new jobs.

Around £700m of a £1 bn pot is available for large firms, and from April 2013, the £700m will be given as a credit directly against the cost of R&D, like a grant, regardless of whether the firm pays corporation tax or not. If the company has tax losses the credit will still be payable.

R&D and tax partner at PwC, Diarmuid MacDougall, explained:

“This is no longer a tax issue. It is about allowing British manufacturers to literally take the credit for the work they are doing. If you are responsible for R&D or product development, it is your budget that will be affected by the new R&D credit and the design of the scheme is yours to shape.”

He urged all R&D and product development leaders from automotive, aerospace & defence, manufacturing, chemicals, life sciences, technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and electronics to feed in now to the consultation.

Companies wishing to take part in the consultation have until the 29 June 2012 to do so using the details in this link http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_above_line_credit_rd.htm.

Praise for retiring Kimberly-Clark operations management expert

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:08:00 GMT

An operations management specialist who is retiring from his role at Kimberly-Clark has been praised for his achievements at the company.

Jan Spencer is leaving his role as senior vice-president of continuous improvement, sourcing and sustainability and chairman and chief executive of Kimberly-Clark Thomas A Falk described him as "a transformational change leader" whose influence within the US-based company has been global.

Mr Falk added: "I want to thank him for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the growth and success of Kimberly-Clark."

Achievements made by Mr Spencer during his 34 years with the firm include spearheading its continuous improvement efforts, such as the introduction of process enhancements that increased productivity and quality.

Products made by Kimberly-Clark are sold in over 175 countries around the world and are used by nearly one in four of the global population, with the firm employing operations management principles such as lean manufacturing to enhance its business.

Praise for retiring Kimberly-Clark operations management expert

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:08:00 GMT

Rising equipment investment among manufacturers

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:51:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing sector has increased its investment in new equipment, according to a new report.

Data from the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) has revealed plant and machinery finance activity rose during February this year, with operations management professionals now having to take new investments into account.

"The figures show that February was another strong month, with businesses turning to asset finance to fund investment in new and replacement business equipment," declared FLA chief economist and head of research Geraldine Kilkelly.

Asset finance has seen an increase in its share of the market, rising to 27 per cent of all UK fixed-capital investment with a total of £21.2 billion for the past 12 months.

According to the association, the figures are evidence that companies are gaining the confidence to invest in their operations and replace ageing equipment.

Indeed, recent data from Markit and the CIPS showed manufacturing activity in the UK expanded during the first quarter of 2012 with rising production and new orders, which could prompt further demand for business equipment.

Warm March weather pushes up UK retail sales

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:45:00 GMT

The warm weather seen last month may have placed additional pressure on operations management strategies as it caused a spike in retail sales.

UK spending values climbed by 1.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis in March 2012 compared with the same month last year.

On a total basis, sales were 3.6 per cent higher year-on-year, compared with a 1.9 per cent fall in March 2011, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG.

The latest Retail Sales Monitor showed no change in food sales expansion, while non-food sales benefited from the sunshine, in particular clothing, footwear and outdoor leisure stores.

Figures from the two organisations for March 2012 revealed there was a rise in overall shop price inflation to 1.5 per cent during the month, climbing from 1.2 per cent in February, with the food sector driving growth and increases in fuel prices pushing up transport and manufacturing costs.

Despite the strong March sales, BRC director general Stephen Robertson cautioned: "The overall retail environment is still difficult. Discounting remains a key tactic for retailers trying to encourage consumers to spend."

Manufacturers ''need to invest in younger workers and skills''

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:30:00 GMT

Many UK manufacturing employers are opting for older workers as they tend to have the required skills and experience they need.

This is according to the awarding organisation EAL, which has found that not enough young people are being recruited and states more investment is needed in developing skills in order to address shortages in the sector.

A study by the organisation found that nearly half (48.2 per cent) of firms surveyed are opting to recruit older people rather than school leavers and problems could be growing as a result, with almost 100,000 new workers estimated by engineering skills council Semta to be needed during the coming four years.

Managing director of EAL Ann Watson warned that if more is not done to recruit young people the UK could "find a whole generation turns its back as a result", predicting: "The long-term effects on industry skills could be catastrophic."

Rising stars in the field of production, such as apprentices and students seeking an APICS qualification, are being sought by manufacturers' organisation the EEF for its annual Future Manufacturing Awards, with ten categories to enter and both regional and national finals taking place during 2012.

UK service sector records strong March growth

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:20:00 GMT

The service sector in the UK expanded at a "robust pace" in March this year, growing at its strongest rate since the second quarter of 2010.

Rising activity may push up demand for operations management, as the business climate in the UK strengthened last month, boosting sales and activity.

According to the figures from Markit and CIPS, the sector also witnessed a "modest rise in employment", with firms polled forecasting continuing growth over the coming year.

The Business Activity Index for services rose from 53.8 in February to 55.3 in March, marking the 15th month in a row of expansion.

"Faster growth of services activity in March indicates that the economy is on the up again, skirting recession as business continues to bounce back from the lull seen late last year," declared Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

On a global scale, the international service sector also saw "robust" performance in March 2012, according to figures from JPMorgan and Markit, with business activity rising for 32 consecutive months.

Growing optimism in financial services sparked by expansion

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 12:59:00 GMT

The expansion of the financial services sector in the UK has led to growing optimism within the industry.

A new report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggested continuous improvement in the field has caused it to grow in recent months.

According to figures from the business organisation and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), volumes of business in the sector increased for the eighth month in a row over the quarter to March 2012.

The Financial Services Survey for the three month period noted the first increase in optimism among industry professionals in over a year, with a balance of plus 32 per cent, while employment rose and institutions had plans to spend more on IT.

However, PwC UK financial services leader Kevin Burrows remarked: "There are still choppy waters to be navigated and, as ever, stringent cost and risk management will be key."

Operations management plans in financial services may also be affected by a recent pledge from the British Bankers' Association issued in the wake of the government's 2012 Budget that its members remain committed to providing finance to UK businesses.

Financial management ''a priority for manufacturers''

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:10:00 GMT

Manufacturers are overwhelmingly agreed that good financial management through the maintenance of sound balance sheets is a key priority for their business.

This is the situation for 95 per cent of firms in Europe and the Middle East according to a survey by KPMG, which led the firm to suggest the recent economic crisis has been a "wake-up call" for the operations management of firms.

UK head of diversified industrials at KPMG Stephen Cooper said: "The vast majority have now incorporated a more focused and sustainable approach into their business strategy."

He explained that this means there is less reliance on short-term credit, which prevents sudden increases in borrowing that could increase company debt.

In addition to the focus on balance sheets, 42 per cent said it was a priority to realise cost efficiencies through changing business operations.

Firms can look forward with some optimism over their finances following strong manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index figures in March, the Ernst and Young Item Club has said.

UK manufacturing activity reaches ten-month high

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:09:00 GMT

A ten-month high has been recorded for the UK's manufacturing sector during March this year.

The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry revealed an acceleration of growth to the end of the first quarter of 2012.

March saw the seasonally-adjusted PMI jump from 51.5 in February this year to 52.1 in March, with the measure expanding for the past four months.

However, according to Markit and the CIPS, cost pressures on manufacturing management professionals also increased last month, as "conditions in the sector remain tough overall" and both metal and oil prices rose.

The organisations noted both production and new orders increased in the first three months of 2012, but input price inflation climbed to a seven-month high and backlogs of work depleted.

Within the eurozone, the PMI for March declined further from 49 in February 2012 to 47.7 in March, with any figure below 50 indicative of contraction, as cost pressures increased and manufacturing weakness appeared to spread to more nations.

Commenting on the UK data, Markit senior economist Rob Dobson said: "Exporters are having to tap markets further afield as conditions in the Eurozone remain lethargic."

Government approves most Mary Portas retail recommendations

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:47:00 GMT

A series of recommendations for the regeneration of Britain's high streets has been accepted by the government.

Aspects of advice presented by shopping guru Mary Portas that have been approved by ministers may affect the work of operations management professionals as a series of steps have been unveiled to halt the decline of town centres.

She provided a series of recommendations to the government that were intended to improve the management of shopping areas and included suggestions to reduce red tape and providing more affordable parking.

"I'm also going one step further, with a range of measures designed to help local people turn their high streets into the beating hearts of their communities once again," stated communities minister Grant Shapps, unveiling plans such as a £10 million high street innovation fund and a National Markets Day.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed the government's backing of the Mary Portas report, but has called for greater ambition to rejuvenate town centres and a "bold vision" in order to make a significant difference to the sector.

It has also proposed a complete review of the current system of business rates, with retailers forced to find an additional £350 million this year as a result of rises.

UK operations management expert promotes continuous improvement

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:11:00 GMT

An expert in operations management has taken his message to a German company - and earned an invite to its headquarters

Continuous improvement leader at Albis UK Mark Norbury undertook a course at Trafford Park Manufacturing Institute in Manchester and then spread his knowledge at the firm's thermoplastic compound plant in nearby Knutsford, Cheshire, the Manchester Evening News reports.

He managed to improve the efficiency of the plant by ten per cent and bosses at the German firm were so impressed they sought his expertise.

Mr Norbury then travelled to the plants in Hamburg and Zulpich to explain how this had been done.

He told the paper: "When they heard what we had achieved at Knutsford they were very keen to use the methods we had introduced as a result of me going on the course.''

The Institute of Operations Management offers courses similar to that undertaken by Mr Norbury and states that having more qualified operations managers will help raise UK working practices to the highest levels seen on the continent.

British manufacturing industry should get "special attention"

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:58:00 GMT

The government should give "special attention" to the manufacturing industry in the UK in order to boost growth and the nation's output of goods.

According to the chairman of British Made for Quality (BMFQ), Julian Baseley, although some of the provisions outlined in the 2012 Budget will assist those in manufacturing management, further measures should be introduced.

He noted the reduction in corporation tax will provide a boost, as well as the new loan scheme planned for small and medium-sized enterprises.

"Raising the threshold before tax is also very welcome. It gives far more incentive to work for lower-paid employees," the expert added.

However, Mr Baseley expressed his disappointment that chancellor George Osborne had not announced "some real support for British manufacturing" in his May 21st speech.

The expert pointed to the US as an example, where Barack Obama has proposed a lower tax rate for firms moving manufacturing back to the country, adding production in the UK is in need of "special attention" from the government.

In its response to the 2012 Budget, EEF, the manufacturers' organisation said more is needed beyond reducing corporation tax to persuade companies to bring forward investment in the sector.

Reducing manufacturing red tape may enhance operations management

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:59:00 GMT

Companies may be able to spend more time and resources focusing on their operations management as a result of new plans to scrap red tape.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed it has launched a consultation about removing obsolete regulations covering the manufacturing industry.

According to consumer minister Norman Lamb, retailers and customers will also benefit from the proposed changes, which could help continuous improvement efforts.

The outdated rules identified by the government were pinpointed through the Red Tape Challenge as surplus to requirements and Mr Lamb stated the plans are "a win for consumers and businesses".

Under the Red Tape Challenge, regulations have been examined via a series of categories in order to identify those that could be scrapped, revised or should be retained.

The consumer minister added: "The government is determined to cut the regulatory burden on companies to help them to innovate and focus on running their business."

GSK backs UK manufacturing with £500m investment

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:13:00 GMT

Bosses at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have confirmed the company will commit £500 million in order to boost manufacturing in the UK.

It is looking to boost the production of key active ingredients used in its pharmaceutical products and vaccines and the move has the potential to create 1,000 jobs.

The company has selected Ulverston in Cumbria as the location for the first new GSK site for nearly 40 years, while £100 million of the overall investment will be spent on improving manufacturing process in Scotland.

News of the new funding arrangement has been welcomed by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, with minister for universities and science David Willetts saying it will stimulate growth and innovation.

This sentiment was shared by prime minister David Cameron, who suggested it would provide a great boost for the economy.

"It shows why we are right to cut business tax and focus on making the UK a dynamic and competitive place that can attract exactly this type of high tech investment," he remarked.

Manufacturers'' growth expectations improve

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:49:00 GMT

Demand for operations management professionals could increase as manufacturers are forecasting a rise in output over the next three months.

Expectations of growth among those in the industry have risen, according to a new study from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), with confidence climbing to its strongest level for a year.

Order books also remained above the long-run average in the latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey, as did export demand, although the latter weakened slightly from February.

However, many of the 436 firms polled are also forecasting they will have to increase prices substantially, as expectations for output price inflation climbed to a balance of plus 24 per cent.

CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty said rising oil prices were likely to be the cause of forecast price rises, adding any further climb "would be a significant concern, given the additional cost burden this would place on UK manufacturers and the knock-on effects it could have on the nascent recovery".

Having urged the government to focus its 2012 Budget on growth, EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler commented on yesterday's speech by chancellor George Osborne, saying that it failed to do enough to unlock investment by UK manufacturers.

Proposals could alter NHS operations management

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:22:00 GMT

A series of proposals have been unveiled that could alter operations management in the NHS by integrating care more fully.

The Department of Health stated millions of pounds could be saved by involving higher numbers of Allied Health Professionals with patients.

According to health minister Lord Howe, integrating treatment provided by experts such as dietitians, speech and language therapists, podiatrists and physiotherapists would improve patient care.

Individuals suffering from conditions such as cancer, diabetes, strokes and musculoskeletal problems could benefit if the changes are made, helping them to avoid amputations or gain independence faster, among other enhancements to their lives.

"Better integration of care is one of the key elements in the Health and Social Care Bill - not only does it improve the quality of patient care, but it can also save the NHS money," Lord Howe remarked.

A recent NHS Staff Survey showed 90 per cent of respondents believe their role makes a difference to the patients they treat, showing no change in this figure between 2010 and 2011.

Cruise industry experts advocate continuous improvement

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:52:00 GMT

Bosses at a leading ship inspection organisation believe there is still plenty of work to be done to ensure the maritime industry is as safe as possible.

President of DNV Tor Svensen suggested that current regulations are good, but continuous improvement is still required in order to cut down on accidents, the Miami Herald reports.

Panellists at the Cruise Shipping Miami conference also stated new safety measures that have been introduced since the high-profile Costa Concordia disaster have been welcome.

These include a policy that stipulates emergency drills must be held before a ship leaves port.

Cruise Shipping Miami is the leading international exhibition on safety and more than 1,800 cruise line owners attend the event, which has been running for 27 years.

"We as an industry need to focus beyond compliance," Mr Svensen was reported as saying.

"What do we need to do in terms of continuous improvement? Regulations do not cover everything," he added.

British car manufacturing growth drives forward

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:06:00 GMT

Output of cars by the UK automotive industry rose by 23.5 per cent in February year-on-year, as the sector continued to boom.

This is according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which has published its latest production data, showing a 19.6 per cent rise in carmaking since the start of 2012.

Engine production rose over the month by 3.6 per cent, but commercial vehicle activity dipped by 2.7 per cent.

Commenting on the data, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt commented: "The UK automotive sector continues to attract investment and generate new jobs."

However, he added that it is important the government continues to demonstrate its support for manufacturing and called for measures to boost growth to be included in this month's annual Budget.

An industry leader in terms of operations management, as vehicle production expands the automotive sector may increase its demand for APICS qualifications and CPIM exams.

The UK motor industry produces more than one million vehicles and two million engines annually, with more than 75 per cent of the models made in the country exported.

Mary Portas aims to bring manufacturing operations back to Britain

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:38:00 GMT

Retail expert Mary Portas has launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging businesses in the UK to purchase products that have been made in Britain.

The Queen of Shops has highlighted the fact that 95 per cent of production now takes place overseas and is trying to push retailers to take more domestic stock in order to combat rising unemployment.

Ms Portas, who was appointed high street czar by the government in order to assist the UK's retail sector in recovering from the economic downturn, insists that firms in Britain produce high quality, well made merchandise.

She has taken over a factory in Middleton to the north of Manchester to produce a new brand of underwear, Kinky Knickers, which will be sold in high street stores.

"If we invest in British industry we invest in our future and in our young people," the specialist told the Sun newspaper. "Think of the purpose and pride this would bring to our country."

The expert has appeared in a range of television programmes in which she assists businesses in boosting their sales and overhauling their operations management policies. Her latest series, Mary's Bottom Line, is being screened on Channel 4.

Government seeks food and drink sector operations management innovations

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:04:00 GMT

Ways of enhancing the UK's food and drink sector through innovative practices are being sought by the government.

Food and farming minister Jim Paice is launching two competitions aimed at improving manufacturing and reducing waste, potentially providing funding to develop operations management solutions in the field.

He said the initiatives will help to transform the industry support research and development efforts in order to contribute towards Britain's economic recovery, with up to £15 million available for projects.

"By getting businesses innovating and enhancing the UK’s reputation as a world class pioneer of new production and manufacturing techniques, the food and farming sector can be a real engine for growth," Mr Paice explained.

The competitions will be unveiled at the Farming, Food and Drink Innovation Summit, with a series of grants established for companies of all sizes and a series of regional workshops across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland arranged.

With around 3.7 million employees and over 6,000 new products on the market each year, the farming, food and drink industry generated £87 million for the UK economy during 2010.

Local authority embraces continuous improvement principles

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:52:00 GMT

A local authority in Cambridgeshire has implemented continuous improvement strategies in order to enhance its customer service.

As a result, Huntingdonshire District Council has achieved an accreditation for excellence in this field following an on-site assessment, according to corporate project officer Donna Rockett.

Councillor Barry Chapman, responsible for customer services, said: "The retaining of the Customer Service Excellence award is fantastic news. I would like to congratulate all the staff who have worked hard."

In retaining the award, the local authority has been acknowledged for using continuous improvement principles to demonstrate excellent standards in delivery, enhancing skills and validating achievements.

As part of this, its call and contact centre staff have been specially trained to handle calls and visitors in a quick and efficient manner using state-of-the-art equipment and IT systems, AboutMyArea.co.uk reports.

The North Wales Police Administration of Justice Department in Prestatyn recently retained its Investors in People and Customer Service Excellence awards for the quality and effectiveness of its operations management.

Producer price decline slower than expected

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:04:00 GMT

Producer prices rose in February 2012, according to new data, despite experts predicting a fall.

Declining inflation over the past few months had led the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to anticipate a drop in costs last month.

However, annual output inflation climbed from four per cent to 4.1 per cent month-on-month and input prices jumped over the sale period from 6.6 per cent in January 2012 to 7.3 per cent in February.

As a result, businesses may turn to operations management strategies in order to keep costs down, with BCC chief economist David Kern commenting: "We believe this is temporary and inflation will continue to fall throughout the year. The squeeze on businesses and consumers will still ease gradually, but not as quickly as we had hoped."

He added that oil prices rises make adopting policies that sustain growth more important than ever in the forthcoming Budget from the government.

In addition, Mr Kern pointed to slightly weaker than expected manufacturing output figures for the UK as a reason for chancellor George Osborne to announce plans that will support businesses.

British manufacturing ''on the up''

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:20:00 GMT

The state of the manufacturing industry in the UK appears to be improving, after new statistics showed a definite upturn in fortunes.

Industry organisation EEF released data that suggests both output and orders rose in the last three months.

Tom Lawton, head of manufacturing at BDO, said the "shock" delivered from the eurozone in late 2011 appears to have dissipated and domestic demand is also strong.

"Manufacturers seem to be reassured by strengthening their output and forward order books and are looking forward to the next three months with more confidence," he stated.

It is not the first piece of good news this week for those working in manufacturing management, as business secretary Vince Cable recently promised the government will do what it can to expand the industry.

His work may already be coming to fruition, as the EEF survey showed enhanced confidence in the sector has already led to a boom in recruitment plans.

Retailers reduce prices as income squeeze continues

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:33:00 GMT

The UK retail industry has responded to pressures on household incomes by reducing prices, new research shows.

In their latest Shop Price Index, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen state that shop price inflation dipped to 1.2 per cent in February 2012, its lowest pace for almost two years.

It shows that in order to maintain their profit margins many companies will have to implement measures such as continuous improvement, with profitability being affected by cuts.

"While fuel and utility bills are eating up an ever-bigger proportion of household budgets, many goods sold by retailers now cost less than they did a year ago," BRC director general Stephen Robertson said.

Food inflation grew to 4.2 per cent last month, pushing non-food prices down by 0.7 per cent, with clothing, furniture and electrical goods all cheaper than in 2011.

However, there was some good news from Visa Europe recently indicating that consumer spending had risen by 0.2 per cent month-on-month in February 2012, following a similar rise in January, the Guardian reported.

Vince Cable emphasises government''s commitment to manufacturing

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:08:00 GMT

The business secretary Vince Cable has stressed that the government is committed to expanding the UK manufacturing industry.

Addressing the EEF National Manufacturing Conference in London, he explained that strategies such as increasing private investment and boosting exports to growing markets such as Asia require a "properly articulated industrial strategy".

He welcomed a budget submission by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation that adopted a similar position and said it is important manufacturing management professionals are able to access "big global opportunities".

Addressing the event, Dr Cable stated: "A passive and short-term approach is not sufficient for creating long-term industrial capabilities."

He added that the move towards a low-carbon economy is an important one and the costs of charges need to be offset for energy-intensive sectors to ensure they are not driven away from Britain.

The business secretary had just returned from the Geneva Motorshow, where he attended the launch of Nissan's new Invitation concept car, with plans to put the vehicle into production at the company's Sunderland plant, following support provided for the project through the government's Regional Growth Fund.

Growth in manufacturing investment could boost operations management

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:18:00 GMT

EEF has called on the government to step up its ambitions for growth, a move that could lead to greater scope for operations management.

The manufacturers' group said this month's Budget should contain measures designed to measure the government's progress in rebalancing the economy and boosting investment.

It has also called for a two-year temporary increase in capital allowances to 100 per cent and claimed progress on growth should be monitored by the National Audit Office.

Chief executive of EEF Terry Scuoler said chancellor George Osborne must "send out a clear signal to business that now is the time to be increasing investment and that Britain is the place to do it".

He added that the government needs to match its deficit reduction plan with "clearly articulated ambitions for the economy that provide clarity for business".

Steve Radley, director of policy at EEF, recently called for the coalition to make a renewed effort to set out its ambitions for the economy and articulate polices for achieving them. Mr Osborne is due to deliver his Budget on March 21st.

UK services sector sees sustained growth in February

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 12:00:00 GMT

The services industry in the UK continued to see sustained growth in activity and new business during February 2012.

According to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector, activity stood at 53.8 last month, the lowest level for a quarter but above the 50 mark indicative of expansion.

Compiled by Markit and the CIPS, the PMI also showed output charges for services businesses fell from January and cost inflation dropped to an 18-month low, despite a slight rise in input prices, as discounting supported sales.

It dipped from 56 in January 2012, but new business wins continued to support growth, with increases taking place for 14 months in a row, while employment rose for the third consecutive month.

"Despite seeing some loss of momentum in February, the service sector continued to grow at a robust pace, adding to signs that a double-dip recession will be avoided," stated Markit chief economist Chris Williamson, in comments that may influence operations management policy.

The UK results come after data for the eurozone from Markit showed that there was a fifth contraction in six months within the services sector during February this year, as growth in Germany continued but the pace of falls in Spain and Italy increased.

25th European Conference on Operational Research (EURO XXV)

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Vilnius, Lithuania, 8-11 July, 2012
www.euro-2012.lt

Fourth announcement and extension of the abstract submission deadline and call for papers

*** The extended and final deadline for the submission of abstracts is March 18, 2012 ***

The Organizers of the 25th EURO Conference have a great pleasure of inviting you to take part in this Conference to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania on 8-11 July, 2012.

The Programme and Organizing Committees, chaired by Marielle Christiansen and Leonidas Sakalauskas, are preparing a high quality scientific programme and an exciting social programme for the Conference.

We are convinced that the EURO XXV Conference will be an excellent opportunity for the OR community to get together again in a pleasant atmosphere, and, thus, we are looking forward to seeing you in Vilnius, the historical capital of Lithuania, in 2012.

Please, visit the EURO XXV Conference website (www.euro-2012.lt) for more information.

Plenary Speakers:

Ralph E. Gomory
Finn E. Kydland
Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann

Keynote & Tutorial Speakers:

Jon Caulkins - Providing a Scientific Basis for Managing Illegal Drugs & Markets
Guy Desaulniers - Column Generation
Jitka Dupacova - Stochastic programming - a flexible tool for decision making under uncertainty
Erhan Erkut - Education
Ignacio Grossmann - Optimization in Process Systems Enigineering
Karla Hoffman - Combinatorial Auctions and Applications
Ceyda Oguz - Computational Biology
Boris Polyak - Optimization and Optimal Control
Bjorn Jorgensen - Accounting
Anita Schöbel - Optimization in Public Transportation
Kenneth Sorensen - Metaheuristics
Matteo Fischetti - On the role of randomness in exact tree search methods

Call For Papers And Sessions:

We invite all researchers, academicians, practitioners, as well as students interested in any branch of operational research, mathematical modelling or economic analysis to participate at the Conference and to present their papers.

Invited and contributed papers will be organized in parallel sessions. In general, sessions will be a part of the Conference streams, and streams are grouped by areas.

No participant can present more than one paper at the Conference (but may be a co-author for other papers).

Abstract submission and registration are done online, via the Conference web page (www.euro-2012.lt)

Abstracts: max. 600 characters including spaces; submission deadline: March 18, 2012.

Researchers who want to organize a stream or an invited session or contribute with a paper within an invited session should contact the PC member of the corresponding area.

Areas:

(and PC members in charge; see contacts further below)

Continuous Optimization / GW Weber
Control Theory & System Dynamics / R Hartl
Data Mining Knowledge Discovery and Artificial Intelligence / V Mousseau
DEA and Performance Measurement / E Fernandez
Decision Analysis, Decision Support Systems / V Mousseau
Discrete Optimization, Geometry & Graphs / S Martello
Emerging applications of OR / GW Weber
Energy/Environment and Climate / P Letmathe
Financial Modeling & Risk Management / SW Wallace
Fuzzy Systems and Softcomputing / SW Wallace
Game, Theory, Mathematical Economics / GW Weber
Location / E Fernandez
Logistics, Transportation, Traffic / M Sevaux
Metaheuristics / R Hartl
Multiple Criteria Decision Making and Optimization / V Mousseau
OR Education, History, Ethics / M Sevaux
OR in Health & Life Sciences / K Aardal
OR in Industry and Software for OR / M Rönnqvist
OR in Natural Resources / M Rönnqvist
OR for Development and Developing Countries / GW Weber
Production Management & Supply Chain Management / E Fernandez
Revenue Management & Managerial Accounting / P Letmathe
Scheduling, Time Tabling & Project Management / M Sevaux
Simulation & Stochastic Programming and Modelling / SW Wallace
Soft OR and Problem Structuring Methods / SW Wallace
Telecommunication & Networks / K Aardal

Important Dates:

Deadline for abstract submission: March 18, 2012
Notification of acceptance: March 31, 2012
Deadline for early registration: April 22, 2012
Deadline for author registration (for inclusion in the program): May 1, 2012
Conference: July 8-11, 2012

Programme Committee:

Prof. Marielle Christiansen (Chair), Norway
Prof. Karen Aardal, The Netherlands
Prof. Elena Fernandez, Spain
Prof. Richard Hartl, Austria
Prof. Silvano Martello, Italy
Prof. Vincent Mousseau, France
Prof. Peter Letmathe, Germany
Prof. Mikael Rönnqvist, Norway
Prof. Leonidas Sakalauskas, Lithuania
Prof. Marc Sevaux, France
Prof. Stein W.Wallace, United Kingdom
Prof. Gerhard Wäscher, Germany
Prof. Gerhard-Wilhelm Weber, Turkey

Organizing Committee:

Leonidas Sakalauskas (Chair), Lithuania
Marielle Christiansen, Norway
Gerhard Wäscher, Germany
Saulius Preidys, Lithuania
Tatjana Vilutiene, Lithuania
Jonas Zaptorius, Lithuania

Awards:

During the EURO XXV conference the following prizes will be awarded:

The EURO Gold Medal 2012,
The EURO Distinguished Service Medal (EDSM 2012),
The EURO Doctoral Dissertation Award (EDDA 2012),
The EURO Excellence in Practice Award (EPA 2012),
The EURO/ROADEF Challenge 2012,
The EURO Award for the Best EJOR Paper.

The Programme In Brief:

The Conference starts July 8 (Sunday), 4 pm, with the Opening Session, including the awards ceremony. This will be followed by the Welcome Reception at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, at 6 pm.

The working sessions will occupy most of the following three days, July 9-11, starting Monday morning.

In the evening of July 9 conference participants and accompanying persons are invited to a Reception by the Mayor of Vilnius, followed by a dance performance.

The Conference Gala Dinner will be held in the evening of July 10, at the yard of Vilnius Picture Gallery which is an outstanding building of the late classicism style and one of the finest ensembles of its kind in Vilnius.

In the late afternoon of July 11, the Conference ends with another social event which should not to be missed: The Farewell Party, being held in the courtyard of Vilnius University.

For detailed information about Vilnius, please, visit the Conference webpage www.euro-2012.lt

Registration Fees:

Regular: 320 Euros (early); 420 Euros (late),
Student: 120 Euros (early); 180 Euros (late),
Accompanying persons: 120 Euros.

Early registration ends April 22, 2012.

The regular/student registration fee includes:

Participation in all sessions, and access to the exhibition area,
Conference materials (Final Program, Book of Abstracts),
Participation in the Welcome Reception, July 8,
Participation in the Mayor of Vilnius City reception, July 9,
Participation in the Farewell Party, July 11,
Coffee breaks and lunches, July 8-11,
3-day city public transportation card (with badges).

The registration fee for accompanying persons includes:

Participation in the Welcome Reception, the Mayor Vilnius City reception and the Farewell party,
Lunches, July 8-11,
Vilnius City tour,
3-day city public transportation card (with badges).

The Gala dinner is charged separately, at 55 Euros per person.

EURO will provide up to 10,000 Euros to cover (in parts) the registration fees (in early registration rates) of attendees in need. Preference will be given to regular and student participants from Eastern Europe. All applicants should send an email to info@euro-2012.lt before registration.

Reduced fees for retired persons are limited to 20, dispensed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

All applicants for both groups should send an email to info@euro-2012.lt before registration.

Conference participants from research institutes of Belarus, Bulgaria,Czech, Estonia, Hungary, Montenegro, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia,Slovenia, and Ukraine, can apply for partial support to the expenses of their stay in Lithuania according to agreements signed between the Academies of Science of these countries and the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences (http://lma.lt/index.php?lang=en). Requests for invitation letters, which arenecessary for such applications, should be addressed by email to info@euro-2012.lt after registration.

About Lithuania And Vilnius:

Lithuania with its modern capital of Vilnius is geographically situated in the centre of Europe on the crossroads between East and West. The country is interesting and in fact exciting from the viewpoints of its unique nature, its thousands year old history, and its attractive culture. Vilnius can be reached by plane from the most important hubs in Europe.

Further Information:

We recommend participants to book:

hotel rooms and air tickets as early as possible
accommodation in Vilnius through the Conference webpage.

The Conference Secretariat has reserved a large number of rooms in a variety of hotels in Vilnius at specially negotiated rates.

For more details, consult the conference site, www.euro-2012.lt, where all relevant information will progressively be included.

Further proposals for Book or Software Exhibitions are welcome.

For any further information please contact:
Conference secretariat:
AIM Group Baltic
Kestucio 59/27, Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone: +370 212 00 03, fax: +370 212 00 13
E-mail: info@euro-2012.lt

Call for papers

Area: Emerging applications of OR

Stream: Emerging Aspects of Production Planning in Continuous Process Industries: Theory, Optimization, and Practice

Process industries comprise a great variety of economically important products, including, among others, petroleum refinery produces, metals, glass, fiberglass, roofing, ceramic tiles, cement, chemical agents, dyes, paints, drugs, polymers, plastics, fertilizers, paper, soap, food, and beverages.

However, due to a common contrasting of discrete and continuous industries with minor consideration to the variety of the latter, process industries are less researched with respect to specific theoretical and optimization issues. Concurrently, due to the level of production complexity, the focus has long been on control and automation and not on production planning as such. What is more, based on practical needs, process industries have been more explored in chemical engineering than in the operations research literature.

As demonstrated by the amount of recent contributions to process industry research, this field has gained a remarkable momentum in the last three decades. Since late 1970s, process industries have been facing extended product ranges, reduced delivery times, increased international competition, market saturation, downward price pressures, environmental concerns, rising raw materials and energy costs. Thus, companies in this industrial sector have to constantly improve operational efficiency and profitability to stay in business. This shift also requires well-coordinated round-the-clock operations supported by advanced logistic and information systems to optimize the costs throughout the network.

This stream aims at looking into classification, modeling, solution techniques and implementation, pertaining process industries. Both academics and practitioners are invited to organize, chair and contribute to conference sessions in the stream to initiate a broad discussion, exchange of ideas and active dialogue within the research community on the subject.

Proposals for sessions (3-4 papers each) as well as general inquiries can be addressed to the stream organizer (Dr. Krystsina Bakhrankova, Krystsina.Bakhrankova@sintef.no).
Contributors are also requested to contact the stream organizer for the submission code.
For further information, please, visit: http://euro-2012.lt/streams.

Looking forward to discussing these and related topics at the conference and meeting you in Vilnius!

Retail sales ''hold up better than expected''

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:59:00 GMT

The UK's retail sector has seen sales hold up "better than expected" year-on-year, according to new data.

A report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has suggested that figures stabilised in the first two weeks of February, compared with the same period of 2011.

More than one in three (34 per cent) retailers questioned reported a rise in purchasing activity over the 12 months previously and 36 per cent said they had fallen.

The resulting balance of minus two per cent is better than anticipated and may be good news for those in operations management positions, following a minus 22 per cent result for January 2012.

Sectors that performed particularly well included grocery, online and mail order. However, CBI Distributive Trades Panel chair Judith McKenna stated: "With disposable incomes under constant pressure, retailers remain concerned about the general business outlook for the rest of 2012."

And the British Retail Consortium reported last month that worries about job security, the economy and personal finances have dampened consumer confidence in recent months, with many people reporting that they do not have cash to spare at present.

Manufacturing industry input costs climb in February

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:52:00 GMT

The UK manufacturing industry has witnessed the first rise in input costs for four months during February this year.

According to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector, there was a slowdown during from January in output growth as cost pressures rose sharply.

Compiled by Markit and the CIPS, the data indicates there was a decline from January in the index from 52 to 51.2, with any number above 50 indicative of expansion.

Employment in the industry also rose month-on-month, the survey showed, with total new work and export orders remaining unchanged after an increase in January.

"If this combination of rising costs and weak demand persists, sustaining output growth and job creation will become increasingly difficult," Markit senior economist Rob Dobson warned.

Operations management may offer a solution to companies looking to reduce their input costs as expenditure in this area climbs, with those in the eurozone region also witnessing a surge in prices that was not countered by the modest growth in selling prices.

Contraction slows in UK services sector

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:48:00 GMT

There are signs emerging that the contraction of activity in the UK's services sector is slowing and could level out.

This is the claim made by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has published new figures indicating business conditions in the industry could be improving.

According to the organisation's chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty, the past quarter saw a slowdown in the rate of decline seen in business volumes compared with the previous three months, with consumer services firms performing best in the field.

He added: "There are some signs that after the very sharp fall in confidence at the height of the crisis last autumn, sentiment is stabilising."

The CBI figures support evidence published earlier this month by Markit and the CIPS, with the organisations' Purchasing Managers' Index for the services sector showing there was an improvement in growth during January this year, as rising new orders pushed up activity, employment and business optimism over the month.

Vince Cable outlines government''s vision for UK industry

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:29:00 GMT

Economic recovery in the UK needs to be focused on successful sectors, such as manufacturing and industry.

This is the claim made by business secretary Vince Cable as he outlined details of the government's industrial policy, stating that Britain needs to "build a different kind of economy" that benefits from expansion in Asia and is "led by business investment".

His remarks provide additional detail for manufacturing management professionals about where ministers see the nation's economic priorities as lying and Dr Cable said the sector is central to future economic strategy.

Pointing to the automotive industry, the business secretary added: "I believe we need to be - and be seen to be - fully behind our best performing sectors: those with the strongest trading figures and a proven commitment to innovation."

His speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in London came as the government also announced plans to increase efforts to improve apprenticeships' quality and standards.

John Hayes, the skills minister, told MPs that significant progress has been made in this area and he is determined to build on it to increase opportunities for training.

Manufacturing industry presses for change over carbon tax rise

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:25:00 GMT

The competitiveness of the UK manufacturing industry could be harmed internationally by plans to double a unilateral tax.

According to EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, the proposal by the government to double the Carbon Price Support levy on fossil fuels used to generate energy will have a detrimental effect on prices.

The body claimed that raising the tax in the forthcoming Budget from a 2013-14 rate of £4.94 per tonne of CO2 to around £10 per tonne the next year will increase the gap between electricity prices in the UK and Europe.

Steve Radley, EEF director of policy, insisted: "The more government policies push up the cost of operating in the UK, the harder it will be for manufacturers to invest, create jobs and compete in global markets."

In addition, manufacturing management may become more demanding as EEF has stated more needs to be done to ease credit restrictions further for businesses in the industry in order to make finance more available and cheaper. It also pointed to the need to promote the National Loan Guarantee Scheme.

Improvements in demand lead to manufacturing growth forecasts

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:51:00 GMT

Rising levels of demand being reported by manufacturers in the UK have led to them predicting an increase in output in the future.

This is the claim made in a new report from the Confederation of British Industry, which has found that the sector is rallying after disappointing statistics for the end of 2011

According to the Industrial Trends Survey for February 2012, export order books improved this month and the next three months are expected by a balance of +15 per cent of firms to see output rise.

As a result, firms may need to invest in continuous improvement strategies and APICS qualifications in order to enhance productivity and meet strengthening demand in the sector.

Commenting on the CBI data, the body's chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty stated: "Both domestic and overseas demand have strengthened, underpinning solid expectations for output growth, which is encouraging news, given the particularly difficult period for business in the final quarter of 2011."

The CBI poll follows the January Purchasing Managers' Index from Markit and the CIPS, which indicated that the measure reached an eight-month high of 52.1 over the month, while input prices fell sharply over the period.

Improvements in demand lead to manufacturing growth forecasts

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:51:00 GMT

Growth fund may benefit UK manufacturing management activities

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:51:00 GMT

A new growth fund has been unveiled that could assist with manufacturing management efforts by UK businesses.

Launched by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, the £1 billion scheme is intended to provide companies and public-private partnerships with the means to generate new employment and economic growth.

The announcement was made as the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills hosted a special conference this week, with delegates discussing the best of British manufacturing and the challenges faced by the sector.

Held at the Bristol & Bath Science Park, Mr Clegg will explain to the summit that the latest funding for the industry is part of the Regional Growth Fund, which has been expanded to a total of £2.4 billion.

"I want to see more businesses that are confident they can create jobs and get Britain building and making things again, coming forward," he will declare today (February 23rd), adding that funding from rounds one and two has been allocated to a range of promising projects.

Fashion brands seek British manufacturing

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:54:00 GMT

The British manufacturing sector has been given a boost by the news that many leading fashion brands are keen to have their products made in the UK.

According to a new report by Reuters, the fashion manufacturing market is enjoying a lucrative period largely thanks to the country's reputation for high quality, prestigious heritage and history and excellent craftsmanship.

"There is something about made in England, it's not just Chinese visitors [who love British-made products], it's throughout continental Europe, America. It's just something we're gifted by, having 'Made in England'," Harold Tillman, of the British Fashion Council, told the news source.

Fashion is not the only area in which manufacturing is booming, as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders recently said the production of vehicles in the UK is also on the up.

With London Fashion Week ending today (February 22nd), Britain could be set for a period of sustained growth in the clothes production market.

Best of British manufacturing set to be showcased

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:03:00 GMT

A special conference will be held this week to display to the world the very best of what British manufacturing has to offer and to debate the future.

The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills has confirmed that the very latest progress, the challenges the future holds and manufacturing's next steps will all be on the agenda.

Due to be held on Thursday (February 21st), The Manufacturing Summit is to be hosted by business secretary Vince Cable and business minister Mark Prisk.

Attendees can expect to find a plethora of information and discussions related to promotion of the sector, operations management, apprenticeships and exports.

One area in which British manufacturing is booming is the production of motor vehicles, with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders recently revealing that a 15.6 per cent growth in the industry was reported in January.

"Our Manufacturing Summit creates the perfect platform for us to further strengthen our relationship with industry and, more importantly, hear what its leaders have to say," Mr Cable stated.

UK motor manufacturing industry booming

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:04:00 GMT

The British manufacturing industry has received a significant boost with the news that production of motor vehicles in the country has risen to a 16-month high.

According to new statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), January was a good month for the industry as continuous improvement was recorded.

Car manufacturing levels increased by 15.6 per cent to reach 127,382 vehicles, while the construction of engines in the UK rose by five per cent. Such figures come on the back of numbers released this week by the Office for National Statistics, which noted that overall manufacturing in the country surged by 0.8 per cent in December.

Paul Everitt, chief executive at the SMMT, said car production is driving the UK market at the moment.

"Success in markets around the world is a tribute to the quality and competitiveness of UK production facilities, management and employees," he stated.

Demand for NHS dental services in Wales rises

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:33:00 GMT

More pressure is being placed on dental departments within the National Health Service (NHS) in Wales, according to the latest statistics on the subject.

The Welsh Government has revealed that the number of treatments and the number of patients seen by dentistry experts both rose in the period between July 1st last year and September 30th. It is the first time initial figures released on November 24th have been updated to accurately reflect activity during this time.

It is said that some 1.24 million individual acts of dentistry were completed during the near-three months in question, which is a one per cent increase on the same period a year earlier.

By dealing with more patients, dental centres in Wales may find it more difficult to achieve continuous improvement in their daily routines. However, this is already being recorded by a number of other NHS complexes around the UK.

The Department of Health recently said it is targeting further improvements, despite 84 per cent of patients admitting the service they have received from care professionals is either excellent or very good.

Bosses in Wales will have to cope with higher demand and overcome the challenges associated with extra patients if they are to enjoy similar success on a more local scale. Some 585,178 courses of treatment were administered in the country, the government noted – itself a 1.4 per cent hike on the 2010 figures.

These figures meant some 1.65 million people were looked after by dental experts in Wales over the 24 months to September 30th last year. That is some 55 per cent of the nation's entire population, with children identified as among the most frequent users of dental clinics, as 64.9 per cent of under-18s headed to see their dentist during the two years.

The mix of public sector austerity and rising demand certainly seems set to keep NHS performance very much in the headlines.

Patients reporting NHS care improvements

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:24:00 GMT

Improvements are being reported by NHS patients, but an independent study has suggested that still more needs to be done.

With 84 per cent of patients rating their experience of using the service as excellent or very good, the Department of Health is now calling for further enhancements to hospital performance.

This could be achieved by adopting operations management strategies such as lean techniques, with NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement programme lead Nick Downham stating recently that public bodies could benefit from such policies.

He explained that employee engagement and management support is vital if large scale changes are being made, while careful planning and understanding organizations fully can contribute to the success of projects.

According to the Department of Health, areas where improvements could be made in the NHS include greater communication with patients, as two-thirds of respondents to the 2011 Patient Experience Outpatient Survey by Imperial College London stated they were not told how long it would take for them to get an appointment and 65 per cent were not aware of what would happen during that meeting.

Hospitals with higher ratings by those questioned were also found to have lower readmission and death rates.

"We want people to feel involved at every step of the care they get in hospital," declared Anne Milton, the public health minister.

Lean principles ''can assist with public sector management''

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:37:00 GMT

Improvements can be created in the public sector by applying lean principles, one expert has declared.

Programme lead at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement Nick Downham explained that operations management can have a substantial effect on efficiency.

"Lean thinking concentrates on the relentless pursuit of value through the organisation," he explained.

"With this single-minded conviction, waste and inefficient processes are exposed and removed from the organisation."

Mr Downham stressed the importance of ensuring that all tiers of a workforce contribute their expertise to lean efforts, advocating a more collaborative approach from managers and careful planning when implementing such strategies.

The expert added that significant savings have been made by implementing lean policies within public sector agencies, with £2 million cut from spending by University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust through a single programme.

A recent paper in medical journal the Lancet indicated that recent official data does not provide an accurate representation of the productivity improvements that have been made to the NHS in England.

Further increases in UK manufacturing activity

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:17:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry has continued to record growth, despite a decline in the overall Index of Production.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the seasonally-adjusted measure showed a 0.8 per cent year-on-year climb in manufacturing activity in December 2011.

In addition, the index rose by one per cent from November last year, boosting production by 0.5 per cent over the period.

However, the Index of Production dropped by 3.3 per cent over the year to December and by 1.3 per cent over 2011 as a whole, although manufacturing was up by 2.1 per cent over the 12 months.

Those working in manufacturing management may be interested in new ONS data showing there was a 4.1 per cent rise in the output price index for home sales in the sector during the year to January 2012, rising by 0.5 per cent from December.

Commenting on the statistics, the British Chambers of Commerce suggested that the results mean "the trend is moving in the right direction".

Nokia employs operations management to improve smartphone production

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:02:00 GMT

Mobile phone giant Nokia has revealed that it is employing operations management at a number of its factories.

The move is intended to improve the efficiency of smartphone production at the facilities in Hungary, Mexico and Finland and will focus on customization of the devices and responding to customers' needs.

According to the Finnish firm, it follows a review of its operations announced in September 2011 examining ways of boosting Nokia's competitiveness in the global handset industry.

Assembly of the gadgets is likely to be transferred closer to component suppliers to plants in Asia as part of the manufacturing management reforms.

"By working more closely with our suppliers, we believe that we will be able to introduce innovations into the market more quickly and ultimately be more competitive," stated Nokia executive vice-president of markets Niklas Savander.

In the UK, manufacturing activity rose over the year to December 2011 by 0.8 per cent, while the seasonally-adjusted index published by the Office for National Statistics increased by one per cent during the month from November last year.

FE colleges adopting operations management strategies

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Operations management approaches appear to be increasingly popular with further education (FE) colleges in the UK after a new report revealed institutions are committed to boosting performance.

The study by Symmetry found that 51 per cent of the 270 financial directors in the sector questioned stated their key goal during the next year is cost-cutting and improving efficiency.

Funding cuts are affecting many FE colleges and some are looking at the potential of using shared services and cloud computing technologies to enable them to reduce their expenditure.

"As budgets continue to be hit, it comes as no surprise that college FDs are focusing on cost-reduction and getting the most from their resources," Symmetry sales and operations director Julian Sayer said.

Operations management specialists working in the FE sector could see further to enhance provision and make savings as the government is backing schemes aimed at increasing the number of apprenticeships in the UK.

Prime minister David Cameron recently unveiled the £6 million Higher Apprenticeship Fund and the new Employer Ownership pilot to provide greater control over skills training to mark National Apprenticeship Week.

NHS hospital trusts receive help to address problems

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:39:00 GMT

Ongoing funding support is being offered by the Department of Health to those NHS hospital trusts that can demonstrate they have serous structural financial issues.

The help is being given to organisations that have Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangements in place that have not provided evidence of long-term viability and could see changes made to operations management strategies within the agencies.

Under the plans announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley, seven NHS trusts have been selected to support, having met four key tests, including having exceptional and historic problems.

In order to qualify for the backing, each trust has been required to show that it has plans in place to manage resources, is making substantial productivity savings and delivers high-quality services.

"We need to balance the accountability of the NHS at local level to live within its means on one hand, with recognising that there is a legacy of debt for some trusts with PFI schemes," Mr Lansley explained.

The Department of Health has released its first projections for future NHS funding, stating that local health professionals may be given responsibility for allocating almost £65 billion if the Health and Social Care Bill is approved.

Continuing uncertainty ''affecting UK manufacturing confidence''

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:01:00 GMT

Optimism among the UK's small and medium-sized manufacturers is being affected by global economic uncertainty, it has been claimed.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), firms in the industry are concerned about the political climate as well, causing a decline in sentiment for the third quarter in a row.

The organisation's most recent SME Trends Survey showed that over the three months to January, both domestic and export orders dropped sharply and output showed little change, the first time it has not increased since April 2010.

Manufacturing management professionals are advised that 33 per cent of businesses predicted the current economic and political climate, including the ongoing eurozone crisis, will have a dampening effect on export orders over the next quarter.

"While figures for the next three months point to some stabilisation, the manufacturing sector is still facing significant headwinds, which can only add to existing uncertainty over demand and growth," declared chair of the CBI's SME Council Lucy Armstrong.

However, there are some signs of improvement in the UK manufacturing sector as the Markit and CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index for January climbed from 49.7 in December to 52.1, indicating the expansion of activity in the industry over the month.

UK service sector rallies in January with new orders rise

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:24:00 GMT

An increase in new orders pushed up the UK's service sector activity last month, new figures show.

In news that may assist with operations management planning, the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry revealed that January saw the "single largest monthly improvement in business optimism", taking the measure to its highest point since March 2011 as the industry rallied.

"This rise in business optimism fuelled the largest increase in employment for nearly four years, adding to hopes that this upturn may prove to be more than a flash in the pan," stated Markit chief economist Chris Williamson, adding a note of caution that "much uncertainty persists".

He was pointing to an increase in employment within the services sector at the sharpest rate in just under four years, as well as growth in new work recorded by the CIPS and Markit UK services PMI.

Input cost inflation also fell back during January to its lowest point in 14 months and business confidence jumped at the highest amount ever in a single month.

The overall global PMI for services from Markit and JPMorgan recently showed that sector growth leapt to an 11-month high last month.

UK manufacturing activity reaches 8-month high

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:24:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing sector has started the year well with a climb in output at the fastest pace since March 2011.

January 2012 saw the industry's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) jump to 52.1, up from 49.7 in December 2011 and the highest level in ten months.

According to the figures from Markit and the CIPS, employment stabilised, output stood at a ten-month high and new orders increased for the first time in the past seven months.

In addition to the rise in production, there was decline in input costs for manufacturers last month at the sharpest rate since the middle of 2009, marking the third consecutive drop in the measure.

"Manufacturing was a key area of weakness which caused the UK economy to contract in the final quarter, so this surprising rebound in January means a return to recession is by no means a certainty," stated senior Markit economist Rob Dobson.

In further data from Markit, the eurozone has shown signs of improving, with Germany and Austria witnessing signs of recovery and Spain, Italy and the Netherlands all seeing an easing of downturns.

Manufacturing expert highlights benefits of lean strategies

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:18:00 GMT

Lean processing can benefit firms in the UK's manufacturing industry, according to one expert.

Head of programmes at The Manufacturing Institute Adam Buckley stated that such operations management techniques can help businesses to become more competitive, giving the flexibility over pricing and creating more effective services.

He advocated that companies "develop high performance teams with a focus on driving out waste and creating customer value" in order to boost customer service, productivity, lead times, stock turns, quality and innovation.

Mr Buckley highlighted the importance of involving staff in such processes and noted that areas in which waste can be reduced include "transport, moving, waiting, space and physical waste".

He also pointed to the particular need for lean strategies in the current economic climate in order to make processes more efficient, free up capital and reduce internal costs.

The UK's manufacturing industry is being affected by a contraction in levels of demand from Europe as a result of economic uncertainty in the region, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, which could prompt firms to investigate methods of enhancing efficiency and productivity in order to reduce costs.

Paragon employs operations management to enhance customer service

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:42:00 GMT

An operations management strategy has been adopted by one company seeking ways to enhance customer service and boost satisfaction rates.

Paragon has announced it is embracing the principles of continuous improvement across its operations to improve the standard of its products, enhance efficiency rates and work towards a zero target for defects.

The use of Total Quality Management (TQM) policies by the fleet management and vehicle processing specialist means it is aiming to ensure that in each case, service exceeds customer requirements, with Quality Assurance established to provide data about errors that can be corrected.

"Setting the high standards of the TQM process will not only help ensure quality for our customers, but also cost and production efficiency for Paragon," declared group operations director Steve Stanger.

Another firm that is embracing TQM is Ireland-based waste management company City Bin, with its founder Gene Browne recently telling the Irish Times that modern business tools have substantially improved its operations.

Economic uncertainty ''affecting global electronic contract market''

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:44:00 GMT

Businesses in the electronics contract manufacturing industry may want to employ operations management strategies to enhance the efficiency of their operations.

This is because new data from IHS iSuppli revealed total revenue is expected to decline in the sector from $360 billion in 2011 to $357 billion this year, representing a decline of just below one per cent after 4.7 per cent expansion last year.

According to the report, both the original development manufacturing and electronic manufacturing services segments are expected to struggle in 2012, as the impact of the continuing financial uncertainty in the eurozone.

"On a positive note, the continuing popularity among consumers of devices like smartphones and tablets means contract manufacturing in these areas can be expected to help compensate for slow growth elsewhere in the industry," the organisation concluded.

The IHS iSuppli figures come after the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warned that UK manufacturers experienced a decline in sentiment during the past quarter.

Stagnant output over the period affected confidence in the sector, the CBI reported, although there were predictions of slight growth in exports and new orders over the next three months.

Turbulence in Europe ''holding back production''

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:04:00 GMT

A recent EEF survey of people in manufacturing management roles show they remain positive about the coming year despite the production sector struggling to cope with Europe's turbulent economic position.

However, EEF chief economist Lee Hopley said difficult market conditions in the continent are now affecting production as well as consumer confidence amid concerns over a panEuropean economic depression.

"While there is little sign that this uncertainty will come to an end any time soon, we can take some heart that output appears to have begun growing again in December," Ms Hopley explained.

Recently published data from the Office of National Statistics bear out Ms Hopley's concern over production and consumer sentiment.

Output of the production industries decreased by 1.2 per cent in Q4 2011, compared with an increase of 0.2 per cent in the previous quarter.

Overall the chained volume measure of GDP decreased by 0.2 per cent in the fourth quarter.

AMOLED TV sector ''facing manufacturing and supply chain challenges''

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:37:00 GMT

Manufacturing management issues and expensive materials are likely to delay the global rollout of active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) televisions, despite the fact that they are being displayed at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.

Although shipments are expected to rise to 2.1 million units by 2015, this will still just represent one per cent of the global flat-panel market.

The hi-def television uses less than a third of the power needed to run a conventional liquid crystal display flatscreen.

Vinita Jakhanwal, director of small/medium and OLED displays at IHS, said: "Prices will remain dramatically higher than those of LCD TVs during the next few years because of manufacturing yield issues."

Despite the superior viewing experience they offer they are still too expensive to enter the mainstream consumer market, he added.

This comes as the Markit/CIPS UK manufacturing index found British manufacturing stagnating in December, with levels of output and numbers of new orders falling more steeply than they have since 2009.

Operations management boosts Smurfit Kappa performance score

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:17:00 GMT

Smurfit Kappa's operations management procedures have helped the packaging supplier achieve an impressive score in an independent review of its workplace conditions.

The company achieved a rating of 99 per cent against the Workplace Performance Index in the assessment, which was conducted at its Stalybridge facility. This score was the highest awarded by the auditor in his 40-year history.

It surpassed the national average by 13 per cent and was 22 percentage points stronger than the worldwide figure, reports Environment Industry Magazine.

John Taylor, health, safety and environmental manager based at Smurfit Kappa Stalybridge, said the high level of compliance ensures its pan-European customers "can be confident their procurement processes do not undermine the strong social and ethical positions required of today's leading brands".

The news comes in the same week that County Durham housing provider livin was awarded silver status in the Investors in People framework. Just two per cent of recognised companies in the UK have achieved this grade.

Could ageing workforce affect quality and operations management?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:15:00 GMT

Operations management in the manufacturing sector could be affected by the ageing male workforce.

According to JAM Recruitment, three-quarters of quality engineers are men and a third of these have more than 21 years of experience, reports Works Management.

While JAM claimed this bias is not currently harmful to the sector, it warned a "retirement time bomb" will be faced unless steps are taken to address the issue.

Lee Cartney, manager of the quality and manufacturing team at JAM, said the existing workforce is ageing without being sufficiently replenished.

He added: "As our economy moves towards recovery, quality engineering professionals will become increasingly important to the UK's manufacturing sector, but the question is, will there be enough talent to go round?"

Earlier this month, manufacturing organisation EEF revealed 49 per cent of executives in the sector believe economic conditions in the UK will be worse this year than in 2011, while just 21 per cent think they will be better.

Could ageing workforce affect quality and operations management?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:15:00 GMT

Concerns raised over engineering skills threat

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:40:00 GMT

A series of fears have been raised by industry experts about the future of engineering skills in Britain.

In a letter addressed to the Daily Telegraph, 16 companies that are reliant on such talents warned that the government needs to take action to ensure technical training is available to young people.

This could include operations training courses and qualifications such as a CPIM exam, with the firms insisting that efforts are required to make careers in manufacturing and engineering more attractive.

Institution of Engineering and Technology president Mike Short wrote it is "widely recognised as a significant route to providing the crucial technical and practical skills that young people will need to build a Britain that can compete effectively and internationally".

Businesses backing the communication included Siemens, Sony, Boeing, JCB and Toshiba, with senior executives claiming to be "surprised and stunned" at proposals that the Engineering Diploma, introduced in 2008, is downgraded from being worth five GCSEs to one.

The letter follows a call by the Trades Union Congress for the UK to adopt a similar approach to manufacturing to Germany and prioritise medium-sized companies in order to rebalance the economy and provide greater support for industry.

Indian firm invests in operations management to boost quality

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:24:00 GMT

A company in India has employed operations management techniques to enhance quality across its operations.

This includes automobile specialist Maruti Suzuki's two plants in Gurgaon and Manesar, as well as its 220-plus suppliers, with involvement being prioritised over inspection in a bid to identify problems at the source, the Economic Times reports.

The importance of quality in manufacturing has been highlighted by Confederation of Indian Industries deputy director general Sarita Nagpal, who explained with poor management in this area "you stand to lose your credibility as a quality manufacturer in the long run and in the short run, the cost to correct errors is much more than delivering the right product".

In other news that may prompt companies to invest in improving manufacturing processes, a UK company that has seen its sales rise over the Christmas period is crediting a focus on quality with driving them up.

Intellicig, which produces electronic cigarettes, has stated its Ecopure brand is rigorously tested to ensure it meets European standards and each item is a safe and quality product.

Call for German approach to manufacturing industry in Britain

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:02:00 GMT

The manufacturing industry in Germany has flourished in recent years, despite tough economic conditions.

According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), a similar approach to that adopted by Berlin should be taken by the British government in order to ensure the sector in the UK enjoys similar growth.

The body is calling on ministers to bring to an end an "over reliance on financial services" in Britain and focus on rebalancing the economy by backing industry.

In a new report on German policy, the TUC suggests a more strategic approach to manufacturing that prioritises medium-sized firms could deliver more economic benefits, something that may interest those taking an APICS qualification.

"What we really need to deliver a vibrant industrial sector is a new active, interventionist approach to manufacturing," declared TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

The TUC call comes after data published earlier this month by Markit and the CIPS, which showed there was an increase in the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) in December 2011 to 49.6.

However, the PMI remained below the 50 mark that represents expansion of the manufacturing sector, although the measure was indicative of a slowing in the rate of contraction as production activity stablised and new export growth strengthened.

Carmakers ''setting UK an economic example''

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:36:00 GMT

The UK's carmakers are providing an example of how manufacturing can recover from the economic downturn and are embracing operations management techniques.

This is according to an article by the Guardian's industrial editor Dan Milmo, in which he suggested the success of companies such as Nissan and Bentley is expanding their sales overseas and this holds the key to bouncing back from the recession.

Mr Milmo explained that Japanese continuous improvements techniques and terms such as kaizen are being employed by established British companies like Bentley in order to boost its profit margins and reduce costs.

Nissan is employing strategies developed by the company in Japan at its Sunderland plant in the UK to assemble vehicles every 60 seconds.

Trevor Mann, the firm's senior vice-president for manufacturing in Europe, explained: "The UK is a competitive manufacturing country at the moment. We are a small island, we are close to the sea – and the cheapest way to ship things around Europe is by sea."

Bentley recently unveiled a new twin turbo, four litre V8 engine for its Continental GT and GTC that has been designed in the UK at its Crewe headquarters.

Additional health funding could improve operations management

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:01:00 GMT

Operations management across the NHS could be improved by the injection of cash aimed at boosting local services.

As part of government plans for the continuous improvement of the NHS, £100 million is being provided by the Department of Health to benefit patients.

It was announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley, who stated the money will be used to enhance services in local communities.

He stated: "I am pleased to be able to give the NHS up to £100 million in extra funding to spend directly on local frontline care for their patients during the winter months."

The funding has been allocated to Clinical Commissioning Groups - which comprise GPs and health professionals - from cash generated through Department of Health savings and will be spent on initiatives such as providing more effective urgent care cover, improving out of hours services and extending opening times at GP practices.

Further changes to operations management in the NHS were recently announced by prime minister David Cameron, who revealed new proposals to alter the way in which nurses' time is spent.

Decline in industrial production ''affected by falling European demand''

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:25:00 GMT

A recent decline in the UK's levels of industrial production is the result of a contraction in demand from Europe.

This is according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (cebr), which has commented that recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is evidence that further job losses could take place among manufacturers.

One possible way of offsetting a slump in production and reducing costs is to invest in operations management in order to identify ways of enhancing efficiency and reducing costs within companies.

Data from the ONS revealed there was a 0.6 per cent drop in industrial production between October and November 2011 and 1 3.1 per cent year-on-year decline, with manufacturing volumes turning negative for the first time since February 2010.

"Today's uninspiring figures underline the fragility of the UK labour market and herald more of what is to come," declared cebr economist Daniel Solomon.

Meanwhile, figures from Eurostat showed there was a 0.1 per cent fall in seasonally-adjusted industrial production in November 2011 compared with the previous month within both the 27 European Union member states and the 17 eurozone nations.

However, this marked a slowdown in the pace of contraction, which stood at 0.3 per cent in both regions in October.

Decline in industrial production ''affected by falling European demand''

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:25:00 GMT

UK manufacturing figures reveal production decline

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:03:00 GMT

Those involved in demand planning in the manufacturing industry may be slightly concerned after the latest figures showed production in the UK has dropped once again.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the month between October and November was a bad one for the industrial production market in general.

In the manufacturing sector – which had previously shown signs of growth and positivity – a rare decline was reported.

Every month since February 2010 had witnessed a rise in manufacturing, but the run has now been broken.

Year-on-year, manufacturing levels were revealed to be 0.6 per cent down, compared with November 2010.

The ONS suggested that one of the largest contributing factors to the figures was the slowing of demand from the eurozon, which is one of the UK's greatest trade partners.

Last month, the Confederation of British Industry reported a weakening in the state of order books for December.

Improvements in UK manufacturing forecast from Feb

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Manufacturing management professionals may be cheered by the prediction that the situation for manufacturers in the UK will start to improve from February.

According to the chairman of British Made for Quality, the sector will start to see growth from next month onwards following a slow start to 2012.

Julian Baseley explained that a slowdown in European orders over the past quarter had a significant impact on the industry.

However, he noted: "The UK and other areas of export seem to be holding up reasonably well."

The campaign group head added that nations in the Middle East, Asia and South America do not appear to be suffering the same economic problems as the west and activity is forecast to pick up in February 2012 as a result.

Figures for the manufacturing industry published earlier this month by Markit and the CIPS showed that although production stalled in the sector during December, the purchasing managers' index increased from the previous month to 49.6, indicating a slight contraction in activity.

British manufacturing ''vital to nation''s financial health''

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:35:00 GMT

It is vital that the UK's manufacturing industry receives support as it plays a central role in the economic health of the country.

This is the claim made by chairman of British Made for Quality (BMFQ) Julian Baseley, who explained that a product marketing service is required in the UK to help firms attend promotional events and attract customers for their products.

Those planning to undertake an APICS qualification may also be interested in his remark that the government should back "national pavilions in large exhibitions around the world" in order to promote products globally and generate sales for UK businesses.

BMFQ campaigns to maintain production in Britain, tackling a decline in the industry and Mr Baseley's comments come after business minister Mark Prisk announced the launch of the UK's new Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).

The MAS has been established by the government and the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium to provide advice and guidance to firms in the sector in England about issues such as continuous improvement.

According to the BMFQ head, it is "a very good form of support for the first part of business – to get your basic manufacturing systems as lean as possible and to have good supply lines".

Manufacturing call for better waste management

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:43:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry has issued a call to the government for its waste strategy to be more ambitious.

A rising problem with resource shortages has led EEF, the manufacturers' organisation to press for change in this area in order to tackle the issue, difficulties that may have affected operations management professionals.

Research has suggested shortages of materials pose the greatest threat to the industry in the future and the body wants to see ministers combat it with legislation.

EEF has published its review of the UK's Waste Strategy six months after its launch, concluding that poor access to recycling facilities and out of date or confusing regulations need immediate action.

Gareth Stace, the group's head of climate and environment, remarked: "We now need a more ambitious approach which involves a resource strategy for the UK, simplified legislation and an improved infrastructure involving better access to local authority recycling."

A study of manufacturing management leaders in the UK by EEF found that 80 per cent view raw materials shortages as a risk to their operations.

In recent comments on the purchasing managers' index for December, EEF pointed out that although the month saw activity contract, some sectors grew strongly and export demand rose.

PM announces changes to nursing operations management

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:08:00 GMT

David Cameron has revealed new proposals to alter the way in which operations management is carried out in the nursing sector.

The prime minister stated that a greater focus is required on quality and nursing care in order to benefit staff, patients and relatives.

Making the announcement alongside health secretary Andrew Lansley, he stated: "The whole approach to caring in this country needs to be reset. And it needs to start with this simple fact. Caring for patients is what nurses do. Everything else comes second."

Mr Cameron added that the Time to Care initiative from the NHS Institute will help to free up nurses' time to spend more of it on frontline activities, with suggestions including the appointment of senior ward nurses and patient-led inspections.

A red-tape challenge is also being launched to identify excessive bureaucracy that is preventing nurses from spending time with patients.

Responding to the government's new continuous improvement proposals, the Royal College of Nursing stated that staff in the field "want to care for people" and have stressed the need for a reduction in unnecessary paperwork to be reduced.

UK services sector rallies in December

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:13:00 GMT

Operations management investment in the service sector may increase after the UK witnessed a rallying of the industry last month.

The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for services activity reveals that it reached a five-month high in December 2011.

An increase in new work rose at the fastest pace since July pushing up the measure to 54, with any value above 50 indicative of expansion.

However, costs rose sharply during the month in question and output charges stagnated, placing additional pressure on companies' margins and negatively affecting confidence in the sector over the coming months.

Commenting on the survey by the CIPS and Markit, the latter's chief economist Chris Williamson said: "Companies grew increasingly worried about the coming year, suggesting that the upturn may prove short-lived as we move into 2012."

The global services PMI, produced by Markit and JPMorgan, has shown that the index rose from 52.7 in November to 53.2 last month, the 29th consecutive month of growth for the sector.

Technology project aims to enhance NHS operations management

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:50:00 GMT

New technology that could assist continuous improvement efforts within the NHS is being rolled out across the health service.

Measures such as telehealth and telecare employ electronic equipment in order to monitor signs such as weight, blood oxygen level and pulse remotely, allowing people to remain in their own homes.

Such technology could be employed by those specialising in operations management within the NHS in order to improve efficiency and patient care by providing professionals with the ability to assess patients with long-term conditions from a distance.

According to the Department of Health, an estimated three million lives will be enhanced through the scheme, which has been trialled by authorities in Cornwall and will involve the NHS, social care bodies, professional groups and industry leaders over the next five years.

Care services minister Paul Burstow stated: "Telehealth and telecare have shown how people with long-term conditions can live more independently, reducing the time they have to spend in hospital and improving their quality of life."

Operations management within the NHS may also receive a boost from the recent appointment of Professor Viv Bennett to the post of Department of Health director of nursing and principal advisor on public health nursing to the government.

IOM Progresses Accreditation Programme

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) has made further progress in its programme of accrediting UK universities and other educational establishments in courses which lead to successful students attaining membership of the IOM.

Glasgow Caledonian University’s MSc Operations and Business Management course has been the first to attain such accreditation and four other universities are now undergoing the accreditation process. The IOM is the UK professional society for operations management in manufacturing, service industries and the public sector.

Qualification for membership of the Institute is based on a combination of academic achievement and professional experience which allows the opportunity to upgrade membership levels as a career develops. IOM ‘Members’ require a minimum of five years practical experience in operations management. However, this can be reduced to two years where an applicant holds the IOM Diploma or equivalent qualification. As such IOM has received requests from educational organisations to accredit programmes which provide a route to full membership of IOM and has now formalised the process whereby such programmes can be recognised as containing appropriate content to qualify for IOM status.

The role of the initial education programme in operations management is to:

Provide awareness of the range of knowledge , skills and values involved at the professional level and to give a basic understanding in the fields of knowledge specified
Develop an appreciation of value and ethical issues involved in operations management
Develop specialist understanding in selected areas

A critical element of the initial professional development will be to instil in graduates a firm knowledge of the principles involved in the various areas, and the ability to review and evaluate situations and propositions by reference to these principles. Initial education programmes should provide for the in-depth development of knowledge and skills in specific areas of operations or related functions.

IOM Manager Leonie Edwards says: ‘There can be no doubt that IOM membership is recognised by increasing numbers of employers as a clear indication of the quality and expertise of personnel engaged in operations management and related disciplines. As such, the creation of a formalised link between many academic courses and IOM membership is a very logical advance, and increasingly sought by universities and other bodies offering courses in this area.

‘The rigorous process which we have created in order to ensure that courses match the academic content appropriate to achieve IOM membership qualification means that students, employers and other interested parties can be assured that no ‘short cuts’ have been involved. The combination of educational achievement and professional experience remains key to IOM membership status.’

Comprehensive details of the requirements for courses seeking to obtain IOM membership accreditation status are available from IOM Manager Leonie Edwards on 01536 740143 leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk or Emma Campbell IOM Activities Co-ordinator on 01536 740108 emma.campbell@iomnet.org.uk.

Mark Prisk launches new manufacturing advisory service

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:29:00 GMT

Companies looking at ways of improving manufacturing processes may wish to turn to a new venture that has been launched in the UK by business minister Mark Prisk.

He announced the launch of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), which will provide tailored advice and support to businesses in the sector to enable them to grow.

The national programme is aimed at small and medium-sized producers and has been created with assistance from the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC).

"Manufacturing contributes half of Britain’s exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth," Mr Prisk declared.

It is estimated that the MAS could help to generate 23,000 new jobs and protect 50,000 more, generating £1.5 billion worth of economic growth for the country.

In other news that could generate interest in an APICS qualification, new data for the global manufacturing industry from JPMorgan and Markit revealed there was a rise in the purchasing managers' index for the sector in December 2011 from 49.7 in November to 50.8 last month - a return to growth and the highest figure since June last year.

Rise in UK manufacturing index as production stalls

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:18:00 GMT

Despite a stalling of production in the UK's manufacturing sector towards the end of 2011, there was a slight rise in the purchasing managers' index (PMI) for December.

This is according to he latest seasonally-adjusted data from Markit and the CIPS, which reveals the measure stood at 49.6 last month, with any figure below 50 indicative of contraction, although new export orders strengthened with work coming in from eastern Europe, China and Germany.

Those in manufacturing management may be interested in a comment by senior economist at Markit Rob Dobson, who stated: "Looking ahead, manufacturers are currently relying heavily on backlogs of work to prop up production. This is only a temporary fix."

A similar performance was recorded for the eurozone PMI in December 2011, as the index rose slightly but failed to get close to the 50 mark that denotes expansion.

The measure within nations with the common currency rose from a 28-month low of 46.4 in November to 46.9 last month, as order inflows dipped and the economic downturn continued.

International operations management expert visits north-west

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:00:00 GMT

The north-west of England has played host to a leading expert in the field of operations management.

Masaaki Imai, who specialises in lean manufacturing techniques, visited the Siemens plant in Congleton, Cheshire, to mark its 40th anniversary.

The Japanese specialist and author witnessed an innovative new process that has been put in place at the facility, which makes a range of electric motors and met with staff members.

He remarked that the tour had been "a real highlight of my trip to the UK" and was impressed by the system in place in Congleton.

Mr Imai's advice may be required as senior official at union GMB Brian Sutton is quoted by the Daily Telegraph as telling the Times that industrial action could be seen in both the public and private sectors, following on from action in November over public sector pensions that resulted in concessions from the government.

"Our people are realising that they have more bargaining power than they think, that there can be financial and reputational damage," he stated.

Call for changes to hospital operations management

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:32:00 GMT

More needs to be done to improve operations management in hospitals, one leading expert has declared.

Mike Farrar, head of the NHS Confederation in England, explained that 2012 will be marked by the need to make efficiency savings.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he pointed out that one way of modernising the service and implementing continuous improvement could be to treat more individuals at home, advocating a more community-based service.

According to Mr Farrar, at least one in four patients could be looked after in their own properties by NHS staff and it can benefit some people to have the length of hospital stays reduced.

"Hospitals play a vital role but we do rely on them for some services which could be provided elsewhere," the specialist suggested.

The Department of Health recently published the NHS Atlas of Variation, which examined spending and patient outcomes across the country's Primary Care Trusts.

UK motor manufacturers ''to flourish in 2012''

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:14:00 GMT

Strong performance is anticipated for UK vehicle manufacturing over 2012 as industry investment grew this year.

An industry that invests heavily in operations management, the field is set to see its sales undergo continuous improvement next year as it recovers from the global downturn.

This is the forecast that has been made by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which is predicting higher levels of output in 2012.

In the organisation's latest update, its chief executive Paul Everitt stated that over £4 billion has been committed by global vehicle makers in the UK through investment in new models and facilities, demonstrating their confidence in the country.

He welcomed the government's backing of the industry, adding: "Our focus in 2012 will be to enhance the competitiveness of the UK, encourage further investment, strengthen the supply chain and maintain industry’s position in leading a manufacturing-led recovery."

Experts from the SMMT have described 2011 as a "step-change year" for the automotive sector and forecast impressive prospects for the coming year.

A recent article in the Telegraph noted that manufacturing management has undergone "pronounced highs and lows" during 2011, with the newspaper's property and industry correspondent Graham Ruddick predicting that next year will see a strong rise in automotive output and civil aerospace.

Hospital officials look to manufacturing for operations management tips

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:14:00 GMT

The manufacturing industry in Japan has been used as a source of inspiration for improving operations management by officials from Salem Hospital in Oregon.

That is according to Guidonps.com, citing the Salem Health website, which noted it is thought that despite the differences between the sectors, many of the measures used would be applicable to healthcare.

Commenting on this, chief operating officer at the hospital Cheryl Nester Wolfe said: "A patient is not a car, absolutely not. But the work that people do to make that product or that patient better is very similar."

As part of the process of continuous improvement people from both organisations worked together to formulate improvements for the benefit of the gas meter plant the healthcare staff visited.

This follows a recent report in the Guardian stating that a greater amount of research should be taking place in a primary care setting, as this is where most individual's contact with hospitals takes place.

Manufacturers ''experienced mixed fortunes in 2011''

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:24:00 GMT

This year has been a mixed one for manufacturers with many companies requiring a lot of their operations management teams.

According to an article for the Telegraph, 2011 has been marked by "pronounced highs and lows" in the sector, including rising production and global crises affecting supply chains.

Both the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the widespread flooding in Thailand disrupted stocks of parts and equipment, while public spending cuts led to firms such as defence contractors scaling back their operations, including 3,000 job cuts at BAE Systems.

The newspaper's property and industry correspondent Graham Ruddick stated in his predictions for 2012 that automotive output looks set to grow in Britain next year as businesses commit to building new models and civil aerospace is also poised for growth.

However, he pointed out that the sector would be affected by the eurozone economy and what happens over the coming 12 months.

Despite these strong predictions for manufacturing, recent Office for National Statistics figures showed a 0.7 per cent dip in production between September and October 2011.

Continuous improvement ''key to transformation of Ford''

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:12:00 GMT

A process of continuous improvement has been central to turning around automotive giant Ford, its chief executive has stated.

According to Alan Mulally, the strategy has been "at the centrepiece" of the company's transformation from bankruptcy to a position of growth.

Speaking to Industry Week, he explained that quality products and a broad range of vehicles have helped the company to weather the economic downturn, with sales being made in markets around the world.

Previously at Boeing, Mr Mulally has transformed the fortunes of Ford, returning it to profitability without having to seek government assistance.

He explained that during the group's weekly business plan review meetings "in every chart that we look at, we're looking at what the plan is to continuously improve".

The Ford boss added that areas that need special attention are identified at such gatherings and charts are colour-coded so that employees can see easily what the status of each area is.

Operations management practices such as continuous improvement may be more important than ever for UK companies after a poll by the Confederation of British Industry found that manufacturers are forecasting a fall in production rates over the next three months.

EU energy regulations ''too increase NHS operations management pressures''

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:41:00 GMT

Additional costs of over £70 million a year will hit the NHS as a result of plans to introduce new power legislation across Europe.

This is the claim made by the NHS Confederation, which has declared that operations management pressures within the health service will be increased by the proposed EU Energy Efficiency Directive.

According to the body's European Office, the rules are "too rigid and top heavy" and will place additional strain on healthcare budgets by requiring public sector bodies to tackle power consumption and meet energy efficient targets for buildings.

Intended to reduce national carbon footprints by 20 per cent by 2020, the directive is being put to the vote by the European Parliament's industry, research and energy committee this week.

"We really don't want to find ourselves in a scenario where we have to divert money away from patient care to pay for costly building renovations," remarked NHS Confederation European Office director Elisabetta Zanon.

In further comments on how EU legislation will affect continuous improvement efforts in the health service, her organisation has stated that while new rules governing the movement of health workers are to be welcomed, safeguards must be put in place to protect patient safety.

UK manufacturers forecast production decline

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 13:26:00 GMT

A drop in rates of production is expected across the UK during the coming quarter, according to those in manufacturing management.

Demand is remaining weak for the industry, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has revealed companies reported a weakening in their order books this month.

Export orders for December were found by a poll of 434 manufacturers to be "well below their long-run average" and the organisation discovered firms are anticipating a fall in output over the next three months as a result and are planning to scale back production.

CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty highlighted the effects of the ongoing euro crisis on exports and the need to resolve it in order to boost business confidence.

In further news that may affect operations management plans, the government recently announced a new Foresight project examining the future of the manufacturing industry in the UK between now and 2050.

Protecting premises at Christmas

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Whilst Christmas is the season of goodwill and offers a welcome break for many workers, it can also present a major headache for lots of workplaces as they shut down their premises for the Festive Season.

In recent years workplace equipment provider Slingsby, which supplies more than 35,000 products across all industries, has seen a surge of orders around Christmas time from workplaces either falling victim to crime or returning to work to find damage has occurred over the holiday season.

Lee Wright, Marketing Director of Slingsby, explains: “Workplaces often experience a crime surge at Christmas due to there being increased stock levels and cash on a lot of premises and the fact that many buildings are empty for long periods of time.

“The run up to Christmas is often a busy period so it can be easy to overlook the impending shutdown but taking time to plan ahead can save lots of time and money in January.”

Slingsby has compiled a checklist to help workplaces enjoy a peaceful and hassle free break:-

• Cancel any deliveries that may turn up during the holiday period.

• Don’t leave any rubbish outside your premises that could be used to start fires.

• Remove anything outside that might help a criminal to break in.

• Make a list of everyone who will need access to the premises over the Christmas period and decide whether they need keys.

• Who will check the alarms and respond to them over Christmas?

• If incidents occur how will they be reported and to whom?

• If you use external security companies find out what checks they will carry out over Christmas.

• Back up all your computer systems and store a copy of your data off premises.

• Remove vehicle keys from the premises or lock them away securely.

• Consider what stock or equipment could be at risk and look at ways of securing it.

• Make sure relevant staff have emergency phone numbers in case there is a problem.

• Decide who will carry out a thorough check of the premises on the last day to make sure all windows and doors are secure.

• You should also switch off all gas and electrical appliances wherever possible.

• Unless you drain your pipes and heating system it makes sense to leave the heating on at a low temperature to prevent pipes from freezing. The heating bill is quickly offset by the cost of flood damage and repairing burst pipes.

DFS presses ahead with expansion plan

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:18:00 GMT

Manufacturing management jobs could be created as furniture company DFS has announced an expansion of its operations.

The company has revealed it saw the value of its sales for the 13 weeks to October 29th drop from £150 million last year to £128 million this year, but is preparing for the future with an £82 million investment.

It has already created 130 jobs this year and 300 more are in the pipeline as it expands its operations at plants in Carcroft in South Yorkshire and the Derbyshire towns of Alfreton and Long Eaton.

Looking to the future, the company's chief executive Ian Filby stated: "Although we expect no early improvement in the trading environment, we are confident that DFS has the right strategy, proposition and team to manage the business through these tough conditions."

The DFS expansion is in contrast with the overall position of manufacturing in the UK, according to the latest Office fro National Statistics Index of Manufacturing.

It said the 12 months to October 2011 saw a 1.7 per cent year-on-year decline in output.

Service sector still seeing jobs growth

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:22:00 GMT

The service sector has showed signs of bucking wider employment trends with jobs growth in the three months to October, something that may include sales and operations planning.

Official data from the office for National Statistics (ONS) has shown the total number of people in work fell by 128,000 and the unemployment tally rose to 2.64 million.

But while the period saw a net decline in public sector employment of 67,000, there was a 5,000 rise in the service sector.

And among total jobs in a sector - which differs from unemployment figures as it can include part time work done by people with more than one occupation - there was a rise of 150,000 in the quarter.

Services saw much of this expansion, with an extra 66,000 posts in administrative and support services.

The picture for private sector jobs in manufacturing may not be so bright, with the latest ONS figures showing the seasonally-adjusted output fell 0.7 per cent between September and October.

Manufacturers press government for decarbonisation target

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:45:00 GMT

The manufacturers' organisation EEF has urged the government to create a formal decarbonisation target for 2030.

A new report from the industry body entitled Green and Growth Solutions for Growing a Green Economy indicates that such a benchmark could help to boost lean manufacturing, drive future energy policy and create a low-carbon economy.

The EEF also suggested that more evidence is required to prove the government's existing renewables target is achievable and cost-effective.

"We now need a newer, more positive approach that gives industry the certainty and incentives to invest," said EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler.

"By developing this approach, the government can provide the best kind of leadership."

He also said that until recently, insufficient attention had been paid to the potential of industry to play a significant role in making the economy greener.

The CBI has this week urged businesses and the government to work together more effectively in order to improve resource efficiency in the UK, as this will provide British companies with a competitive advantage in the global marketplace.

Operations management variations in NHS highlighted

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:53:00 GMT

Continuous improvement is one of the aims of a new report from the Department of Health, which published the NHS Atlas of Variation earlier this week.

The report looks at how much is spent by each Primary Care Trust (PCT) on clinical services and what outcomes for patients are generated due to this.

It is hoped that commissioners in various PCTs can use the information to improve operations management and identify examples of when and why outcomes have not been adequately reflected by financial expenditure.

Health minister Lord Howe said the Atlas is one of many steps towards making the NHS "more patient-centred".

"[It] will help commissioners to identify unjustified variations and drive up standards so patients are receiving consistently high quality care throughout the NHS," he added.

Last Friday (December 9th), the department announced that its alert for the Cold Weather Plan was reverting from Level 2 - where temperatures are low enough to give rise to health risks of a significant nature - to Level 1.

Scottish services and manufacturing witness output growth

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:10:00 GMT

Scotland's services and manufacturing sectors both witnessed growth in output during November, according to new data.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the nation shows that operations management activities may have increased as both industries also hired more workers over the month in question.

Produced by Markit and Bank of Scotland, the PMI revealed there was a dip in new work for the third month in a row and charges rose slightly as cost inflation continued to perform strongly.

The index stood at 51.1 last month, up from 51 in October, with any number above 50 indicative of expansion in the Scottish private sector, which has grown in 11 consecutive months.

However, Bank of Scotland chief economist Donald MacRae stated: "Both new orders and new export orders fell in the month highlighting the challenge of maintaining growth in the face of the global slowdown."

Recent data from Markit regarding the UK services sector showed a rise in headline business activity from a PMI in October of 51.3 to 52.1 last month, with an increase in incoming business.

Figures show weakening of UK manufacturing output

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:47:00 GMT

Efforts to adjust manufacturing management to the increasingly challenging economic climate could be accelerated following new official data.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there was a 1.7 per cent year-on-year decline in production during the period to October 2011.

In addition, the seasonally-adjusted Index of Manufacturing dropped by 0.7 per cent between September and October this year and the Index of Production by the same amount.

However, manufacturing remained 0.3 per cent higher year-on-year for the 12 months in question.

It is the first quarterly decline in the industry for two years and Capital Economics UK economist Samuel Tombs told the Independent it suggests "the risk that the overall economy re-enters recession in the fourth quarter remains high".

EEF, the manufacturers' organisation has recently suggested that divergence within the UK sector is becoming more acute, something that could assist operations management experts in planning for the future.

Figures show weakening of UK manufacturing output

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:47:00 GMT

NHS operations management ''to become more patient-focused''

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:42:00 GMT

The health secretary has declared that he wants to see a more patient-focused approach to operations management in the NHS.

Andrew Lansley stated he intends there to be a renewed focus on improving results though the NHS Outcomes Framework 2012/13, with performance measures in the future on areas such as whether treatment was a success and recovery times.

"My ambition for patients is, quite simply, this: 'No decision about me, without me'," declared Mr Lansley.

Outlining his new vision for the health service in a speech at Guy's Hospital, he added that part of the government's strategy for continuous improvement in the NHS includes producing maps of local health providers and GP practices that can be accessed by patients to enhance choice.

The latest figures from the Department of Health show that the number of patients in England waiting six weeks or more for key diagnostics tests dropped by 2,000 between September and October 2011 to 7,600, but stood 2,200 higher year-on-year.

UK manufacturing management to benefit from £125m supply chain boost

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:19:00 GMT

Operations management experts in the UK's advanced manufacturing sector have learned that the government is committing £125 million to boost the effectiveness of supply chains in the sector.

According to business secretary Vince Cable, who made the announcement, the cash will "gain maximum value for the UK by ensuring our suppliers are in the best position possible to compete" following recent logistics shocks such as the Japanese earthquake, tsunami and ash clouds.

Under the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, which will start accepting applications early next year, manufacturing management operations will be provided with funding to help them achieve world class standards in this area.

The money is also expected to help encourage major new suppliers to move to the UK and enhance the global competitiveness of industries such as automotive, chemicals, energy renewables and aerospace.

In recent comments on the UK manufacturing industry, EEF chief economist Lee Hopley stated that the crisis in Europe is affecting the sector by dampening exports, although demand appears to be "reasonably firm" in places such as India, China and South America.

Growth continues within UK services sector

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:41:00 GMT

Despite challenging economic conditions at present, operations management professionals in the services sector may be cheered by data showing it is continuing to expand.

The industry's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) in the UK stood at 52.1 in November this year, with any figure above 50 indicative of growth.

According to the latest data from Markit and the CIPS, every month this year has seen gains in services, with November's figure rising from 51.3 in October.

However, the report warned that growth is being "undermined by [the] difficult economic climate", employment has fallen at its fastest place in 15 months and new business rose at its slowest rate over the year-to-date.

"Whether or not the economy slides into recession next year depends to a large extent on whether politicians can find a workable solution to the eurozone's crisis," warned Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

Meanwhile, the PMI for the eurozone in November indicated that the area witnessed a services sector contraction last month, with the index standing at 47.

Manufacturing sector divergence ''continues in Q4''

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:38:00 GMT

Divergence of the UK's manufacturing industry has continued into the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a new report.

The study by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation and BDO indicated that operations management professionals could be busy this year as there is a growing divergence in performance between markets.

Over the past three months, strong patterns have been seen in sectors such as motor vehicles and mechanical equipment, while electronics, basic metals, rubber and plastics have experienced tougher conditions.

In their analysis of the field, the two bodies noted that growth is still likely to remain positive, but will be lower than expected in 2012, as export balances have softened in recent months and there are signs of firms scaling back hiring and investment plans.

"We would strongly encourage the government to increase the momentum of support for the sector in order to help rebalance and boost the economy," stated BDO head of manufacturing Tom Lawton.

In the latest measure of the UK's manufacturing industry, the purchasing managers' index from Markit and the CIPS indicated there was a decline in both domestic and export orders between October and November 2011, causing firms to cut back on production.

Production reduced as demand falls at home and abroad

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:00:00 GMT

UK manufacturers cut back on production during November this year as levels of demand fell.

This is according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry, which shows both domestic and export orders declined over the month from October.

Operations management professionals may be interest in the Markit and CIPS data showing that the sector contracted for the second month in a row, dropping to 47.6 in November from 47.8 in October.

Manufacturing activity fell to a "near two-and-a-half year low" over the period in question and companies cut back on the workforces as economic uncertainty affected the industry.

A sharp decline in output was recorded among consumer goods producers and smaller contractions within the investment and intermediate goods sectors.

Markit senior economist Rob Dobson remarked: "The lack of new work is forcing manufacturers to rely on previously-placed orders to avoid sharper cutbacks in output and employment. This cannot go on indefinitely."

Meanwhile, Markit's manufacturing PMI for the Eurozone fell to a 28-month low in November, as production and new orders declines accelerated and further job losses took place.

Higher numbers of female doctors may alter operations management

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Operations management professionals in the UK's healthcare sector may be interested in a new report claiming a shift in the number of female doctors could affect the field.

According to an article in the student edition of British Medical Journal, there will be more female specialists in the workforce than men by 2017.

However, experts have suggested that this could alter operations management in some areas, potentially leading to safer practices.

Maham Khan, from Imperial College London, explained that female medics face disciplinary charges by the General Medical Council less often.

Professor Jean McEwan noted that the types of healthcare jobs in the UK done by women tend towards those in "specialties such as general practice, paediatrics and palliative care, but some branches of medicine, such as cardiology and general surgery, remain closed or unattractive to women".

NHS operations management specialist are likely to have been under increased pressure this week when the largest public sector strikes in a generation took place in a dispute over pay and pensions, affecting hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.

UK manufacturers predict falling output as exports dip

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:00:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing output looks likely to decline, if the latest Confederation of British Industry (CBI) findings are anything to go by.

Published in the organisation's latest Industrial Trends Survey, operations management data showed that there has already been a weakening in order books around the country during November.

Over the course of the month, demand for British exports has fallen sharply, with 42 per cent of the 446 manufacturing firms that responded to the survey noting a drop in sales.

Just 11 per cent said they had enjoyed a boost in their order books in recent weeks and were now dealing with higher quotas when carrying out inventory control.

Ian McCafferty, chief economic adviser at the CBI, said: "With heightened uncertainty over global prospects and business confidence falling sharply, it is very possible that factories will see production slowing further in the near term."

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, recently said that UK manufacturing was on the up but more had to be done to ensure positive results remained.

US company enhances operations management with lean principles

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:18:00 GMT

A US firm has confirmed that it is to adopt a lean manufacturing methods program in a bid to enhance its services.

Midwest Precision, a creator of precision machine tools, has deployed the plan and has revealed it will follow six simple steps – sort, straighten, shine, standardise, sustain and safety.

The 6S program has already made a positive impact on the company, explained vice-president of engineering and operations Paul Ruley.

He said advances in efficiency and cost reduction had been experienced by the firm.

"Consumable tooling is now inventoried in our business system and cataloged electronically using bar code technology, saving several hours a day and eliminating excess inventory of expensive tooling," Mr Ruley stated.

Midwest Precision has also employed a visual management tool that it believes will make it easier to flag up problems for staff to correct.

Lean processes aim to allow companies to do more with less, as they constantly eliminate elements of waste.

Manufacturers ''experiencing credit constraints and cost increases''

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:29:00 GMT

Not only is the cost of credit increasing for those in manufacturing management, but they also report that access to finance is becoming tighter.

This is the claim made in a new report by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which has found that a balance of three per cent of respondents said availability of new lines of borrowing contracted in the past quarter.

As a result, the industry body is urging Chancellor George Osborne to address gaps in short term funding for firms in his autumn Treasury statement.

The Credit Conditions Survey for the fourth quarter of 2011 showed economic uncertainty is growing among those responsible for manufacturing management and the lending environment is deteriorating.

As a result, EEF chief economist Lee Hopley stated: "This is precisely the time where we need to see more, not less, investment if we are to create the investment and jobs our economy urgently needs."

In recent remarks on gross domestic product data for the UK, she welcomed a rise in manufacturing investment, but said more needs to be done to restore it to pre-recession levels.

Manufacturers ''experiencing credit constraints and cost increases''

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:29:00 GMT

Government unveils youth jobs subsidy

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:16:00 GMT

Careers in operations management may await young people given a chance to turn around their career and life prospects by a new government initiative.

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and employment minister Chris Grayling have unveiled a new £1 billion scheme that will see nearly half a million people aged between 16 and 24 being helped to get into work.

This will include 250,000 work experience places becoming available in the next three years, with at least 100,000 of these being generated each year.

And it will see 160,000 job subsidies being created worth £2,275 to each business per youngster taken on, which cover national insurance contributions and exceed the amount of support for firms the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) called for.

Reflecting on the development, the CBI director-general John Cridland expressed his delight at hearing ministers had taken its ideas on board.

He stated: "It will encourage firms to take a gamble on a young inexperienced person and help tackle the scourge of youth unemployment."

Nestle announced coffee plant expansion plans

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:32:00 GMT

Production and inventory control jobs may be on offer at Nestle as the food and drink products maker has announced a £110 million investment in expanding its plant in Staffordshire.

The firm is to treble its production capacity at the Dolce Gusto site in Tutbury, Staffordshire.

Prime minister David Cameron was on hand at the time of the announcement, welcoming news of the increase in output and creation of 300 new jobs.

Describing the move as "brilliant news" for the UK manufacturing sector, he said: "This investment shows the confidence that there is in the UK, it is clear that we have got a great manufacturing future."

Nestle UK and Ireland noted it has already invested £100 million in expanding the facility over the past five years, increasing the number of jobs there from 160 to its present level of 500.

The firm said coffee products made at the site will be exported to 38 different countries around the world.

Confederation of British Industry director general John Cridland recently said the UK needs to export goods to a wider range of countries than at present if its manufacturing sector is to grow significantly.

Medical equipment manufacturer granted licence extension

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:04:00 GMT

The task of improving manufacturing processes may be taken up by those involved in work to make new blood-testing devices, after a Cambridge-based company was granted a licence extension to start producing them.

Sphere Medical has received an extension of its EN ISO13485 licence for design and development from Notified Body TUV SUD Product Service GmbH.

This means it can start producing its Proxima disposable patient-attached arterial blood analyser, which may create opportunities for those involved in improving manufacturing processes to work to maximise output and safety.

Chief executive of the firm Dr Stuart Hendry said: "This scope extension is an important achievement and underpins our capability for commercial manufacture at our Harston facility."

He said the news was an endorsement of the "excellent" quality management system it has in place.

The company produces equipment designed to test blood conditions such as gas, glucose and drug levels in real-time, but with laboratory accuracy.

Such swift information enables doctors to make rapid decisions about patient care.

Northern Ireland ''set for manufacturing boost''

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:53:00 GMT

Those seeking jobs in the area of improving manufacturing processes may find opportunities in Northern Ireland, with a new report tipping this area for growth in the near future.

Northern Bank and Oxford Economics' latest Quarterly Sectoral Forecasts report has noted the last year has brought employment growth in the sector, with the level of growth expected to be from three to four per cent from 2012.

The report commented: "The size of the Northern Irish manufacturing sector becomes a welcomed strength and a potential source of growth, not the sector in 'inevitable' decline it was once unfairly characterised as."

Manufacturing has been a traditional source of employment in Northern Ireland, although industries such as shipbuilding have declined.

But the report noted the UK government plans to increase manufacturing should help modern industries grow.

The Harland and Wolff Shipyard in Belfast is the most famous centre for that industry, with 2012 marking the anniversary of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic, which was built there.

Prime minister stresses need for high-tech manufacturing growth

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:06:00 GMT

The task of improving manufacturing processes is one Britain needs to grasp to ensure there is more high-tech production like that at the McLaren Formula One factory, the prime minister has said.

David Cameron made the comment as he opened the new McLaren plant at Woking in Surrey, an event at which team principal Ron Dennis and drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jensen Button were present.

He said Formula One car making is a "massive British success story", adding that the new plant is "a great reminder that actually in Britain we do still have world class engineering, world class manufacturing, world class production techniques".

But Britain needs more manufacturing of this kind, the prime minister noted, stating the leaders of the other main political parties share this view, as all three were at the launch of a £1 million engineering prize this week.

With the present Formula One seasons almost at an end, the McLaren team is set to finish second in the constructor's championship behind Red Bull.

Call for help to keep car industry growing

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:10:00 GMT

More manufacturing management roles may become available if the UK car industry is able to continue growing, after recording an increase in output over the past year.

Figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) indicated a 5.8 per cent increase in production in the last 12 months.

Areas of particular expansion like engine making (up 12 per cent) counterbalanced negatives such as commercial vehicle manufacturing (down 2.9 per cent).

SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said "strong export demand" had boosted numbers and called the results "good news for the economy during this difficult period".

However, he added, future prospects are less bright and he called for action from chancellor George Osborne to introduce measures in his upcoming autumn statement to "encourage private sector investment and boost economic growth".

Others calling for government action include the Confederation of British Industry, which wants to see tax breaks for employers to take on young unemployed workers and train them, after official statistics showed youth unemployment has passed the one million mark.

Unemployment figures may encourage more training

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:15:00 GMT

More people may seek training to improve their qualifications and become more employable in the jobs market after new figures revealed a fresh rise in the number out of work.

Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that in the three months to September, the proportion of working age people out of work rose by 0.4 per cent (129,000) to 8.3 per cent (2.62 million).

The situation looks particularly grim for younger individuals, with the number out of work up 67,000 in this period to 1.02 million, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992, although the ONS said there is some evidence the tally might have been higher in the mid-1980s.

Operations training courses may be among the studies some might wish to undertake to boost their employability.

Commenting on the job figures, the Confederation of British Industry called for the government to introduce a £1,500-per head tax credit for employers to take on unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds and train them.

Private sector ''still delivering new jobs''

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:42:00 GMT

The private sector is still expecting to deliver more new jobs in the year ahead, a survey has found.

Companies including small service sector enterprises have shown a high level of optimism in the study by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and recruitment specialists Harvey Nash, with 47 per cent expecting to employ more people a year from now.

This contrasts with only 19 per cent of firms anticipating a shrinkage of staff.

And the gap is wider still for companies employing fewer than 250 people, with 35 per cent more expecting to expand employment opportunities than to shed jobs.

However, the situation may not be so bright if the economy contracts as some fear.

CBI deputy director-general, Dr Neil Bentley, warned recruitment plans "could be blown off course by fast-moving economic events at home and abroad."

And the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has issued a downbeat prediction for the jobs market in the next few months, with public policy advisor Gerwyn Davies stating that it will experience a "slow, painful contraction".

European Commission Enterprise and Industry - Free CE marking seminar invitati

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:38:00 GMT

Public sector ''suffering from low morale''

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:44:00 GMT

Individuals concerned with continuous improvement within the public sector may wish to focus on improving staff morale.

This is after a study by Badenoch and Clark found that over half of the central and local government staff members they questioned would not be willing to recommend working for such employers.

According to the recruitment firm, as workers in the public sector face job cuts with government austerity measures, one in five are suffering from a lack of motivation in their current role.

Operations management plans could suffer from falling morale within government and council roles, with Badenoch & Clark managing director Nicola Linkleter stating: "This is a problem that must be tackled imminently, or the future of the talent pipeline for some public sector employers could be at risk of stagnating."

In related news, as part of continuous improvement within the public sector, the Local Government Association has revealed it is looking for 15 local councils to participate in the Adult Social Care Efficiency programme 2011-12.

Manufacturing industry ''needs support despite signs of growth''

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:35:00 GMT

Although the UK manufacturing sector has witnessed growth and remains in positive territory, more still needs to be done to ensure it stays there.

In comments that may be of interest to operations management professionals, the chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has declared that the "modest" rise in output during September 2011 was "better than many expected".

David Kern was commenting on new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which has showed that manufacturing output climbed month-on-month from August by 0.2 per cent, marking a two per cent rise over the year.

However, Mr Kern explained that "the sector does face difficult challenges", in part because of tough conditions in the eurozone and government austerity measures in Britain.

He added: "The Autumn Statement at the end of this month will provide the Chancellor with a prime opportunity to introduce more policies to support growth."

The BCC expert was commenting as the ONS revealed that seasonally-adjusted output climbed in the UK during September 2011, despite no change from August in overall production figures.

Weaker services sector ''could affect UK economic growth''

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:35:00 GMT

Operations management professionals have been advised that a weakening in the services sector could constrain the UK economy.

This is the claim made in a new report from accountancy firm BDO, which has stated its output index for the country declined during October to 92.6, falling from 93.3 the previous month.

It has suggested in its latest Business Trends publication that there is a "bleak winter ahead", although confidence improved over the month in manufacturing, but fell in services.

"The UK's economic recovery remains sluggish," warned BDO partner Peter Hemington, adding that the chancellor should announce tax reforms in his forthcoming Autumn Statement.

However, those concerned with continuous improvement may also be interested in recent comments made by senior economic advisor to the Ernst and Young ITEM club Neil Blake that 2012 could see a decline in inflation.

"The good news is that food, oil and petrol prices will all start to come down next year."

However, he cautioned that inflation will start to climb again over the next five years.

UK smaller manufacturers ''see decline in sentiment''

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:52:00 GMT

Optimism has fallen among smaller manufacturers in the UK, according to a new survey.

The poll by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) found that such manufacturing management specialists are predicting a slight drop in domestic purchasing over the coming quarter and no real growth in overseas sales.

CBI SME Council chair Lucy Armstrong said: "Sentiment has taken a real hit, falling at rates not seen since the height of the recession in April 2009."

In the latest quarterly SME Trends Survey from the organisation, it reveals that there was a balance of zero in the number of respondents reporting falls and rises in domestic orders over August to October 2011 and the measure of export orders dropped to minus eight per cent for the same period.

The next three months are expected to see firms reduce stock holdings, cut back on investments and drop output, although a slight increase in workforces is anticipated.

Despite the evidence from the CBI, Make It campaign events co-ordinator Stephen Melia recently declared there is "much to be positive about" in the manufacturing sector, as the country continues to lead the world in advanced production and areas such as innovation.

Industry bodies call for reform of R&D tax credits

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:13:00 GMT

The current system of tax incentives for research and development (R&D) activity by UK manufacturers should be reformed.

This is the claim made by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in news that may interest those in manufacturing management roles.

A report has been published by the two bodies in a bid to generate continuous improvement within the industry by persuading the government to improve access to tax credits for R&D.

Estimates by the business groups suggest that over 31,000 employment opportunities could be created and economic output boosted by £3.1 billion within 30 years if a new system was put in place to attract more investment and bring the UK into line with other nations such as France in terms of tax incentives.

"Encouraging high-value investment and innovation by UK-based companies as well as attracting foreign investment is crucial for ensuring UK manufacturing and the wider economy can continue to grow," EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler stated.

Mr Sculoer recently welcomed better-than-expected gross domestic product data as evidence the UK economy has weathered the turbulence of recent months.

UK manufacturing sector ''has much to be positive about''

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:50:00 GMT

Those in operations management may be interested in comments that the UK's manufacturing sector is facing challenges but has "much to be positive about".

Events coordinator of the Make It campaign Stephen Melia noted there are currently 2.6 million people in Britain employed by the industry, which is in contradiction to the assumption that the UK does not make anything.

Working for Makeit.org.uk, Mr Melia added: "The UK is a world leader in advanced manufacturing and going forward we need to play to our strengths of innovation, design, developing new technologies and creating new products."

However, he also pointed out that there are challenges posed to those involved in manufacturing management at present, including skills shortages, scarcity and rising costs of raw materials and climbing energy bills.

The Make It in Manufacturing campaign was launched in 2006 by The Manufacturing Institute and is intended to tackle negative perceptions and myths about the sector, while showing potential entrants what it has to offer them.

UK services sector continues to expand in October

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:15:00 GMT

Further growth has been reported in the British services sector, new data has indicated.

This is according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry, which climbed for the tenth month in a row during October this year.

Individuals concerned with continuous improvement in the services sector are advised the measure rose at a "modest rate" over the month as the pace of incoming new business expansion slowed.

Compiled by Markit and the CIPS, the figures show that confidence about future conditions increased over October 2011 to its highest level since May, while the business activity index dipped from 52.9 in September to 51.3 last month.

Manufacturing management specialists are advised that a downward trend in input cost inflation continued over the period in question and output charges fell.

Markit chief economist Chris Williamson remarked: "The sector made a strong contribution to economic growth in the third quarter, but this looks set to wane in the final quarter of the year."

In related news, latest data from the Office for National Statistics indicated that the rate of growth in the UK economy was sharper than predicted at 0.5 per cent in the quarter to September 2011, with expansion driven by the services sector.

UK manufacturing industry witnesses decline in activity rates

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:53:00 GMT

Activity in the UK manufacturing industry dipped further last month, with new orders, employment and output growth all contracting during October.

This is the claim made with regards to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector, which fell to a 28-month low of 47.4 over the period, down from 50.8 in September.

Compiled by Markit and the CIPS, the measure shows a significant dip in new order inflows, but manufacturing management professionals are advised that inflationary pressures are showing some signs of easing.

Commenting on the new figures, Markit senior economist and author of the report Rob Dobson stated: "Companies are facing tough conditions in both domestic and overseas markets, meaning that output is increasingly being sustained through the depletion of backlogs of work."

With regards to the 17 nations of the eurozone, the most recent PMI has revealed there was an acceleration in the rate of decline within the manufacturing sector during October 2011, with the index standing at 47.1 for the month.

All nations within the region with the exception of Ireland saw a contraction over the month from September.

Services sector ''leads UK''s latest quarterly expansion''

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:10:00 GMT

The UK economy has grown at a sharper rate than expected over the past quarter, with the services sector leading the way.

Strategies such as continuous improvement may have assisted companies in generating further profits over the three months to September 2011.

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.5 per cent during the period in question after a 0.1 per cent upswing over the three months to June 2011, with production output climbing by 0.5 per cent following a 1.2 per cent decline.

In addition, output expanded by 0.7 per cent over the three months to September following a 0.2 per cent increase during the period to June, while there was a slight fall in construction sector activity.

"Returning to the latest quarter, there is no evidence to suggest that the riots in August had any significant impact on GDP for Q3," stated the ONS.

A total of 36 economists polled by Bloomberg had reported a media estimate of economic growth of 0.3 per cent for the latest report.

UK manufacturers ''concerned by energy price rises''

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:14:00 GMT

The rising cost of energy is hitting many manufacturing companies in the UK hard, it has been claimed.

Operations management professionals may have to adjust their strategies as the cost of gas and electricity remains high, with EEF, the manufacturers' organisation suggesting that part of the problem relates to the UK government's climate change policy.

According to the body, this is pushing up utilities bills to rates that are significantly higher than those paid by production businesses' competitors in Germany.

As a result EEF wants ministers to reassess the current situation and put together an Energy Intensive package to cover those firms with high power costs well before the gap widens with the introduction of the Carbon Price Floor in 2013.

Terry Scuoler, chief executive of the body, remarked: "The government must bring forward a package of measures to compensate those industries most affected by its climate change policies."

UK energy prices are currently ten per cent higher than those in German and could rise to 15 per cent greater by 2013.

EEF has welcomed the announcement this week that almost £1 billion of government investment is being made through the Regional Growth Fund, much of which will support manufacturing and infrastructure projects.

UK manufacturers ''concerned by energy price rises''

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:14:00 GMT

Encouraging young people ''will boost UK manufacturing''

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:15:00 GMT

Taking steps to engage young people in the UK will provide a boost to the country's manufacturing sector.

Comments made by Stephen Melia, events coordinator for the Make It campaign, stress the importance of educating pupils about the opportunities available in the industry, such as good pay, international travel and interesting tasks.

According to the Makeit.org.uk expert, the sector contributes an estimated £200 billion to the UK economy annually, but can struggle to recruit staff because of problems with its image, which leads to skills shortages and an ageing workforce.

Mr Melia added: "In school, young people really enjoy coming up with new ideas and making things, yet there is a disconnect between this and seeing manufacturing as an aspirational career choice."

He is a spokesman for the Make It in Manufacturing campaign run by The Manufacturing Institute, which aims to tackle preconceptions and myths surrounding production and show what it has to offer to school pupils.

His remarks could increase interest in taking a CPIM exam or obtaining an APICS qualification, as may the recent launch by the government of the Make it in Great Britain campaign promoting the UK's manufacturing industry.

Encouraging young people ''will boost UK manufacturing''

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:15:00 GMT

UK manufacturers forecast orders decline

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:35:00 GMT

The coming months are expected to prove difficult for manufacturers in the UK, a new survey shows.

According to research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), sentiment within the sector has declined sharply as firms anticipate falls in orders and output over the next quarter, falling at its most acute rate since April 2009.

Taking an APICS qualification may become more attractive as manufacturers face difficult conditions over the coming months, something that operations management practices could assist with.

During the next three months manufacturers expect to reduce their cornstock holdings amid declining activity and modest increases in domestic demand.

Over the most recent quarter, a balance of plus five per cent of companies said they saw a rise in domestic orders, while export purchasing was flat.

"Manufacturers saw modest growth in orders and production over the past quarter. However, sentiment has deteriorated sharply and firms expect sizeable falls in activity over the next three months," commented CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty.

The UK's business secretary Vince Cable has addressed the Policy Exchange with a speech in which he declared that a new industrial strategy for the UK should include a strong framework of incentives and support for manufacturing.

Europe witnesses pick-up in industrial new orders

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:41:00 GMT

The volume of industrial new orders in the European Union (EU) improved over August 2011 compared with the previous month, new figures show.

According to the data from the region's statistical agency Eurostat, the month witnessed a 0.4 per cent increase in purchasing across the 27 member states, offsetting a decline of 0.6 per cent in July.

Manufacturers that may have to adjust their operations management systems in light of rising orders include those making capital goods, as new orders for these climbed by 1.1 per cent over the period in question.

Year-on-year industrial new orders expanded by 6.5 per cent across the EU, with capital goods rising by 8.2 per cent in August 2011 over 2010 and intermediate goods up by 6.9 per cent.

In the UK, manufacturing management professionals learned earlier this month that September saw a rise in the Purchasing Managers' Index produced by CIPS and Markit, as the measure returned to growth following a fall in August.

Make it in Great Britain campaign to champion UK manufacturing

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:00:00 GMT

The government is launching a new campaign to promote the UK's manufacturing industry, operations management professionals are advised.

According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the initiative is intended to celebrate the contribution of the industry to the economy, encourage more young people to seek careers in it and tackle outdated assumptions about production in Britain.

Business secretary Vince Cable, launching the scheme, stated that up to 30 industry champions are needed and these should be "passionate manufacturers" of all kinds, adding: "Our world-beating companies have an excellent reputation for innovation."

Entitled Make it in Great Britain, the campaign is calling on the nation's business community to champion production, with plans for a major exhibition throughout the Olympic Games.

It comes after the government's See Inside Manufacturing initiative across the country allowed young people to observe how companies in the sector operate, with a range of businesses participating.

The Confederation of British Industry has issued a call this week for greater support to be shown to independent, mid-sized manufacturers in the UK, similar to the system in place in Germany.

Employing German Mittelstand model ''could enhance UK operations management''

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:23:00 GMT

More needs to be done to boost conditions for the UK's medium-sized businesses and help them to flourish.

This is the claim made by a leading business group, which has proposed adopting a similar model to the Mittelstand policy in Germany, in order to create a backbone of such firms for the country that drive exports, innovation and growth.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), such companies are the "forgotten army" of the nation's private sector and should be assisted to expand and enhance their operations management practices, maximising their productivity and potential.

The organisation wants to see greater support for such firms and director-general of the CBI John Cridland stated: "For too long these companies, which could inject tens of billions of pounds into our economy, have fallen under the radar of policymakers."

Industry body, EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, recently called on the government to include measures in its forthcoming Autumn Statement that will be of particular assistance to firms in the sector and help them to grow.

Technology change ''not essential to continuous improvement''

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 13:20:00 GMT

Companies looking to commit to continuous improvement principles do not have to invest in expensive new technology in order to do so.

This is according to head of the AME Institute Ralph Keller, who explained that the principles are "about making changes to business processes, not necessarily technology".

Writing in Industry Week, Mr Keller, former head of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence noted that substantial gains are possible by simply altering the way in which things are done, such as instigating demand pull manufacturing systems.

He explained that although technology can help to facilitate improvements, it is not a prerequisite and people should not be deterred from their goals by "red herrings" such as this assumption.

Continuous improvement refers to a set of principles that are concerned with enhancing products, services and processes in areas such as cost, delivery and quality. It can be applied in both production and services organisations and should be ongoing.

Higher public sector jobs cuts may affect operations management

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:50:00 GMT

Operations management professionals within the public sector may have to reassess their strategies as new figures show more jobs have been lost in the field than anticipated.

This is according to figures from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which has carried out research showing that one year on from the government's spending review, the pace of cuts in the public sector labour market has been "larger and faster than expected".

Local authorities in England have been particularly affected by the reductions in workforces, with a total contraction of the public sector workforce between December 2009 and June 2011 of 290,000.

A total of 111,000 of these cuts occurred in the second quarter of this year, as losses outstripped employment gains in the private sector.

"Rising demand for public services, reduced government spending and the need for a leaner and more efficient public sector mean that public service reform is central to the coalition's agenda," advised PwC partner and head of public sector Paul Cleal.

Elsewhere in the public sector, continuous improvement will be a key focus of the new head of the NHS Commissioning Board, which has now been announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley to be Professor Malcolm Grant.

See Inside Manufacturing scheme could produce future operations managers

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:59:00 GMT

Manufacturing management and engineering are skills that are being promoted to young people through a new initiative.

See Inside Manufacturing could increase interest in taking an APICS qualification as it aims to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects.

Nissan - which is committed to continuous improvement principles - is one of the firms participating in the scheme, welcoming pupils to its Cranfield European Technical Centre in Bedfordshire and its Sunderland plant over a two-week period.

"We are giving young people the chance to see the exciting face of modern manufacturing which is highly skilled, high-tech and highly paid," business secretary Vince Cable declared.

Pupils visiting Nissan's facilities will participate in educational games, meet with engineers and watch vehicles being made.

Sales and operations planning specialists may also benefit from the recently-launched government Manufacturing Advisory Service, which is targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises in the field.

Call for Autumn Statement to improve conditions for manufacturers

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:27:00 GMT

The forthcoming government Autumn Statement should include measures that will boost business growth and benefit the UK's manufacturing industry, it has been claimed.

Operations management professionals are advised that EEF, the manufacturers' organisation believes that weaker growth is risking the economy and reforms are needed to address the problem and boost confidence among firms in the sector.

EEF chief executive Terry Sculoer stated that manufacturers want to invest, but need incentives to do so, including a reduction of employment red tape, efforts to address the cost of combating climate change and improved banking industry competition.

Manufacturing management experts may also be interested in his statement that "failure to act now will only make the future challenges even bigger and risks undermining our hard-won fiscal credibility".

EEF recently welcomed the focus on production in a recent speech by prime minister David Cameron at the Conservative Party's autumn conference, but stressed the importance of putting policies in place that stimulate economic growth.

Call for Autumn Statement to improve conditions for manufacturers

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:27:00 GMT

New NHS Commissioning Board head to focus on continuous improvement

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:41:00 GMT

The health secretary Andrew Lansley has announced the incoming chair of the NHS Commissioning Board will focus on continuous improvement within the health service as part of his remit.

He made the statement as he announced Professor Malcolm Grant had been selected as the preferred candidate for the body.

The minister said he was looking forward to Professor Grant bringing his leadership skills to the position as the board "supports the development of clinical commissioning groups and secures for the NHS continuous improvement in the quality of services, reduction of health inequalities and delivers integrated, responsive services".

A qualified barrister and academic lawyer and currently president and provost of College London, Professor Grant is expected to assume his new role at the end of this month.

The NHS Commissioning Board is part of plans by the government to modernise the health service and Mr Lansley recently unveiled plans to alter operations management within the NHS in England in order to provide patients with more choice and information about referrals.

Government launches new advisory service for manufacturers

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:42:00 GMT

Sales and operations planning specialists may be interested in making use of a new Manufacturing Advisory Service that has been launched by the government.

Aimed at helping small and medium-sized companies in the sector who are looking at ways of improving manufacturers' processes and expanding their operations, the national scheme will cover England.

Business minister Mark Prisk unveiled the service and stated: "Manufacturing contributes half of Britain's exports and has much higher productivity than the rest of the economy so it is essential to our plans for growth."

A new Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) will deliver the service and will focus on providing strategic and technical support, continuous improvement, enhancing supply chains and apprenticeships.

An estimated 50,000 positions could be safeguarded and a further 23,000 created by the scheme, it has been predicted.

This week, the Office for National Statistics reported that there was a 1.5 per cent year-on-year increase in the UK Index of Manufacturing during August 2011.

Increase in UK manufacturing index during August

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:26:00 GMT

The annual UK Index of Manufacturing climbed by 1.5 per cent during August 2011 compared with the same month last year, official figures show.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this increase is despite a one per cent decline year-on-year in the national Index of Production.

However, operations management professionals are advised that the data show there was a dip in manufacturing output of 0.3 per cent during the month from July to August 2011, while production rose over the period by 0.2 per cent.

The latest ONS report follows the September Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from Markit and the CIPS, which indicated activity in the manufacturing sector rose over the month to 51.1.

With any figure above 50 indicative of growth in the PMI, the climb saw the measure rise above this level following a contraction in August. September saw the domestic market showing signs of picking up, while new export orders declined over the month.

Government unveils proposals for patient-led NHS operations management

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:55:00 GMT

Plans to introduce changes to operations management within the NHS in England in order to provide greater patient choice have been unveiled.

Announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley, the proposals regarding referrals and information about NHS providers are a response to research indicating this is what members of the public want in terms of their treatment.

According to the poll, more than 80 per cent of respondents stated they wanted choice in the health service and almost three-quarters wanted to select which consultant provides their hospital care.

Commenting on the plans, which could come into force from April 2012, Mr Lansley said: "We know that transparency can drive up standards of care and improve services for patients and that's what this is all about."

The survey of 5,000 individuals about NHS healthcare also discovered that patient choice is of particular importance for older people and women, something that operations management professionals in the sector may wish to bear in mind.

Members of the House of Lords have been debating the government's healthcare modernisation bill for England this week.

Government plans aim to enhance manufacturing competitiveness

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:41:00 GMT

A £170 million investment by the government in the UK's manufacturing industry could enhance growth.

This is according to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which has declared that the funding will be used to support research in the field.

A new high value manufacturing technology and innovation centre has been unveiled, which will receive £140 million over the next six years, potentially enhancing continuous improvement efforts in industry.

In addition the Technology Strategy Board will run a competition seeking innovative new products for investment and a further contest alongside the Office for Low Emission Vehicles to back the development of low-carbon vehicles.

"Manufacturing has a key role to play in economic growth and rebalancing the economy, in particular driving exports and productivity," business secretary Vince Cable stated.

Recent figures from Markit and the CIPD revealed that there was an expansion of UK manufacturing activity in September this year as the sector rallied following a dip in August.

Government plans aim to enhance manufacturing competitiveness

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:41:00 GMT

Government plans aim to enhance manufacturing competitiveness

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:41:00 GMT

New transparency plans unveiled for NHS

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:51:00 GMT

Greater transparency will be a feature of the NHS in the future, according to the government.

New plans have been unveiled by the Department of Health aimed at enhancing operations management within the service by implementing a "Duty of Candour".

Taking the form of a contractual requirement, it also intended to boost safety within the service by placing a responsibility on providers to admit when mistakes have been made.

Part of continuous improvement and modernisation plans by the government, the Duty of Candour in healthcare will be enforceable and will offer greater access to information for patients or their families in the event of something going wrong.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley launched the proposals and a consultation on them, stating: "This is a key part of how a modern NHS should be - open and accountable to the public and patients to drive improvements in care."

Last month, the government published plans to strengthen the health service and stated it wants to place patient power and clinical leadership at the heart of NHS modernisation.

Improvement in UK services sector activity

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:52:00 GMT

Despite the challenging economic climate, the services sector of the UK economy witnessed growth during July 2011.

This is according to a report by the Office for National Statistics, which revealed the month in question expanded by 1.3 per cent year-on-year.

All components of the industry saw activity climb, with business services and finances standing 1.6 per cent higher over the 12 months covered by the latest index of services.

During the month in question, the seasonally-adjusted data showed output rose by 0.2 per cent compared with June 2011.

In addition, a new report from Markit and the CIPS may be of interest to operations management professionals in the services sector as it revealed growth of the industry returned to a "solid pace" last month.

The September statistics suggested the headline index climbed to 52.9 over the month from August and the pace of incoming new work improved, although there was a dip in confidence among respondents.

"A surprise uplift in growth is welcome news, coming on the back of a similar upturn in manufacturing, but masks the fact that all is not well in the UK services economy," remarked Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

Strong operations management produces efficiency for Nissan

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:46:00 GMT

A good system of operations management is in place at carmaker Nissan and ensures the company is efficient and productive.

The 1-2-1 Supply Chain Excellence Summit next month will see the firm outline its lean manufacturing philosophy and explain how it designs solutions to enhance process flow.

Bruce Taylor, head of operations at the manufacturer's Sunderland site, will discuss issues relating to training, standard work and continuous improvement during the conference in Birmingham, Supply Chain Standard reports.

The Sunderland Nissan facility is often hailed as the most productive carmaking plant in Europe and Mr Taylor will explain the "virtuous cycle" it has put in place to achieve this.

It operates an integrated supply chain that will provide the focus of one of eight major case studies being presented at the event, with other topics being covered during the course of the gathering including supply chain disruption and risk, managing growing costs and strategic cooperation.

Nissan practices Kaizen, a system of continuous improvement developed in Japan.

Philips Respironics hailed for continuous improvement and lean efforts

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:30:00 GMT

Philips Respironics New Kensington has been awarded for its continuous improvement in the field of operations management by winning Assembly magazine and The Boston Consulting Group's 2011 Plant of the Year prize.

The 172,000-square-foot facility near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - which assembles electromechanical medical devices - received praise for its "lean manufacturing principles" and its ongoing commitment to employee-driven improvement.

Austin Webber, senior editor of Assembly, said: "Philips New Kensington is a model of excellence for high-volume manufacturing. Employees are organised into self-managed work teams, and this has produced remarkable results and innovations."

Shipping to more than 60 countries worldwide, the company was formed by biomedical engineer Jerry McGinnis in 1976.

Meanwhile, the most recent Markit and Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Purchasing Managers' Index for the month of September revealed the UK saw a "moderate" expansion in the manufacturing sector, rising from a figure of 49.4 in August to 51.1.

UK manufacturing industry witnesses expansion in September

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:14:00 GMT

Last month saw the UK's manufacturing industry return to growth, it has been reported.

The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector showed the measure stood at 51.1 in September, ahead of the 50 mark indicative of expansion.

According to the data from Markit and the CIPS, the PMI showed signs of contraction in August, but has rallied over the past month.

However, new export orders declined sharply over the period in question, indicating overseas sales are weakening, although there were climbs in overall new business and output as the domestic market appeared to pick up.

August saw the PMI stand at a revised 49.4 on a seasonally-adjusted basis, with production up in September as operations management specialists worked on rapidly clearing backlogs of work.

Markit senior economist Rob Dobson commented: "The modest return to growth of UK manufacturing output in September is a positive, but it is hard to escape the fact that the sector's performance has weakened substantially."

A recent report by the Confederation of British Industry showed that despite economic uncertainty within Europe, UK manufacturers are continuing to forecast rising output over the coming quarter.

Manufacturers advised to do more to reduce waste

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:32:00 GMT

The European Union (EU) Waste Framework Directive is providing a "wake up call" to both UK manufacturers and the government, it has been claimed.

According to EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, more action is needed to ensure that zero targets for rubbish are met and combat barriers to achieving these.

In addition, the industry body wants ministers to improve the current waste strategy, something that may prompt operations management professionals to adopt lean manufacturing techniques.

The new EU directive, which is now in force, requires businesses to adhere to new regulations regarding the treatment of waste and to develop a "waste hierarchy" that places landfill as a last option.

"Recovery and recycling have now reached a mature stage within company operations and industry can only make further progress if government unlocks barriers created by lack of investment in infrastructure," said EEF head of climate and environment Gareth Stace.

EEF has also called on the British government to do more to reduce the burden of red tape on manufacturers after a report demonstrated that progress is being made in this area.

High street sales decline ''showing signs of stabilising''

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 11:21:00 GMT

A decline in high street sales in recent months appears to be stabilising, according to a new report.

This is the claim made in a study by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has noted that sales contracted year-on-year during September 2011, something operations management professionals in retail may be interested to learn.

However, the pace of decline appears to be moderating, the organisation suggested, with sales volumes growth standing at -15 per cent this month, almost unchanged from the -14 per cent recorded in August.

Although the pace of contraction was worse than expected, the CBI pointed out that falling purchasing was reported across all the major retail sub-sectors, with furniture and carpets, department stores, clothing and footwear and leather sales most severely affected.

"With the consumer squeeze set to get tighter with the winter utility bills rise, we expect retailers will face a challenging October," predicted Judith McKenna, chair of the CBI Distributive Trades Panel.

Continuous improvement policies may be used more widely by retailers, as the British Retail Consortium recently warned that companies in the non-food sector in particular may be finding current conditions more difficult than recent government data indicates.

Police forces hailed for continuous improvement

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:37:00 GMT

A leading police expert has praised Scottish forces for their commitment to continuous improvement in the face of financial challenges.

Andrew Laing noted the country has witnessed a decline in reported crime to a 35-year low, alongside the delivery of £80.3 million in efficiency savings over the past 12 months through effective operations management.

The new HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland (HMICS), he explained that a further £18.5 million in savings had also been achieved and stated that strong leadership had contributed towards this, with public confidence in the eight police forces concerned increasing.

Mr Laing added: "As we enter a significant period of reform, the challenge will be in both maintaining that performance while delivering the reform."

The "great professionalism and courage" of police officers during the riots in England were recently praised by leader for uniformed operations at the Association of Chief Police Officers Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes.

Manufacturing industry ''needs continuous improvement on reducing red tape''

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:00:00 GMT

A new report is expected to show that efforts to reduce the burden of red tape on the manufacturing sector are starting to have an effect.

However, despite improvements in the level of regulation faced by such companies, EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, has called for more to be done by the government.

The body's director of policy Steve Radley welcomed action by ministers to tackle red tape, but declared the industry "is now looking to see the new approach deliver real change" and called for continuous improvement in this area.

He pointed to forthcoming legislation - such as the national pension savings scheme - as examples of cases where the government needs to outline plans to reduce the burden placed by such rules on employers.

Mr Radley added MPs must also "ensure that any progress at home is not undone by the need to implement expensive and badly-designed directives from Europe".

The Agency Worker Regulations come into force on October 1st 2011, providing additional rights to those on temporary contracts.

UK manufacturers continuing to predict output growth

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Manufacturers in Britain are forecasting an increase in output over the next quarter, a new survey indicates.

Research by the Confederation of British Industry may be of interest to manufacturing management professionals, as it shows that companies in the sector remain optimistic, despite a contraction in new orders over September.

According to the business organisation, the balance of orders above normal stood at minus nine per cent in its latest industrial trends poll, although this is higher than a long-term average of minus 18 per cent.

Of the 470 respondents to the survey, the balance predicting rising output during the next three months stood at plus nine per cent, while those questioned stated that stock levels remained strong in September and pricing pressures climbed slightly.

CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty suggested the slowdown in demand may have been linked to uncertainty in global financial markets.

The Purchasing Managers' Index for UK manufacturing contracted during August this year, data from Markit and the CIPS indicated as domestic demand was subdued and business conditions deteriorated.

Manufacturing automation project receives £600k

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:58:00 GMT

A £600,000 grant has been provided by the government to a project aimed at enhancing manufacturing management through automation.

The scheme, managed by the British Automation and Robot Association (BARA), is aimed at increasing investment in the technology.

It is effective immediately and will run until March 2013, providing impartial and independent advice about ways in which automation solutions can be implemented to reduce waste, improve efficiency, boost profits and enhance productivity.

The project to enhance production processes is targeted largely at small and medium-sized enterprises and could assist them in improving their operations management.

BARA president Mike Wilson stated: "If UK manufacturing is to fulfill its potential of becoming a significant force in global markets then automation needs to be at its very heart."

Office for National Statistics figures have demonstrated an increase in the UK's index of production of 1.9 per cent between July 2010 and the same month of 2011, the 18th rise in a row.

CILT(UK) 2011 EGM

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Notice of CILT(UK) 2011 Extraordinary General Meeting.

CILT(UK) 2011 EGM

Notice is hereby given that: the Extraordinary General Meeting of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK will be held at the Hallam Street Conference Centre, 44 Hallam Street, London W1W 6JJ on Thursday 20 October 2011 commencing at 3.00pm to conduct the following business:

As Special Business

1. To consider and if thought fit adopt the Articles of Association as amended.

Dated 16th September 2011
By Order of the Board
Richard Ebbage
Company Secretary

Details in respect of voting and appointing a proxy will be available via the Institute's website, alternatively email secretary@ciltuk.org.uk or write to the above address or fax to +44 (0) 1536 740101 or phone +44 (0) 1536 740100 for details. NB: please head up all forms of written correspondence '2011 EGM'.

Lean manufacturing ''could save food and drink firms £404m''

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:20:00 GMT

Operations management strategies could offer a way of companies operating in the food and drink sector to reduce the amount of waste they produce, potentially generating savings of £404 million.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has recommended businesses in the industry adopt lean manufacturing techniques in order to cut levels of rubbish generated and embed the concept of tackling landfill in their company culture.

"Companies have made massive strides in diverting waste from landfill, but part of the problem is waste prevention, which is trickier," explained Estelle Herszenhorn of WRAP.

According to the WRAP report, introducing changes to product lines, waste management, spillage allowances and other operations could help businesses to meet environmental commitments and help them to reduce expenditure.

Earlier this year, WRAP revealed that a dairy in Dorset is being powered by energy produced from food waste generated by the manufacture of cream, milk and other dairy products.

Operations management at new Jaguar Land Rover plant

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:59:00 GMT

A new facility that is being established in the UK by Jaguar Land Rover may employ operations management techniques such as lean manufacturing.

The plant will be built in Wolverhampton and will provide 750 new jobs in the Midlands as a result, some of which may be for those holding an APICS qualification.

Under the plans by the automotive giant, £355 million will be invested in the high-value manufacturing site.

The news was welcomed by prime minister Nick Clegg and Vince Cable, the business secretary, who predicted the move will provide a substantial economic boost to the region.

"JLR choosing Wolverhampton for its new engine plant in the face of tough international competition is a tremendous boost for manufacturing in the UK and the West Midlands in particular," Dr Cable stated.

A recent Office for National Statistics report showed there was a 1.9 per cent rise year-on-year in the UK's index of production during July 2011, with manufacturing output rising by 0.1 per cent from June this year.

Glaxo-McLaren partnership to boost operations management

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:04:00 GMT

A new strategic partnership has been forged between pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Formula 1 team McLaren in a bid to enhance operations management at the former.

Under the plans, the two companies will establish a £20 million research facility that will focus on ways of using McLaren technology to enhance maintenance and customer service.

The two organisations propose working together for a period of five years, with the centre at the Surrey headquarters of McLaren offering a base to carry out innovative analytics and modelling.

By improving its manufacturing management techniques, GSK hopes to achieve "world class performance" throughout its operations between now and 2016.

"This partnership is another example of GSK looking outside its sector for inspiration and fresh perspectives on how we can achieve our strategic goals in an ever more challenging and fast changing business environment," said Andrew Witty, GSK chief executive.

Multinational drugs and healthcare specialist GSK operates in more than 100 countries worldwide and has substantial research facilities in the UK, Belgium, China and the US.

Continuous improvement ''should form part of recruitment strategies''

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:23:00 GMT

Employing continuous improvement strategies can help recruiters to improve their treatment of disabled candidates.

This is the claim made by E.ON HR director Maria Antoniou at an event for HR professionals on the subject, at which she explained that the company has adopted best practice in order to become an inclusive employer.

She stated that a 'feedback loop' implemented in the operations management process provides the company with "every opportunity to embrace continuous improvement in all aspects of our recruitment strategies".

Ms Antoniou was attending the launch of a new scheme led by E.ON and BT, in conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions, which will see a new framework introduced for recruitment practice in a bid to increase the number of disabled people in employment.

Continuous improvement strategies can be used in a wide range of situations, with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council recently announcing that it had implemented new systems for fuel management using such strategies.

Waste levels ''increasing in UK services sector''

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:51:00 GMT

The levels of waste produced by the UK's commercial services sector are poised to overtake that generated by industrial manufacturing.

Findings released at the Recycling & Waste Management (RWM) Exhibition 2011 may increase interesting in lean operations management principles within the industry, as a sharp fall in waste from manufacturing has been recorded in recent years, Environmental Data Interactive reports.

According to the Rubbish Economy report - produced for RWM and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management by consultancy Urban Mines - rising landfill taxes and improvements in manufacturing management and efficiency have driven down production waste.

Recycling and composting were found to be the preferred methods of diverting rubbish, while growth in the thermal treatment and energy-from-waste fields was found to be slower.

Peter Scholes, managing director of Urban Mines, stated: "We expect to see fewer tonnes of traditional industrial waste such as sludges and chemicals, but potentially an increase in commercial waste like recyclables and similar materials."

The RWM Exhibition is taking place this week (between September 13th and 15th 2011) at the Birmingham NEC, featuring seminars, more than 600 companies exhibiting from around the world and networking events.

Scotland defies UK manufacturing downturn

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:45:00 GMT

Despite sluggish performance in the overall UK manufacturing industry, Scotland appears to be faring better, a new report reveals.

In news that may be welcome by those involved in manufacturing management in Scotland, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the country shows it saw production in the sector rise at its fastest rate in four months.

Furthermore, the latest report from Bank of Scotland and Markit reveals growth of new business reached a four-month high, although there was a slight drop in private sector jobs from July.

"There was a particularly welcome rise in new export orders which extended the current sequence of growth to ten months," revealed Bank of Scotland chief economist Donald MacRae.

Service sector activity affected the overall rate of growth, which slowed in August to deliver a PMI reading of 52.7, down from 53.5 the previous month.

Data from Markit and the CIPS for August showed that the UK as a whole witnessed a contraction in activity during the month, with output driven down by a weakening of export orders.

Nissan operations management policies hailed

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:40:00 GMT

Carmaker Nissan is "regarded internationally as an exemplar of manufacturing productivity" and has invested significantly in operations management in the UK.

An article in the Financial Times states that the company has focused on policies such as continuous improvement that have now become mainstream within the sector.

The carmaker has marked 25 years of operation in the UK, with its manufacturing plant in Sunderland opening on September 8th 1986 and some 133 employees from the original workforce still employed at the factory.

Margaret Thatcher attended the official launch and the Wearside facility has undergone substantial change since then, according to the news source, with it challenging "established plants and practices".

Kevin Fitzpatrick, vice-president for UK manufacturing, stated: "I can't contemplate what the north-east would look like without a successful Nissan."

The motor manufacturer was founded in Yokohama, Japan, in 1933 by Nikon Sangyo and Tobata Imono as Jidosha-Seido, with the former taking on sole ownership a year later and renaming it Nissan Motor Company.

Aunt Bessie''s credits solution with enhancing continuous improvement

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 13:05:00 GMT

The continuous improvement processes at food manufacturer Aunt Bessie's have been enhanced with the adoption of technology.

According to the company's supply planning manager Chris Buckle, implementation of the Preactor QAD enterprise resource planning (ERP) system has led to enhanced planning and scheduling, as well as better stock handling.

Speaking to Works Management, he stated that the Hull-based brand also saw process change along its production lines through enhanced visibility that boosted response times, particularly when incidents take place.

"Now we can see much more quickly when a problem is occurring and investigate different scenarios for dealing with it," Mr Buckle stated.

The publication - which is focusing on issues relating to advanced planning and scheduling in its latest issue - noted that APS has been central to bringing operations more closely together with maintenance and embedding the latter in production plans.

Guidon Performance Solutions recently advised that business architects are playing a growing role in continuous improvement by working alongside business process executives.

Government announces future plans for NHS

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:55:00 GMT

Proposals have been unveiled by the government that could affect operations management professionals working in the NHS.

The plans, which could prompt continuous improvement activity, are intended to provide greater control for patients and health professionals.

Following the summer recess, the Health and Social Care Bill has undergone further debate in Parliament as part of efforts by ministers to modernise the health service.

The plans are intended to strengthen the NHS, with providers required to be more transparent about mistakes and to concentrate on prevention of problems and combating health inequalities.

According to the health secretary Andrew Lansley, principles "which are widely accepted as reported by the independent NHS Future Forum" - such as patient power and clinical leadership - are at the heart of the modernisation proposals.

However, there have been challenges to the bill, with the British Medical Association calling on MPs to oppose it and warning that the NHS could be placed at risk by the plans.

Government announces future plans for NHS

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:55:00 GMT

Government announces future plans for NHS

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:55:00 GMT

UK manufacturing increases in July 2010

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:49:00 GMT

Operations management professionals have learned that a year-on-year increase of 1.9 per cent was recorded in the UK's index of production between July 2010 and the same month of this year.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the sector witnessed steady growth on a seasonally-adjusted basis over the 12 months to July 2011, the 18th consecutive rise.

In addition, there was a 0.1 per cent increase in manufacturing output over the month from June 2011, despite an overall decline in production of 0.2 per cent.

Electrical and optical equipment businesses may wish to enhance their manufacturing management processes after the industry was found to have driven the market during July 2011.

Seven out of the 13 manufacturing sectors analysed saw growth, including coke, refined petroleum and nuclear fuels, while the remainder contracted between June and July this year.

The UK's index of production dipped by 0.7 per cent year-on-year in July 2011, with sharp declines in mining and quarrying output and a fall in energy market activity.

BDO and EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, recently reported that manufacturers in the UK are continuing to witness growth and expect further hiring and investment in the future, despite the current economic uncertainty.

Services sector witnesses August dip in activity

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:12:00 GMT

Activity within the services sector declined during August 2011, however it continued to record growth, operations management professionals are advised.

According to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry, the measure fell to its slowest rate of expansion during the month, dipping by 4.3 points to 51.1, just above the 50 mark for increases.

The report from Markit and the CIPS showed a slowdown in new business being awarded to companies, combined with global economic uncertainty, which affected overall confidence, pushing it down to a 12-month low.

Service providers have become more cautious and employment fell in August, while there were indications that the rioting and public disorder taking place in a number of UK cities during the month may also have affected the market.

"Allied with soft manufacturing data and a slowdown in construction growth, the overall picture provided by the latest PMI surveys is one of a stuttering UK private sector," commented Markit senior economist Paul Smith.

Across the Eurozone of the European Union, Markit reported that services confidence plummeted to a 28-month low, while the PMI for August 2011 stood at 51.5, as new business figures fell in all nations except France.

Government data on ambulance operations management released

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:50:00 GMT

New figures examining operations management in the ambulance service have been published by the government.

The quality data from the Department of Health, ordered by health secretary Andrew Lansley, provide information about the performance of trusts in this area, including the fact that more than one-third (33.4 per cent) of all calls were resolved successfully without requiring patients to be transported to accident and emergency (A&E) departments.

Based on the standard of treatment received by patients and the outcomes of it, the report covers a wider remit than simply response times, although this remains a major factor and targets continue to be in place for the most seriously ill patients.

"The data published for the first time today show that there is variation in the results for patients across the country," Mr Lansley noted, adding this information can be used for continuous improvement of the service.

It comes after a series of quality indicators were released for A&E department based on eight clinical measures created by senior clinicians.

Operations management pressures ''being reported by UK manufacturers''

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:18:00 GMT

Pressures on operations management officials such as supply chain constraints, limited spare capacity and lengthening lead times are being reported by the manufacturing industry.

This is the claim made by chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, Lee Hopley, who explained that a contraction of activity in the sector seen in the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) should not necessarily be interpreted as "the beginning of a significant downturn".

She stated that the body is seeing evidence "on the ground that manufacturers are still busy, although more wary about the future".

Ms Hopley's remarks come after Markit and the CIPS reported that there was a contraction of manufacturing output in the UK during August this year, following a decline recorded in July.

However, she pointed out that although there is an indication that activity is softening as a result of "growing global economic challenges", a cautious approach should be adopted in interpreting such information as there is evidence that production is continuing.

Further contraction of UK manufacturing

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:22:00 GMT

Individuals concerned with lean techniques and continuous improvement are advised that the UK's manufacturing industry witnessed a further contraction in August this year.

According to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector, last month saw export orders weaken and a decline in employment.

Compiled by Markit and the CIPS, the report suggests that manufacturing could "slide back into recession", having witnessed a contraction in July on subdued domestic demand levels.

The measure dropped from 49.4 the previous month to 49 in August, marking its lowest point in 26 months and indicating that business conditions are continuing to deteriorate, dropping sharply from a record high announced in January this year.

Commenting on the PMI, Markit chief economist Chris Williamson warned: "Manufacturers are likely to cut production further in coming months to allow inventories to fall again."

PricewaterhouseCoopers recently issued advice to companies in the sector to enhance the operations management of their supply chains in order to safeguard them against the effects of the global economic downturn and disasters such as the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March.

UK government urged to support manufacturing

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:29:00 GMT

The government in Britain should provide greater support for the manufacturing industry, in a similar way to that seen in Germany, one industry leader has declared.

In an interview with the Financial Times, chairman and owner of JCB Sir Anthony Bamford stated the UK should emulate the European nation by committing more strongly to the sector and ensuring banks provide finance to such companies.

He noted: "There are four or five main banks in Britain, while there are a few hundred [including local savings and co-operative banks] in Germany."

In comments that may be of interest to operations management professionals, Sir Anthony told the news source that this system allows for greater lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and would enable the government to refocus and rebalance the economy away from financial services.

The expert advocated businesses follow his company's pattern and remain private in order to generate long-term sustainable growth and investment.

Figures from Markit and the CIPS for July showed a contraction of the manufacturing industry over the month from June for the first time in two years, as domestic demand for products weakened.

A&E quality data could inform operations management

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:10:00 GMT

Operations management professionals working in the NHS could employ new quality statistics for accident and emergency (A&E) departments in order to enhance their strategies.

The A&E data are the first of their kind to be released by the Department for Health and are intended to improve the transparency of services by using eight clinical quality indicators developed by senior clinicians.

Rather than a single standard based on the time in which patients are seen, A&E performance is now rated against a series of measures that include the number of people leaving hospitals without being seen, those who have to attend again within a week and initial assessment times.

"The figures published today will help the NHS drive up the standards of care, improve patients' experience and shine a light on where A&Es can improve," Mr Lansley declared.

Figures relating to MRSA cases were recently improved by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nottinghamshire, which reported that it had seen a total of 500 consecutive days without a case occurring as a result of continuous improvement efforts.

IOM Members make the grade for the 20th Best Factory Awards

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Coopervision and ConvaTec Ltd on making it through to the finals of the Best Factory Awards (BFA) recently announced by Cranfield School of Management. Both organisations employ a number of individual IOM members and have made use of the IOM’s Lean workshop programme to improve their internal processes. Well done and good luck for the finals.

The award programme celebrates manufacturing excellence in the UK and is run by Cranfield School of Management in partnership with the magazine Works Management.

Among the contenders for the coveted overall prize of BFA Factory of the Year are plants that produce goods as diverse as soft contact lenses and scanning electron microscopes.

Dr Marek Szwejczewski, Director of the Best Factory Awards commented: “Now in its 20th year, the finalists in this year’s Best Factory Awards show how a dedicated approach to continuous improvement and innovation can deliver superior results. Those shortlisted are manufacturers that are experiencing high profits and growth, with many exporting a high proportion of what they produce. Key to all of their success is a continued investment in their workforce which is so critical in the current climate.”

This year 14 plants have been shortlisted:

Aimia Foods, Haydock, St Helens - The plant operates extensive co-packing and outsourcing facilities for the vending and food service industries and is an independent specialist in hot and cold drinks.
Arla Foods, Lockerbie - Producers of bottled milk for supermarkets.
Barfoots of Botley Ltd, Pagham, West Sussex - Suppliers of sweet corn cobs to supermarkets and restaurants.
Camfil Farr, Haslingden, Lancashire - Producers of air filters for industrial and medical application.
Carefusion, Basingstoke, Hampshire - Assemble and test infusion pumps for use in hospitals.
Carl Zeiss NTS Ltd, Cambridge – Manufacturers of scanning electron microscopes.
ConvaTec Ltd, Deeside, Flintshire – Manufacturers of ostomy products and dressings for wounds and burns.
CooperVision, Southampton – Manufacturers of soft contact lenses.
Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems Ltd, Broadstairs, Kent – Producers of printing inks for digital printers.
Gurit Ltd, Newport, Isle of Wight – Providers of composite materials for marine and wind energy industries.
H.C. Starck Ltd, Calne, Wiltshire - Manufacturers of molybdenum semiconductor components used as carriers and contact plates for silicon wafers in thyristors, transistors and diodes.
LDS Test & Measurement Ltd, Royston, Hertfordshire – Producers of vibration test equipment for aerospace, automotive, defence and general industries.
Parker Hannifin Ltd, Birtley, Durham - Manufacturers of process filtration products.
Robert Bion & Co Ltd, Reading, Berkshire – Suppliers of metal and plastic perforated sheets.

The winners will be announced at the BFA Awards Ceremony taking place on 30th September at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London.

Manufacturing firms urged to protect supply chains

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:32:00 GMT

Businesses in the manufacturing sector need to step up their operations management to protect their supply chains from financial uncertainty, one accounting firm has warned.

According to PwC, global supply chains have been put at risk by recent events such as the economic downturn and Japanese earthquake.

A new report from the company, titled Achieving excellence in production and supply, concluded businesses should look to retain talented workers, improve partnerships with their suppliers and customers, address risks to their supply chain and maximise lifecycle opportunities.

Head of the global industrial manufacturing group at PwC Barry Misthal noted the manufacturing industry has endured a "rollercoaster ride".

"With the current volatility of geopolitical, economic and financial markets, businesses need to research their risk areas and mitigate where they can in areas such as lifecycles, demand planning and skill shortages," he remarked.

Optimism among manufacturers has declined over the last quarter, with research by KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealing it now stands at plus 11 points, down from plus 32 three months previously.

Continuous improvement efforts see council improve fuel control

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 16:57:00 GMT

A local authority's continuous improvement policies have seen it implement new systems for fuel management.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council upgraded its Davyfield Road depot - a resource used by several departments - by installing new tanks and a fuel gauging system.

Faryad Hussain, executive member for environmental improvement and sustainability, explained reports will be produced that can aid in strategic planning, ultimately helping meet the authority's goals for carbon reduction.

"We are constantly striving to improve the efficiency of operations and reduce cost," he said.

The decision to upgrade the system, which has been supplied by Fueltek, was driven by concerns about the cost of fuel, environmental protection and carbon emissions, among other factors.

Earlier this month, the council announced it is selling off several pieces of equipment - such as skips, woodwork machinery and snow chains - in an effort to clear space and raise money to reinvest in services.

Manufacturers expect production growth, survey shows

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:17:00 GMT

Manufacturers' expectations of output growth are improving despite the volatility of the market, research has shown.

A balance of 13 per cent of firms surveyed by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) predicted production would rise over the next quarter - seven percentage points higher than the long-term average.

However, Richard Woolhouse, head of fiscal policy at the CBI, noted the sentiment is not as strong as it was earlier in the year.

"The risks to manufacturing activity and business confidence have, if anything, increased, due to market volatility and the recalibration of growth expectations worldwide," he said.

An easing of inflationary pressure was one of the factors cited as contributing to improved expectations, with fewer firms predicting a need to increase their prices.

However, research by KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development earlier this month revealed confidence among manufacturers had fallen, with hiring intentions reflecting this.

Material price increases could prompt operations management solutions

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:46:00 GMT

Companies are turning to new strategies in order to counteract the effects on their businesses of rising material costs.

This is the claim made by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation and RBS in a new report, which reveals volatile prices are prompting "radical solutions" among businesses.

As inflation climbs for manufacturers, some may turn to operations management and lean techniques in order to ensure their pricing remains competitive, as the study pointed out that almost half of businesses have redesigned products or processes as input costs climb.

In addition, it discovered that cheaper alternatives are being substituted for some materials and many companies have sourced different suppliers in order to cut spending.

"Whilst most attention is focused on the inflationary aspects of these costs, the flipside is another story of the extent to which companies are finding innovative solutions to deal with them," EEF chief economist Lee Hopley stated.

Ms Hopley recently remarked that trading conditions for the manufacturing industry are likely to become more challenging over the coming months, as domestic demand remains weak.

Measurement and mentoring ''key to operations management''

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:18:00 GMT

The importance of measuring the impact of lean maintenance policies has been highlighted in a new report, which examines common mistakes made in this area.

According to Industry Week, a lack of corporate coaches and mentors in the field can also hamper such operations management efforts, as can failing to ensure all employees are on board with the exercise.

In the article by Advanced Technology Services director Mike Fitzgerald, he stated that choosing the wrong project to start with and failure to invest in resources such as training, materials and administrative support are also common ways in which projects fail.

Mr Fitzgerald explained that those manufacturers implementing lean concepts can take "months if not years" before they realise that maintenance issues are restricting their effectiveness.

"It's not uncommon for companies to jump into the lean philosophy, yet not understand how far it will reach into the organization," he declared.

Lean is the process of improving the efficiency of processes in order to minimise waste.

Local authority wins health and safety praise for continuous improvement

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:46:00 GMT

Continuous improvement has led to a local authority winning a second accolade for health and safety.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recognised South Derbyshire District Council with a gold award in May and has now given it the Best New Entry title for 2011.

A total of 180 entrants were narrowed down to five and judges were impressed with the authority's health and safety management systems, accident records and workforce involvement - making it the unanimous choice from the shortlist.

The prize is to be presented next month and awards manager at RoSPA David Rawlins stated: "Organisations that have demonstrated their commitment to continuous improvement in accident and ill health prevention deserve recognition."

Earlier this month, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nottinghamshire noted continuous improvement policies had helped reduce cases of MRSA, having reached a landmark of 500 days without any cases of the infection.

Manufacturing sector witnesses dip in employer confidence

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:24:00 GMT

Those working in operations management are advised a new survey indicates confidence among employers in the industry has fallen.

Individuals with an APICS qualification could see their roles become more challenging after KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development revealed hiring intentions over the coming months look more muted than they have been during the past year.

A survey of more than 1,000 employers by the organisations revealed employment recovery within the sector is likely to slow, as optimism among manufacturers has declined from plus 32 three months ago to plus 11.

According to the quarterly Labour Market Outlook, there are significant differences emerging within the various regions of the country, with confidence relatively high in the south of England compared with the north.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics showed that there was a year-on-year increase in manufacturing output in June 2011 of 2.1 per cent, but activity in the sector dipped by 0.4 per cent from May.

Lean techniques adopted by Bolton hospital

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:35:00 GMT

Executives at the Royal Bolton Hospital have been looking at lean manufacturing techniques used by the carmaking industry in order to enhance operations management at the facility.

According to the Bolton News, the institution has delivered savings of over £8 million and boosted patient care by adopting methodologies employed by Japanese and Korean automotive companies.

Each process at the hospital was analysed in order to assess ways in which it could be enhanced in a process of continuous improvement that has paid dividends and made it one of the leading medical centres in global efforts to reduce waste.

The Bolton Improving Care System was established in 2006 and head of lean transformation Joyce Furnival told the news source that over the past two years alone, more than £3.8 million of savings have been made.

She added: "This is not about money though, it is about improving care and we are patient-centred."

The success of the Bolton programme could prompt people to take an APICS qualification, as could a recent report that Nottingham's Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has used continuous improvement strategies to push down cases of MRSA.

Operations management prize awarded to Leyland Trucks

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:27:00 GMT

Manufacturer Leyland Trucks has been named as the recipient of the Shingo Bronze Medallion.

The company was given the prize in honour of its efforts to create a culture of continuous improvement by the Jon M Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

Named after Dr Shigeo Shingo, a Japanese industrial engineer, it recognises operational excellence in the manufacturing industry and has been described as "the Nobel prize" of the sector by BusinessWeek.

"This is an outstanding achievement for Leyland Trucks who are only the third UK company to be recognised with the global Shingo award," chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute Julie Madigan stated, adding that it reflects the dedication to quality of the firm's employees.

A division of PACCAR, Leyland Trucks will receive the honour at the 24th Annual Shingo Prize Awards Gala in May next year.

Previous UK recipients of the Shingo Bronze Medallion were Lancashire-based companies BAE Systems and Ultraframe UK.

Operations management prize awarded to Leyland Trucks

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:27:00 GMT

CILT(UK) Board of Directors and Trustees Elections 2011

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

In parallel with the proposal to introduce better governance nominations are sought from Members interested in standing for election for five Director and Trustee vacancies.

The process requires candidates to provide a short manifesto which will be published in September 2011. In addition to the written manifesto, candidates have the option to record a short video version. This should be emailed to secretary@ciltuk.org.uk by 2nd September 2011.

Eligible Members are invited to offer themselves as candidates for election by submitting a completed nomination form.

For more information regarding the election process, please visit the member’s area.

NHS trust employs continuous improvement to tackle MRSA

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:08:00 GMT

Continuous improvement policies have been implemented at a health organisation in the Midlands in order to drive down cases of MRSA.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Nottinghamshire has revealed that its efforts against the superbug have resulted in a total of 500 consecutive days without a single case of the hospital-acquired infection.

Procedures in place include strict hand hygiene measures, protocols to mimimise cross infection risks, admission screening and enhanced environmental cleaning standards.

The landmark without any cases of trust-acquired MRSA in hospital patients has been welcomed by chief executive Carolyn White, who remarked: "We are not complacent and will continue to prioritise efforts to continue to reduce the incidence of infections at our hospitals."

MRSA can prove dangerous if it gets into wounds or into an individual's bloodstream, with patients admitted at facilities operated by the trust swapped and screened for any signs of the bug and given eradication therapy if it is found on their skin.

Many NHS bodies are employing continuous improvement methods in infection prevention and control, including Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London.

June 2011 witnesses year-on-year manufacturing increase

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:22:00 GMT

The UK saw manufacturing output rise over the year to June 2011, official figures reveal.

Operations management professionals have learnt that the latest Index of Production from the Office for National Statistics shows a 0.3 per cent fall on a seasonally-adjusted basis during the 12 months.

However, the manufacturing measure for the period in question expanded by 2.1 per cent, the 17th such rise in a row.

A less optimistic picture of manufacturing output was revealed between May and June 2011, with activity declining by 0.4 per cent, pushed down by a drop in production of transport equipment and paper, printing and publishing and offset by growth in output of textiles, leather and clothing.

This is in line with the Purchasing Managers' Index for the sector from Markit and the CIPS, which fell between June and July 2011 to below the 50 mark signifying expansion to stand at 49.1, suggesting its first contraction in two years.

June 2011 witnesses year-on-year manufacturing increase

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:22:00 GMT

Health sector to adopt lean principles regarding medicine wastage

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:52:00 GMT

The UK's health sector is planning to adopt operations management principles with regard to medicine wastage in order to reduce spending.

An estimated £300 million lost annually throughout the NHS could be recovered by implementing lean techniques, according to the Department of Health.

There were more than 900 million prescription items dispensed in 2010 and the government is providing support to the health services to deliver efficiency savings between now and 2015 to ensure unnecessary wastage in this area is curbed.

Health minister Lord Howe, who announced the plans, stated: "By reducing medicine wastage the NHS will save money that can be spent in other areas of patient care."

Measures are also being put in place to ensure people take their medicines properly in order to reduce the more than £500 million wasted each year in this area.

Also in the NHS, proposals were recently announced for long-term care as part of efforts to roll out innovative new systems in this area across the health service.

Manufacturing activity rises in Scotland

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:49:00 GMT

The Scottish manufacturing industry has witnessed a rise in activity during July this year.

According to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) from Bank of Scotland and Markit, the pace of expansion over the month was "robust", with output growing at its fastest pace for three months.

In addition, operations management professionals are advised the nation also witnessed a rise in activity within the services sector, which has seen growth accelerate at a faster pace than manufacturing activity.

The report shows overall PMI rose from 53.3 in June to 53.5, although levels of new business were only marginally improved over the month in question and employment remained largely unchanged.

Bank of Scotland chief economist Donald MacRae remarked: "The results of this month’s PMI suggest a modest and muted recovery in the Scottish economy."

In related news, the CIPS and Markit PMI for the whole of the UK recently revealed that July saw a contraction in the manufacturing sector, with the measure falling to 49.1, its first decline below 50 for two years.

Continuous improvement strategy leads to freight standard award

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:02:00 GMT

Kintetsu World Express has recently achieved the ISO 9001 international management standard.

The freight company was praised particularly for its implementation of a continuous improvement strategy across its operations at a certification event, HGV Ireland reports.

Held by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, it saw John Valley of Kintetsu World Express collect the award from small business minister John Perry.

"Globally-recognised standards such as ISO provides you with instant credibility, they differentiate your products, services and business," Mr Perry noted.

At the event NSAI chief executive Maurice Buckley called on other businesses to adopt standards and gain certification in order to boost their commercial success.

Specialising in the transportation of goods on behalf of the medical devices, electronics and pharmaceuticals industries, Kintetsu World Express generates turnover of more than €15 million (£13 million) a year and operates two centres in Cork and Dublin.

Logistics firm Bibby Distribution recently credited continuous improvement initiatives with improving its growth over the past three years.

Accelerated increase in UK service sector activity

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:00:00 GMT

Activity in the UK service sector expanded at an accelerated rate during July this year, new figures indicate.

According to the latest Business Activity Index for the industry, new business volumes pushed up the measure to its highest rate in four months, climbing from 53.9 in June to 55.4, with any number above 50 suggestive of growth.

In addition, July 2011 also saw price indices dip and respondents reported improvements in demand and market conditions, with sharp gains recorded in the IT and computing and business services sectors.

However, there was a slight fall in employment within the service sector and fears over the future performance of the UK economy continued to dampen optimism.

Commenting on the figures, Markit senior economist Paul Smith stated: "A key question will be whether July’s above average increase in service sector activity can be sustained going forward."

The improvement in service sector output comes after the manufacturing industry contracted for the first time in two years during July.

NHS long-term care operations management plans unveiled

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:55:00 GMT

Long-term care proposals, part of efforts by the Department of Health to enhance operations management within the NHS, have been unveiled.

Under the plans, services for those people with long-term conditions could undergo continuous improvement by rolling out innovative work taking place across the organisation.

By adopting new systems nationwide, it is thought that the number of unnecessary trips to hospital and hospital bed days could be substantially reduced and the lives of more than 15 million patients improved.

They will include measures to lower the number of emergency episodes and could deliver frontline savings of £2.2 million, which would be reinvested in the NHS.

Commenting on the modernisation proposals, heath secretary Andrew Lansley said the new approach will enable clinicians to "take the lead locally in developing health services" and permit them to find new approaches to problems.

However, Labour's shadow health secretary John Healey recently cautioned that changes being made to NHS spending policies by the coalition government may increase the health gap between rich and poor areas of the country.

British manufacturing index contracts

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:44:00 GMT

The first contraction in the UK's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) in two years has been recorded.

Operations management specialists are advised that according to the latest PMI for the sector, the measure plummeted from 51.4 in June to 49.1 last month, with any figure below 50 indicative of negative expansion.

Following a slowdown in strong output growth seen earlier this year, Markit and the CIPS have now revealed there was a contraction in activity during July 2011.

The figures demonstrate that new orders fell as domestic demand weakened and job losses were seen for the first time since March last year.

Although exports continue to remain strong, rising for the tenth consecutive month, Markit senior economist Rob Dobson warned: "With austerity arriving at home and debt ills rising in the US and euro area, significant headwinds are on the horizon."

In addition, the Markit and JPMorgan Global Manufacturing PMI has indicated the second half of the year will see a cooling of production growth, with expansion easing and a decline in new orders during July 2011.

Free Manufacturing Breakfast Briefing

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Free Manufacturing Breakfast Briefing

Things are pretty tough in the manufacturing sector today, but what if you could make your business more profitable by improving what you already have with minimal investment?

IOM will help you to:
- Improve your processes and value streams
- Cut out waste
- Implement continuous improvement
- Improve supplier relationships
- Get more in and out of your warehouse
- Seamlessly integrate new products into your supply chain
- Reduce inventory and total operating costs by improving stock integrity
- Improve your bottom line

The Institute of Operations Management is a not for profit educational charity that helps members to streamline their business processes to improve profitability through training, access to industry intelligence and best practice, networking opportunities, qualifications and benchmarking.

Invest an hour of your time to find out how we can help your business to flourish

Meet your contemporaries from local manufacturers; and enjoy a free breakfast whilst learning what we can do to help your business improve.

RESERVE YOUR FREE PLACE NOW BY CLICKING HERE! – and feel free to bring a colleague!

Locations:

Glasgow - Tuesday 4th October. 08.00 - 09.00 (Registration 07.30)
Studley, Warwickshire – Wednesday 2nd November. 08.00 - 09.00 (Registration 07.30)
New Date - Cottingham, Leicestershire – Tuesday 22nd November. 08.00 – 09.00 (Registration 07.30)
New Date - Bristol - Tuesday 29th November. 08.00 - 09.00 (Registration 07.30)

UK manufacturers ''review business plans as confidence dips''

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:00:00 GMT

A dip in confidence among the UK's manufacturing companies has led to many reassessing their business plans.

This is the claim made by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in a new report on the sector, which suggests businesses are forecasting slower activity in the sector over the coming months.

According to the organisation, optimism among manufacturers dipped over the quarter to July for the first time in two years and investment plans have been scaled back by some firms as a result, operations management professionals may be interested to learn.

The three-month period saw a contraction of growth in total orders and production volumes, with minus 16 per cent of companies stating they were less optimistic than over the previous quarter.

Commenting on the figures, CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty stated: "How far the slowdown will be borne out is yet unclear, but the combination of political and economic uncertainty is sapping confidence."

The CBI Industrial Trends Survey is backed by recent statistics from the EEF indicating there was a dip in average pay settlements in manufacturing during the three months to June 2011.

Scottish services firms encouraged to employ continuous improvement

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:26:00 GMT

Companies operating in the Scottish services sector are being urged to enhance customer experiences ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, in addition to the Ryder Cup and other celebrations.

With the country set to host the international event, People 1st has launched a new campaign aimed at improving operations management within hospitality companies to ensure visitors attending the event enjoy it and have a warm welcome to Scotland.

According to the hospitality, passenger travel and tourism sector skills council, a poll of firms in the country found 64 per cent would like to boost their customer handling skills.

People 1st has won the backing of a number of Scottish companies and industry organisations and its head of Scotland David Allen said: "We need to ensure the visitor experience of Scotland is a very positive one and this will depend on how well we welcome and look after our guests."

Last month, a study by YouGov was published by People 1st showing that 73 per cent of respondents believe customer service in Britain needs to be improved ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Highways Agency aims to reward good operations management

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:26:00 GMT

The UK's Highways Agency has announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at recognising those suppliers that deliver more efficient services.

Companies that drive down costs for the organisation in the maintenance, improvement and operation of roads in England will be rewarded with a non-financial honour.

A deadline for entries of September 1st has been set, with the award intended to highlight those businesses demonstrating continuous improvement and good operations management.

"We hope the recognition scheme will encourage a more effective, professional, and diverse supply chain," said David Poole, director of procurement for the Highways Agency.

Small firms, joint ventures and larger organisations will be eligible for the annual supplier recognition scheme, with nominees divided into categories entitled supply chain management, health and safety, managing down cost/improving value, delivering sustainable value and solutions and building and sustaining capacity.

The Highways Agency is a Department for Transport executive body charged with management of the strategic road network.

Manufacturing management ''including services alongside products''

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:28:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry is adding services to products in order to make businesses more successful, it is claimed.

Professor Andy Neely, director of the Cambridge Service Alliance, explained that as part of continuous improvement strategies companies are looking at new ways of adding value for their customers.

The expert said in a Cambridge Judge Business School podcast that "servitisation" is a growing trend in the sector and a way of innovating to remain competitive, with services including maintenance support, consultancy, design, development and through-life maintenance.

"What we've seen in many developed economies is manufacturing firms saying they can't compete just by selling products," he stated, adding that organisations are looking to deliver a "total solution" to customers.

In addition to Mr Neely's comments, operations management specialists may also be interested in the fact that manufacturing is the latest focus of the government's Red Tape Challenge, which aims to reduce the level of regulation faced by UK businesses.

Higher apprenticeships may benefit operations management industry

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:25:00 GMT

Apprentices in operations management could account for some of 10,000 new placements in sectors including engineering, advanced manufacturing and IT starting from October this year.

Unveiled by the prime minister during a visit to the Midlands, the advanced and higher apprenticeships are intended to provide the UK with hi-tech skills, something that may create more operations management professionals.

David Cameron announced the plans as he met with trainees at Jaguar Land Rover's Gaydon headquarters, revealing that a £25 million Higher Apprenticeships Fund is being established to support the creation of places, which industry representatives will bid for a share of.

He stated: "We are investing in apprenticeships because we know they work - they are good for people who want to get ahead, good for business and good for the country."

JLR chief executive Dr Ralf Speth commented that the company works alongside schools and academic institutions in order to create engineers and technologists who will "shape the future of our business".

Lloydspharmacy unveils major new operations management scheme

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:26:00 GMT

A new operations management initiative has been unveiled by Lloydspharmacy in a bid to improve customer service.

The company claims that it wants to improve the experience those using its branches have and is giving training to 50 operational support managers and 1,500 supervisors during July, who will pass information gained onto store employees.

Two days of workshops have been planned for staff at the community pharmacy and healthcare provider this month, an exercise which Lloydspharmacy claims is the largest-ever scheme of this kind it has ever run.

Named +ONE, the programme is intended to push up standards across the company and the initial workshops will be followed by "train the trainer" sessions for operational support managers.

"Our staff are fantastic healthcare experts, but we need to ensure they have the skills to be fantastic retailers as well," Lloydspharmacy head of capability Barbara Sutherland explained.

A subsidiary of German group Celesio, the chain has a UK network of more than 1,650 pharmacies and employs in excess of 17,000 members of staff.

Government unveils plans for £1.5bn PFI savings

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:11:00 GMT

An estimated £1.5 billion or more could be generated across the UK's private finance initiative (PFI) contracts.

This is according to the Treasury, which has announced plans to enhance the efficiency of existing deals, something that may require operations management strategies.

The lean proposals were unveiled by Lord Sassoon, commercial secretary to the Treasury, who declared that they come after a series of pilot schemes across the country generated savings of around five per cent of total payments per year in areas such as making efficient use of space, managing contracts better, reducing waste and reviewing soft service requirements.

Savings made from PFI agreements will be "fully recycled back into frontline services" and provide value for money for taxpayers as part of a programme of reforms aimed at boosting the efficiency and transparency of contracts.

"We have identified every opportunity to find savings, tackling wasteful practice and gold plating in PFI contracts," Lord Sassoon remarked.

PFIs are the most common form of public private partnership, a means of delivering public services through infrastructure investment from private businesses.

UK manufacturing wage growth slows

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:21:00 GMT

Britons involved in manufacturing management are advised that pay settlements in the sector have reduced over the past couple of months, following data from one industry body.

According to EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, the average pay settlement for the quarter to the end of June was 2.5 per cent, coming after a period of gradual increases.

The body's research also found that close to 25 per cent of all settlements are below two per cent, while 12 per cent of settlements resulted in a pay freeze being agreed.

Commenting on the statistics, EEF chief economist Lee Hopley said: "Whilst there is undoubted pressure to give higher settlements, there is an equal dose of realism amongst companies and their employees in response to economic uncertainty and competitive pressures."

However, John Morris, chief executive of Jam Recruitment, added despite the data, employees are still asking for high wages because they know their skills are extremely valuable and worthy of an employer paying a premium.

The research comes after the European Commission revealed industrial production fell by 1.1 per cent in the UK in May, compared to April.

Company embraces education as part of continuous improvement

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:15:00 GMT

A major part of the continuous improvement strategy of a company in the US is education, it has been reported.

According to Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, KLH Industries has introduced measures to encourage employees to engage with training, such as partial tuition reimbursement.

The news source suggested the business operates a continuous education policy for all its workers, which enables them to develop their careers.

Members of staff are only provided with payments if they achieve satisfactory grades in their chosen courses in order to make the most of workforce development programmes and expand the organisation.

The continuous improvement measures have also included spending more than $300,000 on providing lean training across the firm.

"It seems like a hefty price tag at first, but we wanted to build a corporate culture around lean principals," Joe Mingari, KLH operations manager, stated.

KLH is a tool and manufacturing facility in Germantown, Wisconsin, which was established in 1987 and covers more than 35,000 sq ft, serving companies in a range of different sectors.

Operations management staff may want to contribute to Red Tape Challenge

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:55:00 GMT

The government's Red Tape Challenge turns to the manufacturing sector next week to seek feedback about which regulations should be retained and which scrapped.

Individuals, including operations management professionals, are being invited to submit responses to the consultation in a bid to reduce the administrative burden on companies in a range of sectors of the UK economy.

The production part of the Red Tape Challenge commences on July 21st 2011 and runs until August 11th, when the media and creative services sector will become the focus of the exercise.

According to the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), individuals in the sector should take advantage of the scheme.

"The Red Tape Challenge really is a rare opportunity for manufacturers to have their say on the regulations that affect them," MAS national network manager Neale Ryan said.

Gestamp business development and commercial manager Mark Potts added that while some rules should be maintained in order to promote best practice, others do not deliver "any obvious benefits" and should be removed.

Once the consultation ends, the government will have three months to examine legislation and decide which regulations will be retained and why.

Manufacturing management solution ''increases fan production''

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:05:00 GMT

A new system that provides better cost tracking has been implemented by Wanavit Manufacturing and has boosted production by at least 30 per cent.

The Infor's SyteLine 8 Enterprise Resource Planning software was employed in order to enhance quality control throughout the process of making Hatari electric fans, according to Works Management.

Vittaya Thanyasrisung, the firm's IT consultant, explained the solution had provided real-time planning and flexibility enhancements that highlighted "hidden costs" incurred in areas such as maintenance.

The engineering department has worked with manufacturing management and IT experts to eliminate this additional expenditure in order to reduce waste, cut spending and speed up processes.

In addition to costs and staff overtime being driven down, greater control has been achieved over production processes and the quality of items made has improved, assisted by the decision by the company to customise the application to suit its needs.

Dixons recently announced that effective operations management had assisted the firm in weathering the economic downturn and improving its profit margins.

Good Morning – IOM Manufactures….. Breakfast!

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is hosting a series of breakfast briefings designed to demonstrate some of the benefits and facilities available from the IOM to operations management professionals and to highlight the benefits of becoming either individual or corporate members of the Institute. The events will be held at Cottingham in Leicestershire, Bristol, Glasgow and Studley in Warwickshire.

The free of charge Manufacturing Breakfast Briefings are being held over the next few months and provide the opportunity for networking, establishing new contacts and comparing notes with fellow professionals engaged in operations management and manufacturing.

Membership of the IOM provides continuous benefits throughout any career by giving access to knowledge and information, together with professional development including training, qualifications, events, networking, careers service, information services and the specialist range of support and assistance available from the principal UK professional society for operations management professionals.

IOM Manager Leonie Edwards says: ‘These breakfast briefings are designed to introduce details of our services and facilities to operations management professionals and, at the same time, give them the opportunity to meet and engage with fellow professionals interested and working in the manufacturing industry.

‘We hope that attendees will gain the joint benefits of enjoying a good breakfast followed by a lifetime of professional support from the IOM!’

Part of the presentation will be an insight into the library and information facilities available. IOM’s Peter Huggins says: ‘The IOM Knowledge Centre houses one of the largest specialist and comprehensive sources of logistics, supply chain and operational management information in the world. By combining traditional and online resources The Knowledge Centre gives the most effective and efficient routes to the information that members need.’

Daryl Chesney, IOM Business Development Manager, will explain the benefits of Corporate Membership of the Institute. He says: ‘Corporate membership provides a one-stop shop for benchmarking, networking, delivering public relations seminars, and access to potent market intelligence.’

The events will all begin with breakfast at 7.30 for an 8.00 start and will finish at 9.00. They will take place at:

Glasgow - Tuesday 4th October. 08.00 - 09.00 (Registration 07.30)
Studley, Warwickshire – Wednesday 2nd November. 08.00 - 09.00 (Registration 07.30)
New Date - Cottingham, Leicestershire – Tuesday 22nd November. 08.00 – 09.00 (Registration 07.30)
New Date - Bristol - Tuesday 29th November. 08.00 - 09.00 (Registration 07.30)

IOM personnel attending the events will include Manager Leonie Edwards, Peter Huggins and Lynn Mentiply from The Knowledge Centre, Sarah Skinns, Professional Development and Daryl Chesney, Corporate Membership.

To secure your free place at any of these events please click here to register your place.

Customer service ''should be key factor in operations management''

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:39:00 GMT

Customer service can lead to consumers in the UK walking out of businesses, while good treatment of them can lead to purchases.

According to new research by American Express, 78 per cent of respondents stated they had chosen not to buy something because of poor attitudes from staff.

Those involved with continuous improvement practices in the services sector may also be interested in the finding that 20 per cent of individuals would be prepared to pay more for good customer service.

Operations management practices in such businesses, therefore, could include provisions to enhance factors relating to the treatment of consumers, as 30 per cent of respondents to the survey felt firms take their business for granted.

In addition, the Customer Services Barometer found just two per cent of those questioned felt companies exceeded their expectations in this area.

"At a time when household finances remain tight, consumers are looking for organisations that go the extra mile," American Express World Service senior vice-president Ian Lundberg advised.

The most recent Purchasing Managers' Index from Markit and the CIPS indicated that the services sector in the UK saw activity levels rise by 0.1 points to 53.9, indicative of continuing growth in the industry.

Customer service ''should be key factor in operations management''

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:39:00 GMT

UK manufacturing confidence indicative of improving fortunes

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:04:00 GMT

Confidence levels among manufacturers in the UK are below levels seen during the period from April to December 2010, but showed signs of rallying recently, a report claims.

The study by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) warns that optimism among producers about their future performance climbed between the first and second quarters of 2011, but remained lower year-on-year.

Manufacturing management professionals are advised that April to June 2011 saw a 12 point jump in turnover confidence to plus 40 per cent and a 12 point climb in profitability expectations to plus 22 per cent.

However, the organisation's director general David Frost warned: "We do not export enough goods and services, meaning we run up continual trade deficits."

According to the body, the UK economy needs to be rebalanced towards the private sector and problems relating to cashflow for firms should be addressed.

The BCC recently revealed that the UK's producer price index for both output and input increased during June this year, with growth accelerating over the month.

Operations management improvements ''assist Dixons recovery''

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:53:00 GMT

In the wake of the recession, electrical chain Dixons Retail has improved its fortunes through a series of logistics and operations management improvements.

This is according to the business's chief executive John Browett, who explained to the Telegraph that he has managed to ensure the group's underlying pre-tax profits have held steady despite the economic climate as a result of an ambitious turnaround programme.

Head of the firm, which owns brands such as Currys and PC World, he stated that he has employed measures including closing some stores, amalgamating some stores into megashops, enhancing product ranges and investing in staff training.

In an interview with the newspaper, Mr Browett explained: "What really drives me is if I can see I can make a difference and I saw that I could do something different with Dixons."

Having joined the company from Tesco as the recession commenced in 2007, he said that enhancing quality of service has been key to the revival during the economic slowdown and he remains positive about the future.

This is in spite of a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers and Local Data Company indicating retailers in the UK have been shutting stores at an average of 20 per day during 2011.

Manufacturing output increases during May 2011

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:43:00 GMT

The UK saw a rise in the manufacturing index of production during May 2011, new figures show.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the measure was 2.8 per cent higher year-on-year than the same time in 2010.

This was despite a 0.8 per cent decline in the overall seasonally-adjusted index of production and indicates that manufacturing management professionals may see increased activity over the coming months.

Between April and May this year, manufacturing production climbed by 1.8 per cent, driven upwards by companies specialising in machinery and equipment which saw a 3.8 per cent surge in activity.

In addition, businesses in the field reported a revival of sales volumes following a dip in April and those organisations concerned with other manufacturing boosted output by 7.2 per cent in May 2011.

The ONS data was released as the Scottish government revealed that manufactured exports from the nation rose at the highest quarter-on-quarter rate since the three months to June 2007, climbing by 3.9 per cent over the period in question.

Annual General Meeting

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK - CILT(UK). Members and Fellows of the IOM are voting members of CILT(UK).

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Institute Members, is to be held at 13.00 on Wednesday 3rd August 2011 at The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northants, NN17 4AX, to conduct the following as ordinary business:

• To consider and if thought fit adopt the accounts for the year ended 30th September 2010 and the reports of the directors and auditors
• To reappoint Mazars LLP auditors and to authorise the directors to agree their remuneration

Dated 1st July 2011

By Order of the Board

Richard Ebbage, Company Secretary

Voting for this event is now closed

Alternatively, for details, tel: 01536 740100. Fax: 01536 740101.
Email: 2011AGM@ciltuk.org.uk
Note. All forms of written correspondence should be headed ‘2011 AGM'.

UK services sector sees activity stablise in June 2011

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:05:00 GMT

Activity levels in the UK's services sector remained steady in June this year, compared with the previous month.

According to the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector, it performed better than anticipated during the period in question.

The PMI for June 2011 climbed by 0.1 points to 53.9, with the measure demonstrating that growth remains stable as any figure above 50 is representative of expansion.

Although the figure is below trend for the industry, firms continued to report increases in new orders.

However, the study by the CIPS and Markit showed there was a dip in business confidence and very little job creation over the month, indicating the coming months could prove hard for those in operations management.

"Companies kept headcounts largely unchanged, highlighting a reluctance to expand workforces as a result of the uncertain outlook and renewed weakness of the manufacturing and household sectors," cautioned Markit chief economist Chris Williamson.

Those hoping to generate continuous improvement within their services sector operations may be interested to learn that a recent study by YouGov suggested 73 per cent of Brits believe customer service standards need to be improved ahead of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Frontline staff ''to become part of NHS continuous improvement efforts''

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:47:00 GMT

The health secretary has said that NHS staff will be able to improve their leadership skills in a push to achieve continuous improvement at the service.

Speaking to mark the 63rd anniversary of the NHS on Tuesday (July 5th), Andrew Lansley announced that a new national Leadership Academy will be developed to help frontline staff get involved in operations management.

He suggested that trials in Cambridgeshire have already seen diabetes patients receive better care by allowing those who treat them to gain the management skills to run their own departments.

"By establishing the Leadership Academy today I want to help all doctors and nurses develop the leadership skills they need to drive a truly world-class NHS," Mr Lansley added.

The Department of Health recently reported that at the end of May 97.3 per cent of NHS patients had waited under six weeks to be treated, although this was down from 97.5 per cent in the previous month.

Automotive operations management processes ''could help other manufacturers''

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 10:53:00 GMT

Companies looking for ways to achieve lean manufacturing in their production processes could look to automotive firms.

That is according to emergency logistics specialist Evolution Time Critical, which indicated that it is being contacted by businesses from different sectors looking to improve their operations management.

Managing director Brad Brennan stated that auto manufacturers have honed their processes over the past century, using techniques to save time and money through the supply chain, which has meant that cars have not risen in cost in real terms in the past 20 years, despite technological developments.

"This is partly due to the maturity of the industry and partly driven by the demand from clients for increasingly sophisticated vehicles without increasing the cost," Mr Brennan explained.

The Ernst & Young ITEM Club recently said that manufacturing management may be an issue for companies as the Purchase Manufacturing Index drops, raising concerns over the sustainability of the economic recovery.

Strong demand for UK engineering and manufacturing workers

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:09:00 GMT

Manufacturing and engineering workers in the UK are in particularly high demand, it has been claimed.

Research by recruiter Reed indicated compared with an overall figure of 125, positions for engineers stood at 181 during June 2011, according to Engineering Apprentice.

In addition, levels of demand for people to fill opportunities in the manufacturing industry climbed to 155 for the month, ahead of a December 2009 baseline of 100.

The Reed Engineering Job Index stood at its highest level since its launch 18 months ago in June and Reed.co.uk managing director Martin Warnes remarked: "Clearly skilled, technically-qualified professionals are top of employer wish lists at the moment."

Completing an APICS qualification could help individuals secure one of a growing number of roles in the industry, as companies increasingly turn to operations management to streamline their processes following the downturn.

The strong Reed jobs figures come after the Markit and CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index for June 2011 was published at 51.3, indicative of growth. However, the pace of expansion slowed month-on-month from 52.

Decline noted in UK manufacturing growth

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:10:00 GMT

The pace of expansion of the UK's manufacturing industry slowed during June 2011, new figures show.

According to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the sector, activity dipped over the month to a 21-month low.

Operations management professionals are also advised that the measures showed there were contractions in new orders and the pace of employment growth alongside the dip in overall PMI from a revised 52 in May to 51.3 in June.

However, with any figure above 50 representative of an increasing market, manufacturing activity continues to rise, although it is falling back from highs reached at the start of 2011 as a result of slowing overseas business.

Production growth in June may have been bolstered by activity prompted by new product launches, fewer bank holidays and companies clearing backlogs of work.

Commenting on the data, senior economist at Markit Rob Dobson said: "It looks as if manufacturing has entered a slower growth phase which could be with us for some time."

The figures from Markit and the CIPS come after research from GE indicated that high-tech manufacturers are currently cautious about investing in the expansion of their operations.

Operations management may have assisted with improved NHS care

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:58:00 GMT

Patient care across the NHS showed continuous improvement during the three months from January to March 2011, it has been announced.

Operations management strategies may have contributed towards the enhanced levels of services provided during the fourth quarter of the organisation's year, as the body prepares for new government reforms.

"I believe modernisation of the NHS will both safeguard the future of our health service and ensure it is more efficient and more accountable," health secretary Andrew Lansley commented.

According to the report from the Department for Health, the NHS maintained levels of quality across 20 out of the 21 areas assessed, including performance of seeing individuals who have suffered mini-strokes, breast and bowel cancer screening rates and breaches of same sex accommodation.

Waiting times during the first three months of the year remained steady at 7.9 weeks for patients admitted after referral to treatment and 3.7 weeks for those who were not.

Further progress was identified as being needed in ensuring under-18s are not admitted to adult psychiatric wards.

In related news, Mr Lansley has announced funding totalling almost £1 million to assist with the development of Health and Wellbeing Boards to ensure services respond to local need.

UK government ''needs to back knowledge economy''

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 12:45:00 GMT

More assistance needs to be given by the government to the UK's knowledge economy, it has been claimed.

According to The Work Foundation, the sector is best placed to provide balanced growth and generate employment as the economy recovers from the global financial crisis and subsequent recession.

The body outlined its plans to create stability and prosperity in the UK by 2020 and called for a "coherent approach to the knowledge economy" that drives forward lasting growth.

Commenting on the plans, lead author Charles Levy explained: "If we are to avoid another financial crisis, the UK must eschew debt-fuelled growth and back that part of the economy which is driven by expertise and new ideas."

The Work Foundation has welcomed initiatives such as the government's Technology and Innovation Centres, but wants to see more schemes to boost skills and create local conditions that will enable high-growth businesses to be successful.

Operations management specialists are also advised that The Work Foundation stressed the importance last month of the government focusing on supporting the business services sector as well as manufacturing, as the former has overtaken the latter as the "mainstay" of the UK's economy.

Major changes to NHS ''pose operations management challenge''

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:22:00 GMT

The NHS is set to undergo substantial changes, with preserving staff productivity identified in a new report as one of the major challenges while this shift takes place.

Individuals concerned with continuous improvement within the health service are advised that a study by Right Management discovered professionals in the sector are also concerned about skills shortages in the future.

The Change in the NHS Survey questioned 190 GPs and 155 foundation trust managers, finding that there is a worry that the reforms will be difficult to implement if the workforce is not equipped to carry them out.

A total of 82 per cent of respondents said productivity would be difficult to maintain during periods of change, while 84 per cent identified maintaining service standards as the leading challenge.

"For the NHS, it means keeping a workforce of 1.3 million in England and Wales onboard and engaged with the prospect of reform," Right Management managing director Jayne Carrington explained.

Government plans for the future of the health service include placing patients at its heart, with recent policies announced to safeguard against price competition and privatisation.

Potential public sector strikes could affect operations management

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:39:00 GMT

Strikes may affect the public sector this summer as unions consider walkouts over pay and pensions.

The government is facing resistance to its plans to change retirement arrangements for millions of people.

A first one-day strike is planned for Thursday (June 30th) and ministers are holding talks with public sector employees in a bid to avert walkouts.

Prime minister David Cameron is due to address the Local Government Association conference later today and will call on workers to continue with negotiations rather than taking industrial action.

As many as 750,000 employees, including schoolteachers, are due to walk out on Thursday and talks have so far failed to reach a compromise.

Those concerned with continuous improvement in the public sector are advised that Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail said there remained a "major gap" between the administration and unions in key areas, but insisted that employees' representatives "continue to negotiate in good faith".

UK manufacturers ''remain cautious about investment''

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Despite recent growth in the UK economy and the manufacturing sector in particular, many companies in the field are cautious about expanding their operations.

This is according to a six-monthly survey from GE, which suggested high-tech businesses are not yet ready to invest in their businesses.

However, the research indicated 29 per cent of respondents' organisations are now operating at close to or full capacity, but almost half (46 per cent) currently have no plans to increase their capabilities.

Mark Elborne, chief executive of GE UK, explained that firms in the industry "see great opportunities in international markets and growth sectors such as green technologies but have to be careful about these decisions because there is still a backdrop of general economic uncertainty".

The High-Tech Manufacturing Index revealed confidence among firms regarding the future remains high and the measure grew from plus 68 in December to plus 71 in June 2011.

GE warned earlier this month that the UK is facing engineering skills shortages in the future unless more is done to encourage and support people to train in the profession.

Better operations management ''boosts gross margins for Dixons Retail''

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:34:00 GMT

Good operations management has helped Dixons Retail to enhance its profit margins, the company has announced.

Introducing a leaner operating model, the company claimed, has helped to reduce costs in the UK and Ireland, generating savings of £50 million over the past year, with a further £50 million anticipated in the coming three years.

Publishing its full-year financial results for the 12 months to April 2011, the group, which owns the PC World and Currys brands, has stated its gross profit margins were greater because of effective manufacturing management strategies.

"We are consistently outperforming our markets and gaining share because our Renewal and Transformation Plan continues to deliver a better and more compelling experience for customers," said John Browett, Dixons Retail chief executive.

The electrical retailer reported underlying profit before tax of £85.3 million for the year, despite "challenging market conditions".

Dixons Retail has 1,200 stores, in addition to online operations, covering 28 countries, including brands such as Currys, Electro World, PC World, KnowHow and PIXMania.com.

Confidence grows among UK manufacturing firms

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:05:00 GMT

Optimism about the future of UK industry has increased among manufacturing companies.

Operations management professionals may be particularly interested in The Hazard Warning Report for the sector, showing 78 per cent of such businesses are more confident about prospects for the industry.

According to the study by Zurich Insurance, optimism has risen in the past 12 months, with emerging economies such as China and India helping to drive forward growth as domestic demand remains sluggish.

In addition, the report noted access to credit is not constraining firms as much has been reported and mid-market manufacturers are performing strongly.

Economic uncertainty continues to pose a problem for those in manufacturing management, in addition to the need to enter emerging regions, supply chain issues and problems attracting skilled workers.

"The findings show that manufacturers have a cautious optimism about the year ahead, that they are excited to break into new markets," commented Zurich Insurance European middle market network leader Steve Green.

Recent figures from Eurostat revealed there was a 0.2 per cent increase in industrial new orders across the European Union during April 2011 compared with the previous month.

Government outlines new NHS modernisation plans

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:24:00 GMT

Further plans have been released by the government as part of efforts to modernise the NHS.

Under the latest proposals from the Department for Health, patients are intended to be placed "at the heart" of the service, with new safeguards planned to protect against privatisation and price competition.

Part of a continuous improvement strategy for the organisation, the proposals are outlined in a new report and include pledges to provide patients and members of the public with a stronger voice, give local authorities a greater say over the NHS and focus on the causes of health complaints as well as treatments.

Issuing the full response to a report on the issue by the NHS Future Forum, the government insisted service users will be placed at the heart of the healthcare organisation and its decision making processes.

"I believe the revised plans we set out today will both safeguard the future of our NHS and ensure it is more efficient and more accountable," health secretary Andrew Lansley declared.

The government has accepted the main recommendations from the independent NHS Future Forum as part of its plans for the health service.

Sustainable policies could improve operations management

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:55:00 GMT

Small businesses could benefit from implementing environmentally-friendly technologies in their operations management strategies.

That is according to Dominic Wood, programme coordinator for sustainable living charity Groundwork, who suggested companies could save money by making their operations greener.

He suggested that outgoings could be reduced on energy bills, raw materials and processing, as well as lowering the amount of waste, while eco-friendly businesses are more likely to avoid penalties for breaching environmental legislation.

"The green pound is growing year-on-year as consumers vote with their feet and demand more sustainability from the products they buy and the companies that produce them," Mr Wood explained.

He added that clients may be more likely to use businesses with green credentials over those not making changes to their operations.

Energy secretary Chris Huhne recently suggested there needs to be more regulation where the environment is concerned and boosting the economy should not interfere with green legislation.

Britons ''want customer service improvements by 2012''

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:45:00 GMT

A majority of Britons (73 per cent) feel that customer service in the UK needs to improve before the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games take place in London.

This is the finding of a new study by YouGov, which indicated operations management across the services sector needs to improve ahead of the international sporting event in order to ensure visitors enjoy the nation's cultural and historical attractions.

Carried out for sector skills council People 1st, the poll highlighted the need for continuous improvement in this area, with 14 per cent of respondents viewing hospitality as the most important aspect to ensure international visitors enjoy their trip to the UK.

"The overwhelming recognition from the British public is that we need to get better at customer service," People 1st director Sharon Glancy remarked.

A further 2.3 million tickets are due to be made available by the London 2012 Organising Committee as part of the second round of sales for the event next summer.

Government plan ''could deter UK manufacturers''

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:19:00 GMT

The government has been warned that plans to introduce carbon dioxide pricing in an effort to force businesses to be more energy efficient could inadvertently damage the British manufacturing sector.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Richard Longden - a spokesman for chemical firm Ineos - revealed that senior figures at the company had written to chancellor George Osborne to advise him of "grave consequences" if the levies come into effect.

"If implemented, carbon price support is unlikely to have the desired environmental impact it is set out to achieve," he told the news agency. "Manufacturing is more likely to move outside of the UK."

Mr Longden added that businesses with energy-intensive production methods would be most likely to seek a move abroad and claimed the British sector could be left at a competitive disadvantage.

His remarks came after figures from Eurostat revealed a 0.2 per cent increase in eurozone manufacturing output in April.

European production climbs in April 2011

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:16:00 GMT

There was a 0.1 per cent rise in industrial production within the European Union (EU) during April 2011, new data show.

According to figures published by Eurostat, the eurozone also saw a month-on-month climb in output of 0.2 per cent over the period.

The EU statistical office noted that this followed a dip of 0.2 per cent in industrial production across the 27 member states in March.

Year-on-year, activity was 4.7 per cent higher across the region as a whole and expanded by 5.2 per cent within those nations that have adopted the euro.

Production of durable and non-durable and capital goods all climbed from March, but output of intermediate goods dropped across the EU and production of energy was also down.

However, those considering taking operations training courses are advised the statistics showed a 1.6 per cent decline in UK industrial production during the month.

Monster Europe recently reported significant jobs gains in the European manufacturing sector over the past few months, although the UK's service-based economy was found to be lagging behind many other states.

Government makes changes to NHS operations plans

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:13:00 GMT

Plans for the reform of the health service in England have been revised by the government following a report on the issue.

The main recommendations made by the NHS Future Forum have been accepted by ministers and proposals for changes to the current system are being altered in order to accommodate them.

Individuals concerned with continuous improvement within the health service may be interested to note that joined up services will be promoted and patients will be provided with greater choice and information under the new plans.

Changes being made as a result of advice from the independent group, which is made up of health experts, include greater involvement for specialists in clinical commissioning groups, stronger controls to protect patients' interests and greater safeguards against privatisation.

In a recent speech, prime minister David Cameron stated that suggestions made during a consultation on NHS reform have been listened to and revisions are being made to take these into consideration to ensure they reflect the concerns of stakeholders.

Manufacturing sector ''driving European jobs gains''

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:13:00 GMT

The European manufacturing industry has witnessed substantial employment gains in recent months, but operations management professionals are advised the UK is lagging behind.

Latest figures from Monster Europe revealed growth in the region's jobs market is being driven by nations such as Germany that are more reliant on exports and industry.

However, the recruitment company noted that services-based countries, including the UK and the Netherlands, are falling behind in terms of recruitment.

The report has revealed Germany led the European labor market for the sixth consecutive month, with a year-on-year gain in May 2011 of 42 per cent.

Speaking to CNBC.com, Monster Europe vice-president of business operations Alan Townsend said: "Some of the industrial sectors, manufacturing, transport and logistics are leading the way."

Data published by Markit and CIPS indicated the manufacturing industry made further gains during May this year, although the pace of growth slowed.

The Purchasing Managers' Index for the month stood at 52.1 last month, down from 54.4 in April.

Note about Eli Goldratt

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

It is with regret that we inform you that a pioneer and leading voice in our profession, Eli Goldratt, passed away over the weekend. His work, which introduced important concepts such as the theory of constraints to the business world, was integral to the development of both IOM and APICS bodies of knowledge, the profession, and the Institute. His contributions cannot be overstated.

Many IOM and APICS members have had ties to Mr. Goldratt and the Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute or benefited directly from his articles and books, including the legendary publication The Goal. We offer our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

Manufacturing recovery ''remains on course''

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 13:50:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing recovery is still "on course", despite official figures showing a dip in output during April 2011, operations management specialists are advised.

According to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the 1.5 per cent dip in productivity was caused by "special factors" such as the Royal Wedding and the continuing effect of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th.

A 1.3 per cent year-on-year increase in output was reported by the Office for National Statistics during April and BCC chief economist David Kern explained that analysts appear to have underestimated the impact of bank holidays and supply chain problems on production.

He explained the organisation's view is that "the manufacturing recovery, though modest, is still on course and remains a crucial element of any sustained UK upturn", adding that the economy remains fragile and it is important to ensure the coming months do not see any setback to its expansion.

Latest ONS figures have shown a two per cent drop in producer input prices between April and May 2011, although such costs were 15.7 per cent higher year-on-year last month.

UK manufacturing ''affected by Japan earthquake''

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:50:00 GMT

Output from factories across the UK has been hit by the earthquake that shook Japan on March 11th.

The disaster, which caused a devastating tsunami in the north of the country, has been cited as one of the factors that reduced levels of industrial production in Britain during April, operations management professionals may be interested to learn.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there was a fall in manufacturing output of 1.5 per cent from March, with the royal wedding and the bank holiday provided because of it also named as issues likely to have affected data.

"It should be noted that April 2011 was an unusual month for a number of reasons," ONS said, adding that no adjustments have been made to the figures for the extra day off.

Feedback from car manufacturers in the UK indicated parts shortages caused by the crisis in Japan had disrupted production, causing a sharp fall in output from the transport equipment sub-sector.

EEF, the manufacturers' organisation commented that despite the latest ONS figures showing a dip, "the manufacturing recovery remains on track".

Cameron unveils government plans for NHS reform

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:29:00 GMT

The prime minister has outlined future plans for the NHS in a speech on proposed reforms.

David Cameron explained that changes are being made to controversial initial suggestions to alter the way in which the health service is run.

He stated hospital workers, including doctors and nurses, will be given a greater role in commissioning care for patients.

Mr Cameron added the coalition has listened and responded to concerns from operations management professionals and other NHS staff about the first plans unveiled for the health service in England.

"There are real changes being made to these health reforms to reflect the concerns of patients, doctors and nurses so we get that right," he declared, adding the universal service will be safeguarded.

However, the prime minister insisted it is vital that the NHS is modernised in order to protect it for the future, pledging to keep waiting lists low, improve integrated care, increase spending and introduce competition that benefits patients.

In May, the Royal College of GPs criticised NHS restructuring plans in a letter to Mr Cameron, suggesting there is no need for a "wholesale reorganisation" of the system.

UK service sector activity climbs further

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:52:00 GMT

The fifth month in a row of service sector growth has been recorded in the UK, according to new figures.

Data for the industry showed the pace of activity slowed slightly during May 2011, with employment numbers remaining largely stable compared with the previous month.

The report by Markit and the CIPS revealed operations management professionals are continuing to see growth in average prices charged, as input costs - such as fuel, supplier charges and energy - increase.

"Overall growth of incoming new business is holding up reasonably well amid reports of improved market confidence," commented Markit senior economist Paul Smith.

The Business Activity Index for May 2011 stood at 53.8, down slightly from April's 54.3, with any figure above 50 indicative of expansion, while confidence in the sector rose to its highest level since February this year.

A recent report from Incomes Data Services suggested the private services sector saw median pay awards stand at 2.8 per cent in the three months to April 2011, down slightly from 2.9 per cent the previous period.

Manufacturing expansion ''threatened by engineer shortages''

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:16:00 GMT

A new survey has shown that engineering students and lecturers believe that the manufacturing sector in the UK is lacking in talent.

Conducted by US energy giant General Electric (GE), the poll discovered that only 13 per cent of respondents feel the number of engineers in the UK is growing, with students claiming more investment is needed in higher education.

It is estimated that the country will need 970,000 new engineers by 2017 in order to keep a balanced economy, but the UK is currently producing only 20,000 annually and a number of these are at risk of moving abroad.

Mark Elborne, president and chief executive of GE in the UK, said: "Our research shows that we need to continue to support this important pillar of growth by continuing to grow our skills base and competitive edge in engineering."

The most recent Purchasing Managers' Index for the manufacturing sector showed that it fell in May to the lowest level recorded in 20 months, as performance weakened.

Manufacturing management in Britain ''appears to be paying off''

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:00:00 GMT

The work of those involved in manufacturing management is seemingly having the desired effect, after positive figures for the sector were released.

Reuters reports that UK-based production firms enjoyed a successful second quarter and fully expect trade to remain brisk over the coming months.

Figures from the Engineering Employers' Federation's (EEF) quarterly Manufacturing Outlook showed manufacturing to be one of the few bright spots in the British economy.

A total of 30 per cent of companies said they had experienced a rise in new orders during the period in question, up from 20 per cent in the last survey.

EEF chief economist Lee Hopley told the news source: "Providing buoyant demand from overseas markets holds firm, we should see growth maintained through the rest of the year."

HSBC Commercial Banking last week revealed its belief that the manufacturing and hi-tech industries are set for a revival in the coming years.

Revival forecast for UK manufacturing

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 13:48:00 GMT

Britain is likely to see a return to high levels of production and exports over the coming years, as the renewable energy and hi-tech sectors take off.

This is the prediction made by a new report from HSBC Commercial Banking, which has stated goods manufactured in the UK will have a renaissance, driven by seven cities around the country.

Bristol and Glasgow have joined a previous list of five urban areas of the UK expected to drive forward output over the coming years, including Brighton, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and London.

HSBC Commercial Banking UK head Jacques-Emmanuel Blanchet stated: "Out of recessions come new trends and this report crystallises how adaptable entrepreneurs and small businesses are shaping a new business landscape that British business is set to follow."

Those concerned with demand planning may be interested in the news that the report forecasts a strong increase in output over the coming years, pushed up by the performance of small and medium-sized companies in the sector.

Latest data from Markit and CIPS showed manufacturing continued to expand in the UK during May 2011, although the pace of growth in the industry slowed.

Wage agreements ''constrained by need to control costs''

Tue, 24 May 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Pay settlements within the manufacturing industry are being influenced by "economic uncertainty and the need for companies to control their costs in the face of global pressures", it has been claimed.

This is according to EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, with the body's chief economist Lee Hopley explaining there is little upward pressure on wages in the sector at present.

Ms Hopley was commenting on figures from EEF and JAM Recruitment showing there has been a slight rise in pay settlements over the three months to the end of April this year.

However, the 2011 data indicates average growth was 2.5 per cent during the quarter, 0.1 point higher than the rise for the three months to March 2011, with most agreements below three per cent and 14 per cent of firms continuing to improve wage freezes.

Manufacturing management professionals are advised the Confederation of British Industry has reported the sector is predicting strong increases in output during the next three months, with export order books improving in May.

Wage agreements ''constrained by need to control costs''

Tue, 24 May 2011 11:00:00 GMT

Wage agreements ''constrained by need to control costs''

Tue, 24 May 2011 11:00:00 GMT

US printing firm employs operations management principles

Mon, 23 May 2011 12:03:00 GMT

A company in the US has implemented operations management measures in a bid to secure its future survival.

This is according to Inc magazine, which has profiled Hopkins Printing in Columbus, Ohio, noting that its cross-training and continuous improvement policies are intended to boost revenues.

Founded in 1975, the business employs around 100 people and specialises in commercial print jobs, with chief executive James Hopkins backing efforts to enhance employee skills during the past two years.

Over the period in question, employees have been encouraged to "work smarter" by undertaking training in additional roles, as well as creating and introducing improvements throughout the operations.

With cross-training policies in place, Hopkins Printing claims to be able to cover absences in line with demand and generate more overtime opportunities, the news source reveals.

"The training is facilitated by standard work documents, a lean manufacturing tool that lays out the steps of each task in a couple of pages," the article states.

In Alabama, operational excellence and continuous improvement have been named as factors determining Hyundai being selected as Large Manufacturer of the Year in the state, according to WSFA 12 News.

Retail sales surge attributed to Royal Wedding

Fri, 20 May 2011 12:47:00 GMT

UK retail sales rose in April this year, but industry experts have warned that they are likely to have been artificially boosted by the royal wedding and the spring sunshine.

Warm weather and the long bank holidays during the month are thought by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to have pushed up purchasing, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting a 2.8 per cent year-on-year rise in volumes.

Food store sales saw expansion over the period to April 2011 for the first time in 15 months, rising by 1.4 per cent, with volumes climbing by 19.6 per cent in the non-store retailing sector.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson said, in comments that may be of interest to those concerned with demand planning and operations management, that the data should "treated with caution".

"May's growth is likely to be lower and a more realistic indication of how customers, retailers and the wider economy are progressing," he warned, noting that not all areas of the industry benefited from April's jump in sales, with household goods sales declining year-on-year last month.

Retail sales surge attributed to Royal Wedding

Fri, 20 May 2011 12:47:00 GMT

Strong output expected among UK manufacturers

Thu, 19 May 2011 14:09:00 GMT

Manufacturers in the UK expect output growth to expand during the next three months, a report reveals.

The latest poll by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) indicates order books remain strong, with a balance of minus two per cent recorded by the Industrial Trends Survey in May between respondents reporting and increase and a decrease.

It is substantially higher than the long-term average for the industry and reverses a balance of minus 11 per cent for the previous month, with manufacturers forecasting rising output during the coming quarter.

In addition, manufacturing management specialists are advised the business organisation discovered the volume of export order books balance stood at minus three per cent in May from minus six per cent in April, continuing a two-year trend of improvement.

"Although there has been talk recently that the manufacturing recovery may be starting to flag, our survey shows manufacturers are still seeing solid growth in activity," CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty said.

Operations management professionals will be particularly interested in the confederation's figures after the Office for National Statistics reported industrial output rose in March 2011 by 0.3 per cent, reversing a 1.2 per cent drop the previous month.

High visibility and simplicity ''important in supply chains''

Wed, 18 May 2011 10:16:00 GMT

Supply chains should have strong levels of visibility both up and down stream and should be simplified to reduce complexity.

These are claims made in a new article by an expert from Marsh, who has stated that continuous improvement approaches can help to enhance this area of business as the range of risks facing organisations ranges from liquidity to natural disasters.

Gary Lynch, leader of the company's Global Supply Chain Risk Management Practice, stated establishing accountability for risk, understanding suppliers' chains and covering non-physical damage should be other approaches that are adopted by operations managers.

Entitled Risk Spotlight: Managing Supply Chain Resiliency in an Increasingly Risky World, he explained in the article that supply chain risk management should involve creating a business case for any investment considered that measures the impact against financing and risk mitigation options.

Interdependencies and levels of supply chain interdependence should be closely monitored, Mr Lynch stated, adding: "Organisations operating in today’s global marketplace are exposed to a host of increasingly complex and interrelated risks."

In the wake of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in Japan a number of companies saw their supply chains disrupted by the crisis.

Groundbreaking economic policies ''could drive European public sector''

Tue, 17 May 2011 14:35:00 GMT

More needs to be done in Europe to modernise and improve the region's public sector, it has been claimed.

A new report by the Government of the Future Centre advocates a range of strategies that it claims would substantially increase economic growth and job creation if implemented.

These include pressing ahead with measures that will catalyse innovation, enhancing social progress, adopting technology to boost interactions and overhauling procurement processes.

Adopting such approaches across Europe could generate 15 million jobs by 2020 and push up economic growth over the next ten years to eight per cent.

The organisation advises that adopting a policy of continuous improvement across the public sector would see it outstrip current estimates through reforms such as improved health and social care delivery or reducing waste.

"The creation of a culture of innovation within governments can become the stimulus for operating models which are both more effective and more efficient," College of Europe director of political and administrative studies Professor Jorg Monar said.

A recent study by Deloitte suggested Britain's public sector should do more to deliver services online in order to offer support and information more efficiently.

Carbon targets ''could place UK competitiveness in jeopardy''

Mon, 16 May 2011 15:17:00 GMT

Adhering to proposals for a 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions in the UK could place the nation's competitiveness at risk.

This is the claim made in a new study by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which has stated a recommendation made by the Committee on Climate Change to this end could be detrimental to the economy.

According to the report, rather than improving manufacturing processes, setting goals that are too ambitious could harm the country's gross domestic product growth.

The study urged the Prime Minister David Cameron to consider carefully whether or not he will choose to implement the advice from the committee in the fourth Carbon Budget.

EEF noted the proposed unilateral 30 per cent target goes beyond the coalition government's agreement and there appears to be little support for such aims within the European Union.

As a result, the body's chief executive Terry Scuoler remarked: "Committing to ploughing a lone furrow without international agreement will damage our economy for little or no environmental benefit."

A previous statement from EEF suggested that more discussion is needed on the 2020 Renewables Target in order to ensure Britain remains competitive.

UK manufacturing output lower than anticipated

Fri, 13 May 2011 12:28:00 GMT

The latest figures for industrial output in the UK are lower than forecast by experts.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a 1.2 per cent decline in February was reversed in March, with activity up by 0.3 per cent.

However, this is lower than a predicted rise of 0.8 per cent for the month, indicating there has been a slowdown in the sector's economic recovery, the Guardian reports.

According to the ONS, manufacturing output was 0.2 per cent higher over the month, having been stable in February 2011.

Operations management specialists are advised that Barclays Corporate head of manufacturing Mark Lee told the news source: "With UK exports to non-EU countries languishing, British manufacturing is now at risk of backsliding on the real gains the industry has made over the last 18 months."

Year-on-year, UK production was up by 0.7 per cent in March, the weakest result since February 2010, with energy and manufacturing activity driving the market.

The most recent figures for the manufacturing sector published by Markit and the CIPS showed the purchasing managers' index dropped back from 56.7 in March to 54.6 in April, as the pace of expansion slowed.

Business operations ''disrupted by bank holidays and Japanese earthquake''

Thu, 12 May 2011 14:44:00 GMT

The continuing effects of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the combined impact of April's bank holidays may offer challenges to operations management professionals.

Companies have experienced widespread disruption to their supply chains as a result of the 8.9-magnitude tremor that struck the north of Japan on March 11th 2011.

The long Easter weekend and the royal wedding followed by the May bank holiday have resulted in many people having long periods of time off during the past month.

According to the Mirror, the Bank of England has expressed concern that the royal wedding break could have a substantial impact on economic growth during the second quarter of the year.

Electronics and car manufacturers have been particularly affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, with supplies of parts of components affecting production and inventory control for many businesses.

According to the Bank of England, manufacturing and services output were negatively affected in 2002 by the Queen's jubilee holiday and the same impact may be seen because of the royal wedding day off.

Operating Unconventionally a success

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute of Operations Management’s Operational Excellence Conference 2011 at Studley Castle in Warwickshire on 11 May, has been hailed a great success after a number of years absence.

As the UK economy slowly emerges from the global recession, operations and supply chain professionals must navigate the significant changes which have developed in their own organisation, in their profession and in the economy. The IOM conference was designed to prepare delegates for the forthcoming challenges facing both themselves and their organisation.

Delegates heard from a list of high-profile speakers including:

• Professor Peter Hines, Chairman, SA Partners and Supply Chain Management Chair, Lean Enterprise Research Centre, Cardiff University opened the conference with his interesting presentation on ‘Staying Lean’, where he encouraged audience participation and feedback.

• Dr Ian Shellard, Global Physical Logistics Director, Rolls Royce plc, gave his presentation on ‘The need for innovation in aerospace aftermarket supply chains’ which held his audience captivated at the forward thinking and innovation applied which has Rolls Royce where they are today.

• Joanna Davies, Head of Business Operations, innocent drinks, gave an enthralling presentation on ‘An S&OP Journey’ which had all the delegates talking as she explained how the company’s supply chain process has changed since it’s formation in 1999.

• Ray Patrucco, Operations Development Manager, Ordnance Survey on ‘How we learned to stop worrying and love the standard’, who explained how they maintain their high standards and ensure their suppliers do too.

• Ross McLean, Consultant, Unipart Expert Practices - Supply Chain, closed the day’s proceedings with a very visual and entertaining presentation on ‘Beyond convention: how not to be average’. This presentation challenged delegates to be innovative and step out of their comfort zones.

Separate workshop streams were hosted by:

• Dr Tony Wild of Dawson, Berkeley & Partners Ltd looked at ‘Improving cash flow’.

• Mark Eaton of Amnis Ltd presented ‘Practical and productive strategy (thinking strategically in unconventional times)’.

• Robin Goodfellow, Managing Consultant, Manufacturing Business Excellence gave a talk on ‘The dos and don’ts of successful Sales and Operating Planning (S&OP)’.

IOM Manager Leonie Edwards said: ‘We are delighted to have been able to put together a very high level programme of subjects and speakers for this year’s event. The conference provided a splendid opportunity for managers to compare notes and ideas with industry leaders on crucial issues. We have received some excellent initial feedback from delegates and speakers alike which is very positive considering this was the first conference after a long absence. Next year will be even better!’

Continuous improvement director appointed by manufacturer

Wed, 11 May 2011 13:45:00 GMT

A global manufacturing company has announced the appointment of a new director of continuous improvement.

Mark Andy, which produces printing and finishing solutions, has recruited Chris Bronikowski to fill the position as he has more than 17 years of experience in the field.

The business is investing in operations management in order to enhance its lean manufacturing initiatives.

It has become increasingly involved in such projects in recent years and Mr Bronikowski has been charged with leading, driving and sustaining efforts in these areas through both cultural and technical changes to current working methods.

Paul Brauss, Mark Andy president and chief executive, stated that the new employee's "knowledge of manufacturing and his commitment to quality and issue resolution is in line with our dedication to providing the highest quality product to our global customer base".

Mr Bronikowski's appointment may be of interest to those considering obtaining APICS qualifications, which are recognised around the world as standards of quality and professionalism.

Continuous improvement director appointed by manufacturer

Wed, 11 May 2011 13:45:00 GMT

Continuous improvement director appointed by manufacturer

Wed, 11 May 2011 13:45:00 GMT

Business services ''driving UK economy''

Tue, 10 May 2011 13:09:00 GMT

The business services sector has been described as the "lifeblood of the UK's knowledge economy".

This is according to The Work Foundation, which has concluded the sector is now responsible for more than one-fifth of the financial output of the country.

Andrew Sissons, author of a report on the issue for the organisation, explained that the manufacturing industry "will continue to be hugely important for the economy".

However, those concerned with continuous improvement in companies such as law, IT and accounting businesses may be interested in his claim that business services had overtaken production as the field that can sustain fiscal recovery.

Twice the output of manufacturing now comes from such organisations, with 38 per cent of all UK economic growth since 1970 generated by the business services sector.

Commenting on recent gross domestic product figures, The Work Foundation's Ian Brinkley pointed out that signs of renewed growth were seen within knowledge intensive high value sectors over the first quarter of 2011.

Concern from GPs over NHS reforms

Mon, 09 May 2011 13:27:00 GMT

Proposed reform of the NHS by the government has hit another hurdle, with GPs expressing concern about some of the provisions made in the Health Bill.

The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) has criticised the government's approach to NHS restructuring and has called for sections of the planned legislation on issues such as provision, charging for healthcare, practice boundaries and competition to be rewritten.

According to the body, it has penned a letter to the prime minister about the issue, outlining changes it wants to see to the proposals before they are passed by the Houses of Parliament.

The RCGP wants David Cameron to ensure policies are in line with the founding principles of the NHS and has claimed that it does not believe there is a need for a "wholesale reorganisation of the health service".

A total of 24 recommendations have been made by the agency and chair Dr Clare Gerada stated: "The reforms promote competition without sufficient clarification of how services to patients will be safeguarded and improved."

With an estimated 42,000 family doctors as members, healthcare operations management professionals may be interested in previous warnings by the RCGP that the government proposals "could compromise patient safety".

UK recovery patchy, says CBI

Fri, 06 May 2011 17:03:00 GMT

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to keep interest rates on hold, citing concerns over the recent string of weak economic data.

CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty said uncertainty surrounding the UK's recovery remains high, after the Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply manufacturing producer price index dipped for a second successive month in April.

"While the recovery continues to make progress, recent economic data show that it is very patchy across sectors," he explained. "Pipeline inflationary pressures have intensified, with our economic surveys showing rapid cost inflation."

Mr McCafferty added that the CBI expects the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to begin the process of normalising the base rate later this year, although he declined to specify a particular month.

The MPC's announcement was also supported by the British Chambers of Commerce, which noted there had been only a relatively limited rebound in the manufacturing industry so far.

BCC expresses concern over UK manufacturing

Thu, 05 May 2011 16:57:00 GMT

Business body the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that the UK manufacturing sector remains particularly weak and urged the Bank of England to hold firm on interest rates.

Following the publication of the latest Markit/Chartered Institute of Supply purchasing managers' index, BCC chief economist David Kern implied that Britain's finances lacked the resilience to withstand fiscal normalisation.

"Manufacturing data was at its lowest level in seven months [in April], while UK [gross domestic product] growth was fairly mediocre in the first quarter of 2011," he observed.

Mr Kern welcomed the Monetary Policy Committee's decision to keep the base rate at 0.5 per cent for at least another month, but insisted the base rate should stay at its current record low well into the second half of 2011.

Last month, the Confederation of British Industry's quarterly trends survey indicated that inflationary pressures were having a major impact on the country's manufacturing firms.

UK small business output ''driven up by strong order books''

Wed, 04 May 2011 13:12:00 GMT

Both domestic and overseas orders have pushed up output among small and medium-sized manufacturers in the UK during the three months to April 2011, new figures show.

Published by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the statistics show the volume of demand at home and abroad climbed at its most rapid pace in 16 years, with a balance of plus 16 per cent of respondents to a survey reporting an increase in domestic orders and plus 23 per cent claiming exports had risen.

Employment levels grew last month among manufacturers polled, with a balance of plus 16 per cent expanding their workforces, the highest rate recorded since January 1995.

According to the organisation, cost pressures are increasing on smaller producers, creating a squeeze on profit margins, with plus 53 per cent of those questioned saying average unit costs climbed over the quarter.

Those concerned with sales and operation planning may be interested in the comment by chair of the CBI's SME Council Lucy Armstrong that: "Inflationary pressures remain a dark cloud, with rising oil and commodity prices pushing up the cost of production and eating into profit margins."

However, overall manufacturing data for April 2011 from Markit and CIPS indicated there was a slowdown over the month from 56.7 to 54.6 in the purchasing managers' index as a result of lower domestic sales growth.

UK manufacturing growth ''constrained by domestic slowdown''

Tue, 03 May 2011 14:29:00 GMT

A dropping back of domestic orders in the UK manufacturing industry caused the pace of growth to slow in the sector during April 2011.

This is according to the most recent purchasing managers' index (PMI), which declined from 56.7 in March to 54.6 last month, as internal sales performance weakened.

However, the report from Markit and CIPS also showed that export sales continued to climb over the month in question, as overseas demand for UK products remained high.

The PMI has slipped back from a record level in January, but continues to stand over the 50 mark that represents expansion of the sector, with sharp rises in demand from nations and regions such as the US, China, Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

Operations management professionals may be interested in comments made by Markit senior economist, Rob Dobson, that "the outlook has deteriorated sharply, with new orders growth having collapsed from a booming pace at the start of the year".

UK businesses are continuing to experience pressures on manufacturing costs from high raw materials prices and inflationary growth, the Confederation of British Industry warned recently.

Klarius increases parts production to feed shortages

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:41:00 GMT

Operations management professionals may be interested to note the Klarius Group has stepped in to provide support to a number of car plants in Europe following the recent earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan.

After stepping in to maintain the continuation of the supply of vehicles, the group – which is the fastest-growing car aftermarket company in the European Union – is hoping to satisfy the demand for more than 100,000 parts per month.

Tony Wilson, chairman of Klarius, said: "While the events in Japan are terrible and our hearts go out to those struggling to rebuild and cope with the situation, we have been able to provide support for manufacturing sites in other parts of the world."

He explained the company has already provided shock absorbers and water pumps to various vehicle manufacturers and is hoping production among car plants in Japan will continue to be uninterrupted.

Japan is not the only country under threat from parts shortages. According to General Motors Europe chief executive Nick Reilly, Britain's automotive sector is also being affected by a lack of items being made in the UK.

Inflationary pressures ''continue to affect UK manufacturers''

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:02:00 GMT

Manufacturing businesses in the UK are facing continuing and growing inflationary pressures, it has been claimed.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) asserted the sector's recovery is "firmly on track and looks set to continue", with expansion in both domestic and overseas markets.

According to the report, the rising price of raw materials is leading to businesses raising the price of products as costs are passed on to consumers.

The business organisation's Quarterly Industrial Trends Survey of 451 firms found a balance of plus 20 per cent of respondents witnessed an increase in output during the past quarter, with both domestic and export orders expected to grow over the coming three months.

Operations management and demand planning specialists may be interested in the fact that rapid restocking of raw materials, finished goods and work in progress has been seen in recent months, with investment intentions among manufacturers remaining strong.

The CBI has also warned that more needs to be done to increase the levels of green investment in the UK in order to protect jobs and the economic recovery.

Warning over automotive parts shortages

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:53:00 GMT

Britain's automotive sector may be facing substantial threats from parts shortages, according to one industry leader.

General Motors Europe chief executive Nick Reilly stated the competitiveness of companies is being affected by a lack of items being made in the UK.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I think it's the most critical issue facing the automotive industry in the UK."

Mr Reilly added: "We'll never be able to compete with another country where the suppliers are surrounding the car plants."

This may affect lean manufacturing processes, as operations management professionals attempt to source parts and keep production running among those businesses affected by shortages of parts manufacturers.

Supply chains in the UK's automotive industry have been severely disrupted in recent weeks as a result of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami affecting availability of materials for the manufacture of vehicles.

UK car production ''to be affected by Japanese earthquake''

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:35:00 GMT

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan has caused a global problem with supply chains for the automotive industry, it is reported.

According to the Independent, output from UK car manufacturers will be affected as many suspend or reduce production in order to cope with shortages.

Operations management professionals may find they are facing demand planning problems as a result of the tremor, which measured 8.9 on the Richter scale.

The news source noted a rise in production during March 2011 was reported by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), but warned the 14.8 per cent year-on-year climb is unlikely to be repeated this month because of shortages caused by the quake affecting companies in Japan.

"Recent announcements from UK-based manufacturers impacted by the Japanese earthquake are likely to see output drop in the short term," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

Toyota recently announced that it is suspending all production at its plants in Derbyshire and Wales as a result of a lack of parts during the Easter and royal wedding period and will reduce output during May.

In addition, Honda has revealed it is scaling back output at its facility in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Public sector ''needs to move towards online services''

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:23:00 GMT

The UK public sector needs to do more to ensure that services are delivered online, a new report has stated.

Published by Deloitte, it indicates e-services can offer more efficient and cheaper ways of providing information and support to individuals.

According to the study, lower cost service channels such as the internet should be considered as government cuts to public spending start to take effect.

Commenting on the report, Deloitte public sector director Joel Bellman said: "Over the last decade the public sector has often treated digital services as an add-on to traditional paper, telephone or face-to-face contact rather than a replacement for it."

He explained there had been exceptions such as online tax assessments and car tax applications, but claimed self-service channels have only had a "limited impact" to date, with substantial cost savings available if their reach is widened.

In related news, Socitm, the membership body for public sector IT professionals, has published a guide based on two recent reports aimed at providing guidance to councils about centralising digital delivery.

Average manufacturing pay settlements ''remain stable''

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 12:41:00 GMT

The average rate of increase in pay settlements within the UK manufacturing industry rose by 2.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2011, new data show.

Figures from EEF, the manufacturers' association, suggest the traditionally busy negotiating period has not witnessed a sharp rise in wage demands.

Experts had predicted that wages could be pushed up by growing cost pressures, but the continued labor market and economic uncertainty has restricted pay expansion.

Demand planning specialists and operations management professionals are advised the EEF report also reveals April is the second most popular month of the year for settlements to be finalised so there will be high levels of interest in this month's totals.

Lee Hopley, chief economist of the organisation, remarked: "The Bank of England will be relieved that concerns around the pass through from high inflation to greater upward pressure on pay have not materialised as yet."

The EEF has recently welcomed the launch of the UK government's Regional Growth Fund, which is intended to support research and development and generate employment within the manufacturing industry.

Trade union leaders call for strong Scottish manufacturing sector

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:55:00 GMT

A well functioning manufacturing industry is a "key component" of Scotland's economy, it has been claimed.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has declared production needs to be supported by politicians in order to stabilise the economy following the financial markets crisis.

Growth and manufacturing is the subject of the 2011 annual STUC Congress, which commenced today (April 18th).

The organisation's general secretary, Grahame Smith, stated: "Politicians across the spectrum are now quite correctly focusing on how the economy might be rebalanced back towards manufacturing."

He added this emerging consensus should be "grasped" and finance made available to companies in the sector, something that may interest operations management professionals.

A new discussion paper has been published by the STUC entitled the Future of Manufacturing in Scotland, which outlines a series of recommendations to increase output and generate jobs.

Recent figures have shown strong growth in manufacturing output across the UK, as both domestic and overseas demand drives the market forward.

Trade union leaders call for strong Scottish manufacturing sector

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:55:00 GMT

IOM Africa President Dr Douglas Boateng FIOM FCILT elected Chairman of CIPS

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

IOM Africa President Dr Douglas Boateng FIOM FCILT elected Chairman of CIPS adjudication panel of leading experts

Dr Douglas Boateng appointed Chairman of CIPS's Pan African Best Practice Procurement and Supply Chain Management Adjudication Panel of experts

This team of independent and distinguished academics and leading practitioners will meet during the year to discuss plus adjudicate on best practice procurement and supply chain management in Africa. Included in the panel are supply chain subject matter experts and professionals responsible for billions of Rands and USD dollar equivalent procurement expenditure and supply chain management.

CIPS is proud to present a profession that is continually developing creative solutions to key strategic challenges and is delighted to be able to reward success.

The second annual Procurement Awards are a chance to shine, a real spotlight on the contribution our profession makes towards business health and driving the economy forward. Our Profession is going from strength to strength and these awards are testament to that.

Categories of the CIPS Procurement Award includes:

Best Procurement Community Project
Best People Development Initiative
Best Process Improvement Initiative
Best Supplier Relationship Management
Best Supplier Diversity Project
Best Procurement Project
Best Green Procurement Organization
Best Procurement Professional of the year (Public and Private Sector)

CIPS Southern Africa Managing Director Andre Coetzee, commented: Under Dr Boateng's chairmanship we look forward to identify and reward these pockets of excellence that exists in Southern Africa and the rest of the continent."

"Procurement and supply chain management and Africa's socio-economic growth are inextricably linked" says Dr Boateng .The establishment of the awards was a clear indication of the seriousness CIPS attach to identifying plus nurturing world class practices in the region.

As one of the key components in supply chain management CIPS strategic focus and more importantly its successfully tried and tested human capital development and professionalization formula continues to impress me," he explains.

The CIPS awards is the largest functional specific commercial convention on the continent attracting aspiring and practicing professionals involved in the procurement and supply chain profession. Since inception it has grown to become a leading forum for the discerning professional looking to network with colleagues and peers plus gain thought-leading ideas.

About Dr Douglas Boateng:

Dr Douglas Boateng is the Founder, President and CEO of PanAvest International a 5PSCM niche business advisory, education, training, coaching and mentoring company. The organization's goal is to assist companies to profitably extend their market reach through the application of long term innovative, Business Development Logistics and Supply Chain Management solutions. Dr Boateng is an external examiner and postgraduate and doctoral project supervisor on supply chain management at UNISA' SBL and President of the Institute of Operations Management Africa.

In addition he is the Founding Chairman of the West African Institute for Supply chain Leadership in Ghana. (aka WAISCL). WAISCL is an exclusive supply chain training public private partnership between Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the PanAvest Foundation. He is an editorial board member of Smart Procurement.

Dr Boateng is a FELLOW of CIPS. In addition he is an elected Fellow of:

(a) Institute of Directors - UK & Southern Africa
(b) Chartered Management Institute - UK
(c) The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport - UK and South Africa
(d) The Institute of Operations Management - UK and Africa
(e) the Institute of Consulting - UK

UK production halted at Toyota plants

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:52:00 GMT

Demand planning disruptions caused by the Japanese earthquake and subsequent tsunami have led Toyota to suspend all production of vehicles in the UK.

The carmaker is the third Japanese automotive specialist to take such action after its supply chain was hit by the disaster, with activity being reduced at a number of other plants in Europe.

A lack of parts has led the firm to halt manufacturing at its two UK plants, in Wales and Derbyshire, for the forthcoming Easter and royal wedding holiday period, while output will also be lower in May.

Japan suffered an 8.9-magnitude tremor on March 11th, which caused a devastating tsunami along its north-east coast and a series of number of aftershocks in the following weeks.

As a result, operations management plans have had to be revised by a number of manufacturers and Nissan and Honda have also reduced production at their facilities as a result of part shortages in the wake of the Japanese crisis.

Nurses and midwives ''should be at forefront of healthcare''

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:02:00 GMT

A report submitted to the government has suggested operations management within the healthcare sector should be configured in a way that places nurses and midwives at the forefront of delivery.

The study by the Prime Minister's Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery includes a series of 20 recommendations aimed at enhancing care services in England

According to the publication on frontline care, further efforts are needed to provide professionals with greater freedom to manage, commission and run services, in addition to measures to enhance quality and safety within the sector.

In a response to the report, health minister Anne Milton told the Royal College of Nursing conference: "Our plans to modernise the NHS aims to deliver high quality patient care with NHS frontline staff at the forefront."

Demand planning specialists in the public sector may also be interested to note that the government is carrying out an exercise to "pause, listen, reflect on and improve" its proposals for the future of the health service.

Welsh manufacturers lament skills shortage

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Small and medium-sized manufacturers in Wales are calling on the next assembly government to address the skills shortage in the country which is preventing many of them from taking on new staff.

Bill Ledwood, group managing director of the Unit Berwelco group, told the BBC that his current staff of 80 could be taken up to 100 if there were enough candidates boasting the necessary skills.

"It would be up to 100 (people) right now if we could get the skills. Welders, fabricators, pipefitters, machinists … there's a whole range of skills that we're short of. Getting work really isn't a problem," he stated.

He and other business leaders are calling on the next assembly government to reduce the amount of red tape manufacturers have to deal with and place a greater emphasis on apprenticeships, which will teach young people the skills they need to enter manufacturing and other sectors.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics released in September 2010 showed there were 135,000 people working in manufacturing in Wales.

Welsh manufacturers lament skills shortage

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Regional jobs and growth fund announced

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:57:00 GMT

Several manufacturers are among those who will benefit from a £450 million investment pot designed to safeguard and create jobs.

The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) will see financial support given to 50 companies and partnerships which demonstrated how they would create jobs and help stimulate economic growth in their local communities.

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg stated that he was impressed by the quality of the bids received and that the money will help rebalance the economy by supporting several industries instead of a handful of larger ones.

"We need to spread opportunity across the whole country, drawing on our many talents. I know that with the right support these businesses can work with their communities and together play their part in leading the country back into prosperity," he added.

The business secretary Vince Cable said on a tour of production firms in Wales recently that manufacturing is crucial to returning the UK to economic health.

Regional jobs and growth fund announced

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:57:00 GMT

Regional jobs and growth fund announced

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:57:00 GMT

Regional jobs and growth fund announced

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:57:00 GMT

North-west manufacturing and service sectors continue resurgence

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:35:00 GMT

The north-west's manufacturing and service sectors have continued their recent resurgence, a new report has shown.

According to Lloyds TSB's North West Business Activity Index, private sector output increased at its fastest rate in ten months in March.

The index increased to 58.1 from 56.2 in February, with gains in new work, employment and output outstripping those of the UK as a whole.

Leigh Taylor, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in the north-west, said that inflation continues to weigh on manufacturers but they are continuing to press ahead nonetheless.

"Manufacturing remains the principal driver of expansion, despite a stronger contribution from the services sector in March," he added.

A recent report from the British Chambers of Commerce highlighted the pressures being put on manufacturers by the rising costs of raw materials.

In addition, many firms are struggling with cash flow issues, which is denting overall confidence, the organisation's Quarterly Economic Survey revealed.

New centre ''to explore continuous manufacturing innovations''

Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:15:00 GMT

A new facility will be dedicated to the study of continuous manufacturing processes.

It is one of nine Centres for Innovative Manufacturing that have been officially launched in the UK and are intended to build on the success of three existing institutions.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is in charge of the facilities, which have been granted a total of more than £45 million in funding.

According to the Engineer, one of the premises will focus on continuous improvement in the sector, with researchers and academics exploring processes in a range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials and food production.

Called the Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in continuous manufacturing and crystallisation, it will be led by Professor Alastair Florence of Strathclyde University and will involve specialists from a number of other UK universities.

Companies have also given the backing to the research institution, including British Salt, Croda International, Pfizer and NiTech Solutions.

The EPSRC centres are intended to stimulate economic growth in manufacturing and the breakthroughs they make could assist those involved in operations management.

Manufacturing firms ''reporting cost pressures''

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:52:00 GMT

The rising cost of raw materials is placing additional pressure on manufacturing businesses in the UK to increase their prices, a new report suggests.

Research by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) also found cashflow problems are being experienced by some companies following the recession.

In its most recent Quarterly Economic Survey, the organisation warns that confidence has fallen in the sector and the recovery remains fragile, with businesses experiencing disruptions in recent months from severe winter weather conditions.

The UK economy is returning to growth in the wake of the global downturn and manufacturing exports have been strong, but the BCC study cautions that a "difficult economic environment" is in place, as spending cuts take effect and firms are affected by the rise in VAT rates at the start of 2011.

Those concerned with sales and operation planning may be interested in comments from BCC chief economist David Kern that: "The international background has become riskier for Britain's exporters, while the domestic austerity plan will intensify pressures on businesses and consumers."

Recent figures from the CIPS and Markit showed there was a slight slowdown in manufacturing activity during March 2011 compared with the previous month.

Manufacturing firms ''reporting cost pressures''

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:52:00 GMT

West Midlands manufacturers ''should improve supply chain operations''

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:54:00 GMT

Manufacturing companies operating in the West Midlands defence and aerospace industry should sign up to a scheme aimed at improving operations management, it has been suggested.

Peter Jones, the newly-appointed Manufacturing Advisory Service - West Midlands (MAS-WM) project manager for SC21, declared the programme can enhance quality within firms, assisting them in taking advantage of the growing market for such products.

He explained: "We've already assisted more than 200 businesses to embrace SC21 and this is helping the West Midlands' supply chain achieve world class manufacturing performance."

Mr Jones has previously worked with local companies through MAS-WM in areas such as continuous improvement, supply chain development and lean manufacturing.

The expert said the scheme offers a new culture and way of working that could safeguard employment in the West Midlands.

SC21 is a change programme with signatories across the region. It is focused on enhancing the competitiveness of UK businesses in the aerospace and defence field by promoting ways of reducing costs and improving the efficiency of manufacturing management.

West Midlands manufacturers ''should improve supply chain operations''

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:54:00 GMT

Strong March performance by UK services sector

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:30:00 GMT

The UK's services sector saw activity increase at its strongest rate in 13 months during March 2011, new figures show.

According to the most recent Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry, new business drove the expansion, with employment increasing for the first time in nine months.

Published by Markit and the CIPS, the seasonally-adjusted PMI stood at 57.1 for the month, up from 52.6 in February.

Commenting on the report, Markit senior economist Paul Smith said: "Services activity growth surprised well to the upside in March and points to the strongest expansion of the sector since the economy was surging out of its recession early last year."

However, cost pressures on the sector remain strong, while margins were squeezed, leading to only modest gains in charges.

Optimism relating to future growth dipped slightly month-on-month, despite higher sales and a rise in enquiries.

The UK's services sector accounts for an estimated three-quarters of total gross domestic product.

Operating Unconventionally – IOM Conference 2011

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Delegates are encouraged to register as soon as possible for the Institute of Operations Management’s Operational Excellence Conference 2011 – spaces are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The conference will be held at Studley Castle in Warwickshire on 11 May.

As the UK economy slowly emerges from the global recession, operations and supply chain professionals must navigate the significant changes which have developed in their own organisation, in their profession and in the economy. The IOM conference programme, which consists of a mix of a main conference stream together with a parallel workshop stream and an exhibition, has been designed to prepare delegates for the forthcoming challenges facing both themselves and their organisation.

Key themes include lean operations and why they work, supply chain innovation, balancing lean inventory with sufficiency of supplies, efficient cash flow and sales and operations planning.

Confirmed speakers include:

Dr Ian Shellard, Global Physical Logistics Director, Rolls Royce plc, on The need for innovation in aerospace aftermarket supply chains;
Professor Peter Hines, Chairman, SA Partners and Supply Chain Management Chair, Lean Enterprise Research Centre, Cardiff University on Staying Lean;
Joanna Davies, Head of Business Operations , innocent drinks on An S&OP Journey;
Ross McLean, Consultant, Unipart Expert Practices - Supply Chain on Beyond convention: how not to be average; and
Ray Patrucco, Operations Development Manager, Ordnance Survey on How we learned to stop worrying and love the standard.
John Hutchby, member of the PMD Forum Executive will discuss How Process Management Data (PMD) can help organisations improve their processes and productivity;
Dr Tony Wild of Dawson, Berkeley & Partners Ltd will look at Improving cash flow;
Mark Eaton of Amnis Ltd will present on Practical and productive strategy (thinking strategically in unconventional times).
Robin Goodfellow, Managing Consultant, Manufacturing Business Excellence will speak on the Dos and don’ts of successful Sales and Operating Planning (S&OP); and
Dr Geoff Relph, Director Inventory Matters Consulting Group, will consider Why lean inventory fails.

IOM Manager Leonie Edwards says ‘We are delighted to have been able to put together a very high level programme of subjects and speakers for this year’s event. The conference provides a splendid opportunity for managers to compare notes and ideas with industry leaders on crucial issues together with the chance for networking with the leading industry figures which constitute both the speaker and delegate lists.’

Conference registration costs £195 + VAT for IOM members or £295 + VAT for non-members and for a full package including dinner and accommodation IOM members will pay £295 + VAT and non-members £395 + VAT. For attendance at the conference dinner only both IOM members and non-members will pay £95 + VAT.

Further information and booking form facilities are available on the IOM website www.iomnet.org.uk or call 01536 740105

Service sector activity grow during January

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:25:00 GMT

The first month of the year saw activity in the service sector increase by 1.3 per cent, according to official figures.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals the industry expanded over the month from December, something that may interest those concerned with operations management and demand planning.

The latest report from the organisations shows that the seasonally-adjusted index of services climbed by 2.2 per cent year-on-year to January 2011, with all components of the market witnessing expansion during the 12 months.

Accounting for over three-quarters of total UK domestic product, the sector was negatively affected by the severe winter weather conditions that swept across the country in December.

Following the coldest final month of the year in 100 years, the index of services declined by 1.1 per cent between November and December, rising again by1.3 per cent during January.

Previously-published figures from Markit and the CIPS have indicated that the services sector saw a modest improvement in growth during February this year, comparable to levels recorded before snow and ice affected results in both December and January.

Manufacturing growth continues ''but slows''

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:37:00 GMT

There has been a further slowdown in the manufacturing industry during March 2011, new figures show.

Dipping further from a peak of 61.2 reached in January this year, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the sector stood at 57.1, with any figure above 50 indicative of growth.

According to the latest statistics from Markit and the CIPS, the industry remained buoyant last month, but output price inflation reached a record high, pushed up by elevated cost inflation.

March saw a slowdown in new orders, particular in the consumer goods field, while intakes of purchases from domestic and overseas clients continued to rise.

However, the PMI was significantly higher than the long-run average of 51.3 and March marked the 20th consecutive month that producers have recorded expansion, with companies claiming demand from the US, Asia, Russia and the Middle East was increasing.

Markit senior economist Rob Dobson said: "The slowdown may simply represent a temporary easing from an unsustainably strong pace at the start of the year."

Recent data from the Confederation of British Industry indicated rising domestic demand has pushed up output in the UK manufacturing sector, but the organisation warned cost pressures may be threatening the industry's recovery.

Manufacturing growth continues ''but slows''

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:37:00 GMT

Business secretary highlights manufacturing importance for growth

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:34:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry is central to the country's future sustainable economic growth, the business secretary has declared.

Vince Cable made a statement during a tour of production businesses in Wales, including Tata Steel at Port Talbot and Ford's engine production plant in Bridgend.

During his visit to the south of the country, the minister also took part in a roundtable discussion with leading manufacturers in Swansea and held talks with a business advisory group in Cardiff alongside Welsh secretary Cheryl Gillan.

"Manufacturing will play a key role in producing more sustainable growth not stimulated by property bubbles or over reliant on the financial services," Dr Cable said.

Tata Steel is currently undertaking a £185 million programme to enhance productivity and efficiency at its Port Talbot site, including rebuilding its blast furnace, something that may interest manufacturing management specialists.

EEF, the manufacturers' organisation recently welcomed the government's Budget plans to increase spending for research and development, skills and technology in the sector, but warned that the proposed carbon price floor could push up energy bills.

Business secretary highlights manufacturing importance for growth

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:34:00 GMT

NHS report demonstrates 2010 improvements

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:22:00 GMT

Improvements in the performance of the NHS were seen during the fourth quarter of 2010, a new report states.

Published by the Department of Health, the study reveals quality and financial performance within the organisation continued to excel during the three months from October.

It suggests patients are getting better levels of care, while financial management is more robust.

Operations management professionals in the public sector may be interested to learn the NHS saw further falls in the rates of hospital-acquired infections during the period in question, in addition to better adult access to dentistry and improved breast and bowel cancer screening rates.

Areas earmarked for improvement include uptake of HPV vaccine among young girls and unnecessary delays in A&E.

"By keeping politics out of the NHS and freeing NHS staff to focus on outcomes for their patients, we will enable continuous improvement in the NHS," health secretary Andrew Lansley declared.

In related news, the government recently reported advances are being made in terms of reducing bureaucracy within the NHS, with a decline in the number of managers reducing administrative costs.

NHS report demonstrates 2010 improvements

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:22:00 GMT

Budget ''will assist UK''s manufacturing sector''

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:06:00 GMT

Manufacturing in the UK will receive a boost as a result of the recent 2011 Budget, it is claimed.

In a blog entry, Andrew Sissons, a researcher for the Work Foundation, welcomed measures introduced during the annual speech to the House of Commons, including the focus on producing goods in the UK.

Mr Sissons pointed to a series of 11 initiatives to assist the industry outlined in the government's Plan for Growth, including measures to increase links between companies, investment in research and a reformed Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Individuals concerned with manufacturing management may be interested in his comment that ministers need to recognise the importance of manu-services to the sector - as well as high-tech production - and ensure young people have the requisite skills to ensure its future success.

"The government needs to get even more serious and more sophisticated about manufacturing over the coming years," he declared.

In the 2011 Budget, announced on March 23rd, chancellor George Osborne stated the coalition wants to "encourage manufacturers to invest in the latest machinery and technology" and announced a series of plans, such as doubling capital allowances for short life assets.

Welcome for manufacturing boost in Budget

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:36:00 GMT

Plans in the government's budget to boost spending in skills, technology, research and development within the manufacturing sector have been welcomed.

Comments made by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation may be of interest to operations management professionals, with the body claiming the importance of ensuring the UK's success on the international stage by removing barriers to investment has been acknowledged by ministers.

However, EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler warned: "Despite the encouraging measures on investment, the significant rise in energy bills threatened by the carbon price floor is unwelcome."

In his 2011 Budget speech to the House of Commons, Mr Osborne stated the government wants "to encourage manufacturers to invest in the latest machinery and technology".

He proposed doubling the current capital allowances for short life assets to eight years and extending the current permit for the renovation of premises in assisted areas by a further five years.

In addition, he revealed the UK will become the first country in the world to introduce a carbon price floor, which will come into effect from 2013.

Manufacturing output ''boosted by domestic demand''

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:24:00 GMT

An increase in domestic demand has driven up output in the UK manufacturing sector, it has been claimed.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reports that recovery in the industry is continuing, but it is threatened by cost pressures.

A poll by the organisation found companies are forecasting a sharp increase in output prices during the coming quarter, although they also anticipate a continuing rise in output growth.

According to the most recent CBI Industrial Trends Survey, a balance of plus five per cent of manufacturers reported total orders above their normal level, the highest proportion since March 2008.

CBI economic adviser Ian McCafferty remarked: "The manufacturing recovery is picking up pace, with firms predicting robust output growth over the next quarter."

However, there was a fall in the pace of growth of export order books and producers reported that rising oil and raw material costs are likely to force them to increase output prices during the next three months.

Individuals concerned with production and inventory control may also be also be interested in recent data from the Office for National Statistics showing manufacturing activity climbed by 6.8 per cent year-on-year during January 2011.

NHS efforts ''reducing bureaucracy levels''

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:39:00 GMT

The government claims progress is being made within the NHS regarding efforts to reduce bureaucracy.

According to a statement from the Department of Health, the number of managers in the sector has fallen, pushing down administrative costs.

The results of a workforce census from the NHS Information Centre may interest those concerned with continuous improvement in the health service, as it has shown the number of managers and senior bosses declined by 2,770 over the 12 months to September 2010.

A reduction of 5.7 per cent in chiefs during the year in question has pushed down costs in this area, while the same period saw the number of GPs, nurses and consultants in the service climb by 2,707 to 721,717.

"Reducing bureaucracy is vital to modernising the NHS so that every penny saved can be reinvested into improving patient care and driving up quality," health minister Simon Burns commented.

In related news, health secretary Andrew Lansley has called for an improvement in data quality across the NHS in order to improve patient outcomes.

Concerns raised about public sector HR cuts

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:36:00 GMT

The scale of cuts that have taken place in human resources (HR) departments in the public sector have been too extreme, it is claimed.

According to a poll by a recruitment consultancy, departments appear to be under-resourced after posts have been axed in the wake of the Spending Review six months ago.

Badenoch & Clark suggests morale has been affected, with 87.9 per cent of HR professionals claiming it is now either average or poor, with many predicting further roles to go in their departments and high levels of uncertainty about the future.

The survey of more than 1,000 workers in the public sector also discovered factors such as effective internal communication, team building and investment in training and development can help to enhance confidence.

Operations management professionals in the public sector may be interested in the poll and comments by Badenoch & Clark operations director Duncan Ward that "those in public sector management positions must now work to offer assurances to their teams, where possible".

In related news, new reforms to the NHS as part of government modernisation plans were recently announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley, who insisted they will benefit millions of people and ensure the service is able to cope with growing patient numbers.

Rise forecast for operations management hiring in 2011

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:57:00 GMT

The number of people employed in operations management jobs looks set to climb during 2011, new figures suggest.

A report by APICS and the University of North Carolina-Wilmington found that 64 per cent of employers expected to appoint new professionals in the field and to enhance their supply chains this year.

Carried out by specialists from the Cameron School of Business at the institution, the research also found that the number of respondents forecasting redundancies in these areas has fallen by 50 per cent.

The news may interest those who have completed operations training courses or who hold an APICS qualification, with the survey indicating the highest net employment growth in operations and supply chain management since the start of the global economic downturn.

Commenting on the poll results, Abe Eshkenazi, chief executive of APICS, stated they are "cause for optimism that 2011 may see increased job creation".

APICS qualifications offer improved team-building skills, career support, project management development and acknowledgement in the field of operations management.

Rise forecast for operations management hiring in 2011

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 10:57:00 GMT

Operations management ''a key concern for small manufacturers''

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:37:00 GMT

Small manufacturing firms in the UK are concerned about operations management, a new poll reveals.

The report by the Forum of Private Business (FPB) found this was an area of priority among 18.7 per cent of those polled.

According to the study, overcoming difficulties in exporting goods to emerging markets was the leading focus, attracting 26.2 per cent of the vote, while one in five respondents highlighted sales and marketing as a key issue.

In addition, human resources and new product development were felt to be core concerns among respondents.

Commenting on the results, Phil Orford, chief executive of the FPB, stated: "Smaller manufacturing businesses should be able to be more flexible than their larger competitors and can move into new and emerging markets more quickly as the economy recovers."

Recent data for the manufacturing industry have indicated strong domestic and overseas growth is driving activity in the sector, with many companies reported expanding order books.

Operations management ''a key concern for small manufacturers''

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:37:00 GMT

Coalition ''should widen view of UK manufacturing''

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:25:00 GMT

The government needs to expand its opinion of what constitutes production in order to ensure the "manufacturing revival" it has called for, one organisation insists.

According to The Work Foundation, the coalition needs to provide support for the growing market for "manu-services".

The body states this sector, which offers innovative products alongside value-added services, is increasing in size, offering an opportunity for the UK to become a world leader in the field.

Manufacturing management professionals may be interested in the organisation's suggestion that this area is a "vital force" in the future success of the sector and should be placed at the heart of the growth agenda.

The Work Foundation estimated UK production companies now generate 15-20 per cent of their total income from services, with 28 per cent moving into the field in order to meet growing demand from customers.

Andrew Sissons, author of the report, said: "Manu-services play to Britain's strategic strengths: a highly skilled workforce, a strong service sector and excellent universities and institutions."

Recent Office for National Statistics data demonstrated a 6.8 per cent rise in UK manufacturing output over the year to January 2011.

NHS modernisation ''needed to meet future challenges''

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:58:00 GMT

Millions of people will benefit from government plans to modernise the NHS, it has been claimed.

In a new statement, the health secretary has outlined the arguments for overhauling the current system, as there is expected to be a jump in those with two or more conditions over the age of 65 between now and 2050 of 252 per cent.

Andrew Lansley explained this means changes are required to ensure the health service is prepared to cope with these volumes of patients, adding that almost one in three people in the UK currently suffer from a long-term illness, such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma.

Those specialising in demand planning and operations management in the NHS may be interested in his comments that the greatest volume of patients comes from the over-60s demographic and this looks set to grow.

Mr Lansley called for a new approach for those with long-term conditions, adding: "Patients don't want to see lots of different people for lots of different consultations - they want one team who can give them the advice, support and care they need."

He recently announced the allocation of £775 million over five years to fund translational research aimed at benefiting NHS patients in the future.

Manufacturing activity rises further in UK

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:33:00 GMT

The year to January 2011 saw a 6.8 per cent increase in manufacturing output within the UK.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the industry witnessed a year-on-year rise on a seasonally-adjusted basis, with demand planning specialists advised that production was higher in 12 out of 13 sub-sectors.

Manufacturing expansion was boosted in particular by strong growth in the fields of electrical and optical equipment, which saw output stand 14.6 per cent higher during the 12 months in question.

Additionally, there was a 12 per cent climb in the transport production field, with particularly strong growth in motor vehicle and engine parts manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the ONS revealed the overall Index of Production was 4.4 per cent higher during the year in question, as the mining and quarrying market dipped by 4.8 per cent and electricity, gas and water supply remained stable.

The Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing in the UK was a record 61.5 during February 2011, with any figure above 50 indicative of growth.

Police force ''could lose 28k through funding cuts''

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:15:00 GMT

As many as 28,000 police jobs could be axed as government spending cuts start to hit the service.

This is the view expressed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) in a confidential communication to ministers, the Guardian reports.

According to the news source, the ACPO predicts as many as 28,000 positions could be cut during the next four years in police forces across England and Wales, comprising 12,000 officers and 16,000 members of support staff.

However, a spokeswoman for the police body stated: "Chief officers are determined to do all they can to drive out inefficiencies and protect frontline delivery of policing."

Operations management experts in the public sector could find themselves facing fresh challenges as staff numbers are reduced in order to tackle the UK's budget deficit.

In related news, health secretary Andrew Lansley recently revealed GPs covering around two-thirds of the country have agreed to new continuous improvement plans intended to modernise the service and create more personalised care for patients.

Police force ''could lose 28k through funding cuts''

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:15:00 GMT

Police force ''could lose 28k through funding cuts''

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:15:00 GMT

Manufacturing activity ''continues to outpace expectations''

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:28:00 GMT

The first quarter of 2011 is seeing manufacturing activity in the UK exceed expectations once again, a new report suggests.

Research by BDO and EEF, the manufacturers' organisation shows exports are continuing to drive expansion of the industry, with firms continuing to hire new employees and invest in their operations.

According to the study, strong growth in the sector has been maintained and output and new orders are expected to hold up during the second three months of the year.

However, the organisations warned those in manufacturing management that price pressures on the industry are building and concerns about accessing finance and the stability of the recovery could affect expansion.

"The outlook for the rest of 2011 still remains uncertain as a number of economic headwinds persist and new geopolitical tensions add another layer of uncertainty to economic forecasts," EEF chief economist Lee Hopley stated.

In the latest Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing, Markit and CIPS indicated record rates of growth in the sector continued during February 2011.

New orders growth ''drives up global manufacturing PMI''

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:11:00 GMT

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the global manufacturing industry reached its joint second-highest level during February this year, new figures have shown.

Data from JPMorgan revealed growth in new orders and output boosted activity from January, with production up for 21 months in a row.

The Global Manufacturing PMI jumped to 57.8 in February 2011, continuing a strong start to the year by the sector, with any figure above 50 indicating growth.

Individuals concerned with continuous improvement and manufacturing management may be interested in the news that job creation sped up over the month in question.

Compiled by Markit Economics, the study also showed input prices climbed at their fastest rate in 2.5 years.

JPMorgan director of global economics coordination David Hensley remarked: "Inflationary pressures are building, as rising commodity prices, particularly for oil and softs, drove up manufacturer's costs."

The CIPS and Markit PMI for the UK's production sector rose stood at a record 61.5 in February.

New orders growth ''drives up global manufacturing PMI''

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:11:00 GMT

New orders growth ''drives up global manufacturing PMI''

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 12:11:00 GMT

UK services sector sees ''modest'' growth in February

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:40:00 GMT

The services sector in the UK witnessed a modest improvement in growth during February 2011, new figures show.

According to the latest data from Markit and the CIPS, the industry saw expansion comparable to that seen before the extreme winter weather affected results for December and January.

Operations management specialists in the sector may be interested to learn the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the month demonstrated forward-looking indicators for February were "positive", with new business rising steadily.

In addition, confidence among respondents climbed to a nine-month high, although rising costs continued to put pressure on margins, leading to a slight dip in employment over the period in question.

The activity PMI declined from 54.5 in January to 52.6, following a contraction in December as a result of snow and ice sweeping across the country.

Sectors that performed particularly strongly included personal services and hotels, catering and restaurants.

However, the slowdown in services growth was seen as sharper than anticipated, with the Telegraph predicting it could persuade economists to hold interests rates a while longer.

UK services sector sees ''modest'' growth in February

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:40:00 GMT

UK services sector sees ''modest'' growth in February

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:40:00 GMT

UK services sector sees ''modest'' growth in February

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 13:40:00 GMT

CBI: Government needs to nurture IP framework

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:24:00 GMT

The government needs to work to maintain the UK's high quality intellectual property (IP) framework that has helped to attract businesses operating in the aerospace, pharmaceuticals and commercial goods markets, it has been suggested.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the country's IP structure is "fundamental" to supporting such sectors.

It called on the Intellectual Property Office to offer more support to small and medium-sized enterprises so they can bring their ideas to market as quickly as possible.

"Intellectual property is a key economic driver and should be considered one of our crown jewels," CBI director-general John Cridland stated.

He urged the government to "set out a clear and unambiguous aspiration" to make the UK a leading destination for companies wishing to create and utilise IP,

The CBI recently noted production in the UK is continuing to recover, with orders from both domestic and overseas firms rising and expansion expected this quarter.

CBI: Government needs to nurture IP framework

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:24:00 GMT

New business practices ''enhancing manufacturing''

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:52:00 GMT

Manufacturers are increasingly embracing new business practices, which are helping to enhance their operations management processes.

This is the view expressed by a spokesman for the Manufacturing Institute, who noted such approaches are assisting firms in captalising on commercial opportunities and identifying new ways of reducing their costs.

Ed Moss explained: "People are cottoning on to good business practices and it is improving manufacturing."

He pointed to "a certain buoyancy" that is being seen in the sector, with domestic demand growing and people becoming more proud to "buy British" following a difficult few years, as the market looks "much more positive" than it appeared six months or so ago.

Mr Moss's comments may be of particular interest to those concerned with manufacturing management and demand planning, with recent figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development revealing there was a five per cent climb in UK exports between the third and fourth quarters of 2010.

Mixed picture reported for UK services sector

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:38:00 GMT

The UK services sector has seen mixed results during the past three months, a new survey shows.

Research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) covering 171 organisations suggests the industry diverged further over the quarter to mid-February, with strong performance by business and professional services firms.

Such companies returned to growth over the period in question, while consumer-focused enterprises saw a fall in volumes.

Operations management and demand planning specialists in the services sector may be interested in comments by CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty, in which he noted rising prices and constraints on incomes have caused sluggish consumer spending, while businesses are starting to spend more as the economy recovers from the global downturn.

A balance of minus 17 per cent of consumer services companies expect to expand their operations during the next year, while plus 24 per cent of business and professional services entities expect to grow over the coming 12 months.

The CBI report follows figures from the Office for National Statistics revealing a surplus in overseas trade of £4.4 billion, down from £4.5 billion in November and driven by strong levels of services exporting from the UK.

Mixed picture reported for UK services sector

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:38:00 GMT

Mixed picture reported for UK services sector

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:38:00 GMT

Pharma sector ''needs to enhance manufacturing management''

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:43:00 GMT

More effort is required from the pharmaceutical industry to enhance its manufacturing management processes.

This is the view expressed in a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which claims production in the field is currently "inefficient, under-utilised and ill-equipped to cope with new medicines".

According to the study, there will be shifts in the type of drugs being produced, with more genetically-based and complex medicines needing different supply chain and manufacturing processes.

Supply chains are expected to become more fragmented, with better data flow by operations management professionals and greater investment required to ensure they are successful, PwC states.

"Companies that recognise information is the currency of the future, will be those that go the final mile and stand out by 2020," Steve Arlington, PwC global advisory leader in pharmaceutical and life sciences, declares.

Firms committing to improving manufacturing processes may also be interested in recent climbs in the sector's output over recent months, driven by recovery in both export and domestic markets.

Pharma sector ''needs to enhance manufacturing management''

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:43:00 GMT

Big Society agenda ''focused on devolution and modernisation''

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:44:00 GMT

Plans by the government to reform the public sector are intended to devolve power from Whitehall and modernise services, the prime minister has claimed.

In an article for the Telegraph, David Cameron said the Big Society agenda is focused on ending top-down delivery rather than simply on boosting social action.

He claimed this approach will provide people with greater control over their lives and announced a White Paper will soon be published on public service reform.

Operations management professionals in the public sector may be interested in Mr Cameron's remark that "we need a complete change" in order to release "the grip of state control" and allow professionals more discretion and local control.

"These are practical reforms, driven by a clear rationale that the best way to raise quality and value for money is to allow different providers to offer services in an open and accountable way," he added.

However, the prime minister's plans have been criticised by Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, who claimed it is "anti-democratic" to permit private sector companies to bid for public service contracts.

Praise for manufacturers'' operations management

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:26:00 GMT

The chief secretary to the Treasury has praised manufacturing management at two successful companies in Burnley.

Danny Alexander visited both Aircelle and AMS Neve in the Lancashire town and met with workers, witnessing first hand how they are excelling in their particular production sectors.

The former is an aircraft equipment manufacturer, while AMS Neve specialises in the production of audio technology, with Mr Alexander noting almost 20 per cent of all workers in Burnley are employed in the manufacturing industry.

"By dealing with the deficit and creating the conditions for growth the Government can support manufacturing companies such as these in driving the private sector-led recovery," Mr Alexander declared.

Operations management professionals may also be interested in recent comments by Ed Moss of the Manufacturing Institute, in which he claimed that production businesses in the UK have seen a return of the country's leading reputation for high-quality goods.

Praise for manufacturers'' operations management

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 10:26:00 GMT

UK manufacturers ''forecasting further output growth''

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Manufacturers might need to look at improving their processes in light of a recent report that indicates an increase in optimism about output growth.

The latest Industrial Trends Survey revealed that 37 per cent of manufacturers surveyed in February believed they would see a rise in output, while only 14 per cent forecast a fall.

This is an improvement on the previous month, when the difference between these two figures was only 17 per cent, compared with 23 per cent in February.

Ian McCafferty, chief economic adviser of the Confederation of British Industry, commented: "The outlook for UK manufacturing output growth is very encouraging. Firms predict further acceleration in production growth over the next quarter, supported particularly by a strengthening in export order books."

He noted that the expectations for growth are currently at the highest level they have been since before the recession.

This comes after Lee Hopley, chief economist at the EEF, said there are a number of operations management issues facing manufacturers and that firms are still under pressure to control internal costs.

Public sector employers warned over redundancy legislation compliance

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:18:00 GMT

Looming government cuts mean that public sector employers will have to reduce staff numbers and while this is an emotionally distressing time for all, failure to adhere to relevant employment legislation can make the situation worse.

That is according to Andrea O'Hare, head of personnel and employment law at Citation, who stated that there are many legal aspects to consider when relieving someone of their duties and warned that it is quite a complex task.

"Now more than ever, employers are under increased scrutiny by Employment Tribunals to ensure they are legally compliant when considering redundancies," she said.

Failure to adhere to the law could see public sector bodies suffer a double blow of adverse publicity and large compensation claims.

The UK's public sector will have to find different ways of working as staff numbers are reduced as part of efforts to rein in the country's budget deficit, associated director of policy at the Work Foundation Stephen Overell suggested recently.

CBI calls for public sector to improve IT use

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:54:00 GMT

Public sector organisations could improve the quality of services they deliver and make significant financial savings for the taxpayer at the same time, it has been suggested.

Emma Watkins, head of public services policy at the CBI, made the claim after the Information and Communications Technology in government report from the National Audit Office (NAO) identified areas which need to be addressed.

She stated that technology is improving people's lives in many areas, highlighting examples of midwives being given handheld devices to enable them to access patient records on the move and the installation of emergency alarms in the homes of older people.

Ms Watkins stated that getting maximum value for every penny spent is commendable but being too stringent could prove to be a false economy.

"Making better use of information technology could boost the efficiency of our public services, while reaping big savings for taxpayers," she added.

The NAO identified several areas where IT use needs improving, with the inclusion of government chief information officers in key investment decisions one recommendation.

Pay settlements in manufacturing remain steady

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:44:00 GMT

Pay settlements in the manufacturing industry for the three months to the end of January 2010 remained broadly stable, new figures have shown.

According to research from the EEF, the average settlement remained at 2.2 per cent, the same figure recorded to the end of December.

The industry body's data showed that the number of pay freezes has fallen slightly but remains at just over one in six settlements.

Lee Hopley, chief economist at the EEF, said that manufacturers face numerous operations management issues and that these are weighing heavily.

"Firms remain under intense pressure to control their internal costs in the face of global competition and these figures would suggest as yet the Bank of England has little to fear from inflationary agreements in manufacturing," she added.

Elsewhere, the EEF is calling on the government to rethink its Carbon Price Floor initiative, claiming it will add to the already heavy burden manufacturers have to deal with.

Manufacturers urge rethink on carbon reduction policy

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 16:37:00 GMT

The body representing manufacturers in the UK has called on the government to rethink the introduction of a carbon price, claiming it will deter investment in the long run.

According to the EEF, such a move would increase the burden companies already have to deal with and warned that there is a limit to what industry is prepared to accept.

It made the claims following the Treasury's Carbon Price Floor plan and David Ost, regional director at the EEF, said that there are already a number of emissions reduction initiatives in place and that adding more will hurt businesses who already looking at ways of improving manufacturing processes.

"Industry accepts that addressing climate change comes with a price tag but we are rapidly reaching a tipping point where companies who are internationally mobile will say enough is enough," Mr Ost stated.

Terry Scuoler, chief executive of the representative body, recently expressed his dismay at the lending targets agreed with banks, claiming that they do not go far enough to support organisations in these austere times.

Manufacturing rises in Scottish private sector

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:05:00 GMT

Increased activity among manufacturers and service providers helped the private sector in Scotland to return to growth during the first month of the year.

According to new figures from the Bank of Scotland, new order levels increased in January, while activity among both service providers and manufacturers surged and input and output prices climbed at the fastest pace for over two years.

The banks purchasing managers' index rose from 36.9 points in December to 52.9 in January, however new order growth was relatively modest and below the UK average.

Commenting, chief economist at the bank Donald MacRae stated: "The Scottish private sector economy made a return to growth in January reducing fears of a 'double dip' and increasing expectations for a continuing recovery in 2011."

He added staffing levels at manufacturing firms edged higher again, meaning job creation has now been ongoing for a year.

Andrew Goodwin of the Ernst & Young ITEM Club recently called on UK manufacturers to learn from their counterparts across Europe if they want to improve productivity.

Jewellery industry ''forced to undertake demand planning''

Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:34:00 GMT

Demand planning has had to alter within the jewellery industry in order to keep track of trends.

That is the suggestion of Clarke Manufacturing, which said an increased focus can be seen on disposable items because this is what consumers want.

The firm's Simon Clarke was speaking at the Birmingham Jewellery Show and he noted demand for disposable fashion has come at the expense of "timeless and beautiful" items.

As such, jewellery manufacturers may have had to centre their demand planning strategies on this growing trend.

"There is a trend towards pearls and rosaries are an interest. Holly Willoughby has been wearing sovereigns in sovereign mounts and so we have had a cluster of phone calls about that, which is interesting," he stated.

Furthermore, many people only buy jewellery to wear once.

Demand planning may also focus on the Guild of Jewellery Designers trend reports.

The spring/summer 2011 one noted that large pieces of jewellery - such as cocktail rings and cuffs - continue to be popular with consumers.

Services sector delivers December trade surplus

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 12:39:00 GMT

The UK's services sector recorded a surplus in overseas trade during December 2010 of £4.4 billion.

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this was slightly lower than the £4.5 billion reported for November, while the overall volume of goods and services imports rose over by 1.4 per cent over the month.

This strong level of services exporting may be of interest to operations management professionals working in the sector, as it may influence how they approach demand planning and continuous improvement strategies, particularly with the estimated surplus on trade in services climbing from £13.1 billion to £13.5 billion between the third and fourth quarters of 2010.

However, overseas trade in goods was lower during the period in question, resulting in an overall deficit of £4.8 billion, up from £3.9 billion the previous month.

The government has announced a series of measures intended to increase the international competitiveness of UK businesses, including an extension to the services provided by the Export Credits Guarantee Department to cover exporters other than those trading in capital goods.

UK manufacturing ''should learn from Germany''

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:35:00 GMT

Manufacturers and exporters in the UK should look to their European counterparts for ways of enhancing productivity, it is claimed.

This is the statement made by Ernst & Young ITEM Club senior economic advisor Andrew Goodwin, who pointed out the weak pound has provided the sector with a temporary boost and more should be done to ensure this continues in the long-term.

"The UK needs to be looking to the lessons learned from Germany, which has consistently achieved greater improvements in competitiveness than the UK," he explained.

Mr Goodwin was commenting on new figures from the organisation predicting the value of exports from the UK to emerging markets such as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations will climb by 11.7 per cent between 2010 and 2020.

He suggested a change in strategy is required within manufacturing to boost investment in operations management, research and development, as well as improving the country's skills base.

The most recent Purchasing Managers' Index for manufacturing rose at its fastest rate since 1992, climbing to 62 in January 2011, up from 58.7 in December.

Small manufacturers witness improvements in output

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:32:00 GMT

Small manufacturers in the UK saw output climb during the quarter to January 2011, new figures show.

According to the latest report on the sector from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), production improved over the period from a balance of plus nine per cent the previous three months to plus 13 per cent, fuelled by the fastest growth in domestic demand since January 1997.

Demand planning and manufacturing management experts are advised the organisation also found improvements in employment within small production companies over the period in question.

However, the CBI warned inflationary pressures on businesses are increasing, as the cost of materials rises, pushing up the price of goods.

Chairman of the body's SME Council Lucy Armstrong commented: "Manufacturing is one of the few bright spots in the economy and this survey underlines the important role of smaller firms in delivering growth and jobs."

Meanwhile, UK manufacturing activity rose at a record level in January 2011, with the Purchasing Managers' Index for the month standing at 62, CIPS and Markit data shows.

Public sector ''will have to adapt to new ways of working''

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:35:00 GMT

The UK's public sector will have to find different ways of working as staff numbers are reduced as part of efforts to curtail the country's budget deficit, it has been claimed.

Associated director of policy at the Work Foundation Stephen Overell suggested employees will have to examine their operations management policies as they are required to assume the workloads of colleagues being made redundant.

"Health services and local authorities are making very big cuts in their workforces - these services have often been built up for a long period of time and they can't just disappear," he explained.

Mr Overell noted this will mean "people have to work in different ways" in order to cover for members of staff who have been lost, which could increase work intensity and stress.

His remarks come after a poll by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found 31 per cent of individuals working for the public sector are worried about losing their jobs.

Record growth reported in UK manufacturing

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:15:00 GMT

Manufacturing activity in the UK rose at its most rapid pace since the current series began in 1992 in January 2011, new figures show.

The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the month revealed climbed from 58.7, revised upwards, in December to 62, while new orders and employment growth also reached record highs.

Those concerned with demand planning and manufacturing management may be interested to learn the latest data from CIPS and Markit indicated activity last month outstripped expectations.

Both the export and domestic markets expanded over the month in question, while cost pressures were seen to increase on producers as materials prices grow, having an impact throughout supply chains.

A Treasury spokesman welcomed the strong growth witnessed by the manufacturing sector both in January and in every quarter of 2010.

"A growing manufacturing sector is vital if we are to rebalance the economy towards trade and investment, in order to have sustainable growth," he added.

UK sees services sector growth recover

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:49:00 GMT

A sharp rise has been recorded in services sector growth in the UK, it has been reported.

The latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) indicates firms in the industry recovered strongly from the snow and ice that swept Britain during January.

According to the figures from Markit and the CIPS, input cost inflation also rose sharply during the month in question.

The PMI activity index climbed from a 20-month low of 49.7 recorded in December 2010 to 54.5, with any figure above 50 indicative of growth.

Markit chief economist Chris Williamson stated: "The service sector rebounded in January as the country thawed out from the coldest December in a century."

However, he pointed out that expansion rates remain "modest" and below strong figures reported during the first half of 2010.

Services sector operations management professionals may also be interested to learn that Jonathan Loynes of Capital Economics recently stressed the importance of the industry to the country's recovery, as its comprises two-thirds of the economy.

New government CIO ''to move towards the cloud''

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:10:00 GMT

The new chief information officer (CIO) to the government will start to move the public sector in the UK towards cloud computing.

According to the Cabinet Office, Joe Harley started the role on February 1st and will work on his new duties alongside his existing posts as director general and CIO at the Department for Work and Pensions.

He has been appointed to develop a cross-government agenda for ICT that will cover networking, software, asset consolidation and data centres.

The Cabinet Office has declared he will be charged with realising greater flexibility, reducing development timescales and risk and generating significant financial savings in the public sector, something that may interest operations management professionals in the field.

"I believe we have a great opportunity to make a difference by transforming our ICT services to radically change the way we do business across government and deliver public sector reform," Mr Harley stated.

His appointment comes shortly after Justine Greening, economic secretary to the Treasury, unveiled government proposals intended to ensure greater financial discipline in the public sector.

Record high in UK manufacturing ''should not boost interest rates''

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:23:00 GMT

The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing in the UK has reached a record high, but this should not cause an interest rate rise.

This is according to ING Bank, which noted figures for activity in the sector have reached levels not seen since the current series began in 1992.

Both employment and new orders in the industry have risen in recent months, with output levels reaching the second highest to date and sharp climbs in input and output prices.

However, the institution's James Knightley pointed out that manufacturing is responsible for just 13 per cent of total UK gross domestic product and, "while this sector is doing very well, the rest of the economy is not nearly as strong".

Individuals involved in demand planning and manufacturing management may be interested in his comments that the services sector is contracting, overall growth remains weak and the impact of fiscal austerity measures has yet to be felt.

The Confederation of British Industry has predicted the expansion of UK production will continue, as exports continue to push up activity in the sector.

Boosting manufacturing sector ''need not be expensive''

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:44:00 GMT

It does not necessarily require large sums of money to expand the UK's manufacturing industry, one expert has declared.

This is the view expressed by the editor of the Engineer, who suggested "the continued growth of UK manufacturing is a cause for cautious optimism" despite uncertain economic conditions and the effects of the recent big freeze being felt by many companies.

In an article for the publication, Jon Excell noted engineering and technology should be placed at the heart of the country's recovery from the global downturn.

He pointed to recent talks between manufacturing industry leaders and members of the government in order to boost the sector in the future, something that may be of interest to operations management specialists.

According to Mr Excell, the coalition government is more frugal than its predecessor but can still effect changes by tackling outdated perceptions of engineering, creating the right conditions for growth and removing barriers to success.

A summit took place earlier this month between government officials and representatives of advanced manufacturing organisations to examine challenges facing the industry, including attracting the skills and talent required for it to flourish.

Operations management ''can improve firms'' sustainability''

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 14:25:00 GMT

Effective operations management can help businesses to improve their sustainability, an expert has stated.

According to Eugene Tebulo, an engineer for Bottling and Brewing Group, companies need to strive for excellence that focuses on waste, reports the Nation.

"The goal is to move our waste up the hierarchy, with the ultimate goal of reducing waste to zero," he said while presenting a paper at a training workshop at the Malawi Institution of Engineers.

He explained that the waste management hierarchy was "reduce, reuse, recycle and recover".

Mr Tebulo asserted that improving operations management in this sector is good for both the environment and society, recommending a variety of different approaches to help deal with the problem rather than a focus on one solution.

This comes after new data from Eurostat revealed that there has been a 1.6 per cent increase in the level of industrial new orders in the European Union, with continuous improvement seen in the production sector.

Council boss reports continuous improvement progress

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:53:00 GMT

Doncaster council has stated that it has seen continuous improvement since the government took a hand in its running.

Chief executive Rob Vincent said there is still some work to be done, but that there were positive signs, reports the Star.

A recent eight-page document released by Mr Vincent - who was brought in after the government audit - praised elected members and officers for their determination to "put things right".

"A lot of good work has been done to get to where we are now," he asserted.

According to the study, there have been particularly encouraging signs of continuous improvement in the Children's Service Improvement Plan, which was one of 11 areas of recovery charted in the report.

This comes after economic secretary to the Treasury Justine Greening unveiled plans to create a more cost-conscious culture among bosses in the UK, stating that it is vital to "get a grip" on public finances.

Event highlights need for excellence in advanced manufacturing

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:52:00 GMT

A government conference has seen officials and representatives of the advanced manufacturing sector discuss ways of promoting excellence.

The summit highlighted key challenges facing the industry such as attracting new talent to boost the leading position of the UK in the hi-tech manufacturing field, manufacturing management professionals may be interested to note.

As a result, businesses are being urged to open their doors to teachers and students during the course of a week to highlight the opportunities offered by production.

Commenting on the plans, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg stated: "I want our young people to see that British manufacturing offers well-paid and rewarding careers."

He claimed the country needs to develop "the engineers of tomorrow", while business secretary Vince Cable highlighted the need to enhance the image of manufacturing among young people.

Those seeking careers in operations management or considering taking a APICS qualification may be interested to note recent figures have indicated the UK's manufacturing sector is leading the economic recovery, boosted by exports.

Health secretary highlights need for quality in NHS

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:36:00 GMT

The health secretary has suggested competition within the NHS is needed to drive value in the sector.

Andrew Lansley was addressing the Maximising Quality, Minimising Cost conference and he told delegates providers that deliver excellence will see more patients choose their services, offering an incentive for poorer performers to improve their operations.

Hosted by UCL Partners and the future economic regulator Monitor, the event took place on January 24th and focused on ways of adding value in the NHS in terms of outcomes per pound spent.

Individuals involved in operations management within the health service may be interested in Mr Lansley's comments that value-based competition is required to ensure it is able to meet the future needs of patients.

He declared the coalition's plans will deliver "not a free-for-all race to the bottom, but a race for quality, for excellence and for efficiency" and pointed out that studies have suggested introducing elements of competitiveness raises standards across the board.

Strong EU increase in manufacturing new orders reported

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:05:00 GMT

The level of industrial new orders in the European Union (EU) rose during November 2010 by 1.6 per cent, new data show.

Individuals involved in demand planning and manufacturing management may be interested in the latest report from Eurostat on production, which shows the sector is continuing to record growth.

According to the figures, industrial new orders excluding railway and aerospace equipment and ships expanded by 1.9 per cent during the month from October.

In addition, the statistical agency reports year-on-year growth of 19.4 per cent exclusive of the above fields, while total manufacturing working on orders rose most sharply in Hungary (17.1 per cent), Portugal (9.1 per cent) and Finland (7.3 per cent).

New orders for capital goods rose over the month in question by 2.8 per cent and intermediate goods climbed by 1.3 per cent, while declines were recorded in durable consumer goods and non-durable consumer goods over the period.

In the UK, the Confederation of British Industry has reported recovery of production in the country is "on track", with exports driving the market and confidence growing among companies.

Manufacturing sector recovery ''driven by exports''

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:06:00 GMT

The recovery of production in the UK is recovering and is "on track" for further expansion over the coming quarter, it has been claimed.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), growth is expected to continue by firms, with strong levels of orders from overseas and domestically, with employment prospects increasing for the past two quarters and growing confidence among manufacturing businesses.

However, CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty warned companies in the sector "have come under intense pressure to pass on rising costs: they have increased prices markedly in this quarter and expect to raise them at an even faster pace".

Operations management professionals may be interested in his prediction that growing prices could fuel inflation rates in the UK economy over the coming months.

The CBI found 32 per cent of the 394 manufacturers polled for its January Quarterly Industrial Trends Survey had seen output grow during the past quarters, while 16 per cent stated it had fallen.

Meanwhile, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Industrial group has called for greater investment in skills to ensure the sector continues to expand in the future.

Government plans ''to deliver financial efficiencies in public sector''

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:30:00 GMT

New proposals have been published that aim to improve financial discipline within the public sector.

Economic secretary to the Treasury Justine Greening has unveiled plans to ensure fiscal implications are "inherent to every decision taken" by bosses in the field.

Under the new Finance Transformation Programme - which has been published in Managing Taxpayers' Money Wisely and will be overseen by the Treasury - four areas of focus have been identified, including driving effective leadership, developing a "cost conscious culture" based on financial assessment and establishing expert central functions.

Announcing the foundations for the programme at an annual training event organised by the Government Finance Profession, she explained: "We've got to get a grip on the public finances, but to do that across the public sector we've got to drive through a real change in culture."

The proposals come in the wake of consultation with stakeholders and commitments made by ministers in the Spending Review Framework and the Programme for Government.

Individuals involved in continuous improvement in the public sector may be interested in the plans, as spending cuts come into force, increasing the need for better levels of efficiency within organisations.

Call for skills focus to boost manufacturing

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:41:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing process could be constrained by skills shortages unless action is taken, it has been suggested.

According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), investment in talent is vital if the industry is to continue on a strong growth path.

REC Industrial explained firms need assistance in recruiting and retaining talent, with gaps emerging in the sector as the UK economy recovers from the impact of the recession.

The body welcomed data from the British Chambers of Commerce indicating national manufacturing output rose by 5.6 per cent at the end of last year.

Manufacturing management professionals may be interested in the assertion by the group's chair, Sally Hewick, that recovery in the industry is "gathering pace".

"Currently, we see minimal flexibility in the manufacturing environment," she noted, adding "there is a huge amount of talent going to waste" because there are very few part-time or job sharing positions available.

Recent figures have revealed strong expansion in production output in recent months, with high levels of exports driving up sales.

EU witnesses November boost to industrial production

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:34:00 GMT

Further positive figures for the manufacturing industry have been published by the European Union (EU), showing a rise in industrial production during November 2010.

According to figures from Eurostat, there was a seasonally-adjusted increase across the 27 member states of 1.4 per cent month-on-month.

In addition, this growth is considerably higher than the 0.4 per cent expansion recorded in October 2010, while November witnessed a climb of 7.8 per cent in industrial production compared with the same month of 2009.

The statistical office of the EU has also reported a 1.5 per cent monthly gain in manufacture of intermediate goods in November 2010, expansion in output of capital goods of 2.1 per cent, a dip of 1.2 per cent in durable consumer goods and stable non-durable consumer goods production.

Year-on-year industrial production was up in all but two member states surveyed (Greece and Malta), with the sharpest growth in Estonia, Lithuania and Ireland.

Meanwhile, those considering completing an APICS qualification may also be interested in data from the UK's Office for National Statistics for November 2010 showing a 5.6 per cent rise in the nation's manufacturing index over the year.

Warning over potential risks of NHS reforms

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:22:00 GMT

Members of staff in the health service and patients must be engaged when proposed government reforms to the health service are introduced.

This is according to a report from the NHS Confederation, which has raised concerns about the potential risks of changing aspects of the system and the importance of good operations management in facilitating them.

A series of 12 key points have been published by the body aimed at highlighting the threats to healthcare, based on talks between professionals, local government, specialists and patient groups.

However, entitled Liberating the NHS. What might happen?, the study also notes if they are carried out in the right way, reforms could benefit NHS staff and patients.

Nigel Edwards, acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation, stated: "We see real potential benefits in both moving decision making closer to GPs and in extending the range of providers in order to drive efficiency and innovation."

The organisation published its opinions ahead of the release of the coalition government's health and social care bill later this week, with the Royal College of GPs also expressing fears that boosting patient choice could prove detrimental to the NHS.

UK manufacturing outstrips index of production

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:53:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing index increased in November 2010 by 5.6 per cent year-on-year, official data show.

A report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals the sector outstripped the overall index of production for the month, which grew by 3.3 per cent over the 12 months.

Manufacturing output was up in 12 out of 13 sub-sectors of manufacturing in the year to November, falling in one field, with the largest rises in the machinery and equipment market (+20 per cent) and food, drink and tobacco (+8.7 per cent).

Individuals involved in demand planning and operations management within the industry may be interested to learn companies creating machinery for the production of mechanical power saw a 53.3 per cent climb in output, while manufacturers of other special purpose machinery saw it rise 37 per cent and those specialising in meat and meat products reported a 22.2 per cent increase.

The recent purchasing managers' index from Markit and CIPS indicated the manufacturing sector is driving economic growth in the UK, with exports boosting activity to a 16-year high during December 2010.

Increased competitiveness and production ''drive German boom''

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:48:00 GMT

Germany has boomed as a result of strong export sales and an effective manufacturing base, a writer has claimed.

According to the economics editor of the Guardian, the nation has seen an increase in trade in capital good with China, has tightened its competitiveness and has identified growth sectors such as renewable power.

Larry Elliott stated that Germany's manufacturing success has been the result of factors such as co-operation between workers and managers, long-term investment and a commitment to quality.

He noted that despite economic uncertainty in many other eurozone nations, Germany witnessed its strongest year of gross domestic product growth during 2010 since reunification.

Over the past two decades, he observed, the nation has been improving manufacturing processes, although its reliance on exports could make it vulnerable in the event there is a "second leg to the crisis".

In the UK, EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, has predicted in its 2011 forecast that production will drive the UK economy this year, outperforming other fields.

Service sector ''vital to UK''s economic recovery''

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:29:00 GMT

Britain's service sector is central to ensuring the country's economy recovers from the downturn, one expert has stated.

Chief European economist of Capital Economics Jonathan Loynes claimed the industry could see some of its highest performing areas struggle during the coming years, such as consumer-led businesses and financial services.

"The services sector is going to be much more important, as a result of its sheer size – it's two thirds of the economy," he declared.

Sales and operations planning professionals in the field may be interested in his remarks that the UK needs to shift from its "excessive dependence" on services.

Mr Loynes's comments come after a report from the British Chambers of Commerce raised concerned about the recent weak levels of activity on the sector, compared with strong evidence of growth in manufacturing.

The Quarterly Economic Survey for the last three months of 2010 indicated a slowing of gross domestic product expansion, with services confidence lower than levels recorded earlier in the year.

Concerns raised about UK service sector

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:27:00 GMT

The service industry in the UK remains "fragile" this year, as the manufacturing sector continues to register strong growth, a report states.

According to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), this raises concerns about the sustainability of the UK's recovery from the global downturn, as the economy appears to have witnessed a slowdown in growth during the fourth quarter of 2010.

In its latest Quarterly Economic Survey, the organisation found service sector turnover confidence is higher year-on-year at +26 per cent, although it is below rates during 2010, while exports are returning to pre-recession levels.

The BCC has called on the government to support businesses in the UK in order to strengthen the economic recovery and ensure the private sector drives expansion as public sector cuts take effect.

"We must encourage more new start-ups, more employment, create stronger companies and support export potential," BCC director-general David Frost declared.

Individuals in the service sector planning to take an APICS qualification may also be interested to learn that the industry saw growth in activity and new orders during November, although confidence remained low, the most recent report from the CIPS and Markit indicated.

Manufacturing ''will lead UK recovery in 2011''

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:35:00 GMT

The manufacturing industry will lead balanced economic growth in the UK during 2011, it is claimed.

In a forecast for the year, EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, predicted the sector will outperform others as it is boosted by strong orders from overseas.

Growing activity in emerging markets is expected to help offset the impact of government spending cuts, according to the report, with investment and net trade expanding in the country.

Entitled Economic Prospects 2011, the study also highlights challenges to those involved in manufacturing management over the coming 12 months, including access to finance, high inflation levels, the crisis in the eurozone and rising commodity prices.

EEF chief economist Lee Hopley stated: "Manufacturing now looks set to be at the heart of the rebalanced growth the economy needs with sectors most exposed to international markets likely to post the highest growth."

Last month the body stated in its response to the Government released a package of energy market reforms that they will support low carbon development, but will also push up costs for producers.

Government unveils plans for high value manufacturing centre

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 11:28:00 GMT

Expressions of interest are being sought from organisations in the UK to run proposed technology and innovation centres.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has unveiled the plans, which are intended to result in a new £200 million network of facilities, one of which will be focused on high value manufacturing.

Intended to collaborate with businesses and universities, the institutions will be overseen by the Technology Strategy Board in order to commercialise research and access new markets.

"We should be at the cutting edge of science, manufacturing and technology," deputy prime minister Nick Clegg stated, adding that the banking crisis had highlighted the need for a new kind of economic growth for the country.

The Technology Strategy Board has published a prospectus for the proposed centres, which may be of particular interest for those involved in manufacturing management as they aim to drive forward research into a range of areas, with the production-focused facility being fast-tracked.

Additional funds found to enhance NHS services

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 12:41:00 GMT

An additional £162 million is being allocated by the Department of Health to improve local frontline services.

Those working in operations management in the public sector may be interested to learn the money has been found following "a successful efficiency drive" and will go towards health and care delivery during the current financial year.

As part of continuous improvement efforts for the health service, the cash was announced by health secretary Andrew Lansley, who said it will be spent on assisting patients in leaving hospital faster and provide them with the support they require at home.

"It's really important, particularly at this time of year, that we help people to leave hospital as quickly as they can, when they are ready," the minister stated.

Plans to combine the efforts of health and local authorities with regard to social care will be brought forward as a result, in a bid to reduce delayed transfers.

A recent report by medical insurance specialist Simplyhealth predicted the NHS will witness its most significant changes in its 60-year history during 2011.

Weather ''affects UK services sector growth''

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:37:00 GMT

Growth in the UK's services sector has been affected by severe winter weather conditions in recent weeks.

This is according to an article in the Telegraph, which predicts the most recent purchasing managers' index (PMI) will reveal a dip in the industry.

It forecasts a drop from 53 in November to closer to 52 during December 2010, with economists blaming snow and ice for affecting firms such as restaurants and hotels.

In addition, the impact of public sector spending cuts is thought to be starting to be seen among services businesses and the VAT rise potentially affecting spending in the future.

Responsible for around three-quarters of the UK economy, the services sector is an important barometer and is expected to have been outstripped by the manufacturing industry.

Individuals concerned with demand planning may be interested to learn that the latest manufacturing PMI from Markit and the CIPS climbed to a 16-year high of 58.3 during December 2010, boosted by new orders, output growth and exports.

UK manufacturing sector registers growth

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 11:54:00 GMT

Manufacturing activity improved during December 2010, a new report reveals.

The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the sector rose to a 16-year high of 58.3 over the month, with sharp rises in output and new orders.

According to the figures from Markit and the CIPS, jobs growth also improved during the period in question, with export business continuing to drive expansion.

Significant rises were recorded during December in the electrical, transport and chemicals and plastics fields, with sales to customers located in Europe, the US and east Asia all increasing.

However, the study also warns cost pressures are increasing as a result of strong growth in input prices during the end of 2010.

"The UK manufacturing sector saw a truly spectacular end to 2010," Markit senior economist and author of the report Rob Dobson stated, adding: "The latest data are consistent with manufacturing production rising at a quarterly rate close to two per cent."

Meanwhile, figures from JPMorgan and Markit regarding global manufacturing activity have indicated it increased from 53.9 in November to a six-month high of 55 last month.

Lack of knowledge ''preventing take-up of automation''

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:20:00 GMT

Major reasons preventing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from adopting automation technology include a lack of knowledge and skills.

This is according to a study carried out in the UK, which found another barrier to take-up is a cautious approach to risk among such firms.

The report commissioned by members of the Engineering and Machinery Alliance suggests companies in Britain are lagging behind their counterparts elsewhere in Europe in terms of their implementation of modern manufacturing technologies.

Supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and members of the British Automation and Robot Association, the research warns UK manufacturers need to do more to ensure they are competing internationally and their operations are sustainable.

Manufacturing management professionals are advised the report notes successful application of automation can drive down costs, reduce waste, improve energy efficiency and boost quality.

In related news, a recent survey by the British Chambers of Commerce found companies in the sector want the government to provide greater support to enable them to export products overseas.

Substantial changes forecast for health sector in 2011

Fri, 24 Dec 2010 11:59:00 GMT

Next year will mark a year of "immense" change for the UK's health sector, it has been predicted.

This is the conclusion made by a report from Simplyhealth, which has suggested the NHS will undergo the most significant shake-up in the 60 years since it was established in 2011.

The medical insurance specialist explained the coalition government's NHS White Paper marks substantial alterations to the way it is run, placing patients at the heart of the service and encouraging them to "take personal responsibility for their health".

However, according to sales and marketing director Jamie Wilson, the NHS is under "extreme pressure", with budget restrictions, reorganisation plans and job cuts taking place.

In his forecasts for 2011, he warned waiting lists may expand, as managers are forced to make tough choices about local care provision.

Those concerned with continuous improvement in the NHS and the UK's public sector as a whole may also be interested to note that the Department of Health is currently consulting on proposed changes to the NHS.

Manufacturers ''want more government support''

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:24:00 GMT

Manufacturers in the UK perceive export controls as their greatest barrier to overseas trade, it has been found.

A poll by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) found more support from government is wanted by one in three such firms in order to assist them with selling goods to other countries, with other key issues for the industry including the price of sterling, access to finance and regulation.

The study of 500 companies noted one in four (27 per cent) businesses in the sector are not currently exporting the items they produce and highlighted the need for more efforts to expand the volume of overseas trade.

In addition, operations management professionals may also be interested to learn 16 per cent of those surveyed who do not sell overseas stated the reason they are not is a limited knowledge of exporting.

BCC director-general David Frost declared: "The government must prescribe the right policies to encourage growth and allow manufacturers to export their way out of the recession."

The latest seasonally-adjusted index of manufacturing rose by 5.8 per cent year-on-year in October 2010.

Proposals aim to enhance infrastructure building and maintenance

Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:06:00 GMT

The amount spent on building and maintenance of infrastructure projects in the UK could be reduced by 15 per cent during the coming decade, a report claims.

According to Infrastructure UK (IUK), savings of £3 billion a year could result from adopting recommendations aimed at improving productivity, simplifying processes, integrating industry activities and promoting innovation.

The study has been welcomed by ministers from HM Treasury as offering the opportunity to boost infrastructure investment and economic growth.

Projects in areas such as transport, flood defences, energy and waste will be affected by the continuous improvement proposals, which are intended to substantially cut the £15-£20 billion spent annually in such areas.

Danny Alexander, chief secretary to the Treasury, stated: "One look at projects like the Olympics, where over £600 million has been saved, shows that the UK can deliver big infrastructure projects on time and within budget.

Meanwhile, the government has launched a consultation on proposed NHS reforms aimed at placing the focus on improving the quality of patient care.

Government consults on NHS changes

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:10:00 GMT

Proposed alterations to the National Health Service (NHS) to place a greater focus on quality of patient care have been unveiled.

Under the Department of Health plans, professionals in the field will concentrate on those areas that are of most concern to people and away from "centrally driven process targets".

The first NHS Outcomes Framework is intended to improve patient care in spite of budget constraints in the wake of the downturn and follows a consultation and white paper.

Individuals involved in operations management within the public sector may be interested to learn that the framework will be refined yearly to reflect patients' concerns and provide a national overview for outcomes.

A series of five areas have been identified to focus on, including preventing people from dying prematurely, ensuring patients have a positive experience of care and increasing the safety of treatment environments.

Meanwhile, health secretary Andrew Lansley has unveiled a new consultation on a strategy to simplify the current system of healthcare education and training.

Manufacturers call for government support

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:40:00 GMT

Greater support is needed from ministers to ensure the future success of the UK's manufacturing industry, one organisation has suggested.

The Midlands Manufacturing Group has claimed more reform is needed for enterprises in the sector of all sizes, in line with the importance it was given in the run-up to the General Election in May this year, Kenilworth Today reports.

According to the body's Ian Williamson, more should be done to ensure the UK is not overly-reliant on the services and finance industries to provide employment.

In an open letter to the prime minister, he stated: "There has also been a significant trend regarding the sale of our larger companies to overseas competitors."

He pointed to the need for highly-skilled posts to remain in the UK and legislation that permits the growth and productivity of manufacturing, something that may interest individuals considering taking an APICs qualification.

Those seeking operations training courses are also advised recent figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed an annual rise in the UK index of production of 3.3 per cent during October 2010.

Process management technology ''being adopted by organisations''

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:33:00 GMT

UK businesses and bodies are increasingly turning to new responsive process management technology, a specialist claims.

Progress Software chief technical officer Dr John Bates suggests a key problem for man organisations is how to monitor the effectiveness of the policies they adopt.

He explained by embracing new responsive management techniques, companies are able to identify bottlenecks and threats to their current processes.

Dr Bates forecast social networks will play a greater role during 2011, as firms attempt to become "more responsive to instant requests from sites like Twitter".

The expert said this will help companies "determine what's working and what's not and set the right course of action".

His remarks come after a survey by Vanson Bourne for Progress Software indicated business leaders are feeling under pressure to do more with less next year, with 72 per cent investing in new technology in order to take advantage of the upturn as the economic recovery continues.

Additional funding to enhance frontline services

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:52:00 GMT

The government has unveiled plans to provide primary care trusts (PCTs) with an additional £2.6 billion overall to enhance frontline services.

An announcement has been made by the Department of Health detailing the decision, with the cash being made available during the next three years as part of NHS reforms.

Individuals involved in continuous improvement programmes in the health service may be interested to learn the funding marks the equivalent of a three per cent jump in NHS funding for commissioning patient services.

A new document - Liberating the NHS: Legislative Framework and Next Steps - emphasises the commitment of ministers to reform and outlines a timetable for the implementation of the July white paper on this theme, reflecting 6,000 responses received to a consultation.

The new year is expected to see a new bill proposed, with a new NHS Operating Framework unveiled for 2011-12 as part of the latest packages of measures.

Meanwhile, care services minister Paul Burstow has told a conference that individuals with learning difficulties have witnessed improvements in areas such as housing, health and employment in recent months.

October rise in EU industrial production

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:06:00 GMT

The 27 European Union (EU) nations saw a 0.3 per cent rise in industrial production during October 2010, new figures show.

According to the Eurostat data, compared with September, the region saw output of capital goods climb by 0.9 per cent and non-durable consumer goods by 0.3 per cent.

The euro area witnessed stronger seasonally-adjusted jumps in industrial production, of 0.7 per cent overall, 1.8 per cent for capital goods and 0.4 per cent for non-durable consumer items.

Eurostat's latest figures for industrial activity follow declines in September 2010, with production dipping by 0.3 per cent over the month.

Industrial output stood 6.7 per cent higher year-on-year across the EU27 in October 2010.

In the UK, production remained unchanged over the period in question, operations management professionals may be interested to learn.

The Office for National Statistics recently reported a rise in UK production during October, rising 3.3 per cent in 12 months.

Pace of growth increases in Scottish manufacturing

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:10:00 GMT

Manufacturing activity increased at its fastest rate since August during November 2010, new figures show.

The latest report on the sector from the Bank of Scotland shows demand from overseas is pushing up production.

Announcing the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for November 2010, the institution suggested activity has been boosted by an increase in the rate of growth of export orders.

"This month's robust recovery in manufacturing partially offset the fall in service activity extending the slowdown in the Scottish economy into November," said Donald MacRae, Bank of Scotland chief economist.

He added the latest figures are evidence that Scotland's economic recovery is being led by exports, something that may be of interest to those concerned with demand planning.

Meanwhile, the most recent Purchasing Managers' Index for the UK from the CIPS and Markit rose during November to 58, up from a revised 55.4 in October, as the sector defied analysts' predictions of a decline.

IOM TO ACCREDIT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES AS MEMBERSHIP ROUTE

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A key value of full membership of the Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is professional recognition by your peers. To increase accessibility for potential new members, the IOM has built a new accreditation process for UK universities and other educational providers allowing successful students on specified, relevant courses of higher education to qualify for IOM membership.

IOM is the UK professional society for operations management in manufacturing, service industries and the public sector.

Qualification for membership of the Institute is based on a combination of academic achievement and professional experience which gives individuals the opportunity to upgrade membership levels as their career develops. IOM has received numerous requests from educational organisations to accredit programmes which provide a route to full membership of IOM and has now formalised the process whereby such programmes can be recognised as containing appropriate content to qualify for IOM status.

IOM Manager Leonie Edwards says: ‘There can be no doubt that IOM membership is recognised by increasing numbers of employers as a clear indication of the quality and expertise of personnel engaged in operations management and related disciplines. The creation of a formalised link between many academic courses and IOM membership is a very logical advance, and one which is increasingly sought by universities and other bodies offering courses in our professional area’.

‘The rigorous process which we have created in order to ensure that courses match the academic content appropriate to achieve IOM membership qualification means that students, employers and other interested parties can be assured that no ‘short cuts’ have been involved. The combination of educational achievement and professional experience remains key to IOM membership status.’

Education programmes linked to operations management will provide awareness of the range of knowledge, skills and values involved at professional levels; instil a basic capability in the skills required to the minimum professional standards; develop an appreciation of value and ethical issues; and develop specialist understanding in selected areas.

Comprehensive details of the requirements for courses seeking to obtain IOM membership accreditation status are available from Lesley Parker, Professional Development Manager. Tel: 01536 740110. Email: lesley.parker@iomnet.org.uk Or Emma Moore, IOM Activities Co-ordinator. Tel: 01536 740108. Email: emma.moore@iomnet.org.uk

Employers ''should consult workers about cost reduction''

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:28:00 GMT

Companies looking at ways to drive down costs in the wake of the recession should ensure they communicate with members of staff, it has been claimed.

In addition to appointing operations management professionals to identify potential efficiencies, bosses may also be interested in comments made by policy officer at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Paul Sellers.

He advocated working with employees on such schemes, stating: "The best approach is to involve and engage staff in these exercises, ideally through the union or workplace representatives."

By engaging with people rather than "snooping" on them, Mr Sellers suggested employers could access individuals' ideas about how to save money.

His remarks come in the wake of a study by IRIS Accounting & Business Solutions indicating organisations are increasingly examining ways to increase the productivity of employees as a result of the economic climate, with ways of doing so including analysing timesheets, examining expense claims and scrutinising purchasing decisions.

Average public sector worker ''has shorter hours''

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:54:00 GMT

Public sector employees are both paid more than their counterparts employed by private organisations and work shorter hours, a report claims.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate those in the business field are working an average of 100 hours a year more than state employees, the Daily Mail reports.

Something that may interest operations management professionals is the finding that average private staff members do an additional one hour and 54 minutes above the 37 paid hours completed each week by public sector workers.

Taxpayers' Alliance campaign director Emma Boon told the news source: "It is shocking that this trend is continuing, despite huge pressures on the public finances. The public sector should be working more efficiently."

Meanwhile, the gender pay gap over the past year has decreased to 10.2 per cent, with the average man earning £13.01 per hour and the average female earning £11.68 an hour.

The Comprehensive Spending Review announced in October this year will result in widespread cuts to the public sector workforce, with managers expected to reduce staffing levels and generate efficiency savings.

Etruria Industrial Museum – e-petition

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Etruria Industrial Museum is the last steam-powered potters' mill in Britain. The mill is 'in steam' seven times a year when the 1903 boiler is fired and historic machinery can be seen working. Situated on the canal, the museum also offers a family-friendly interactive exhibition. Located in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, the museum is at risk of closure having been included in the local council’s proposals for cut backs.

Register your support and sign the e-petition now!

Tony Green MBE has been involved in the restoration, maintenance and running of this museum from the start, some 32 years ago, all as a volunteer and for which he was honoured with the award of MBE in this year’s News Years Honours list.

Tony Green says: “We form part of the vital link in the history of the potteries as the only steam powered potters mill left in working order anywhere in the world, showing the history of the preparation of the raw materials for the pottery industry, and as such, have been granted Historic Monument Status by English Heritage. We also fulfil an important role in education and the local community.”

The mill itself is a fascinating example of a self contained industrial process. Historically, canal boats would bring clay, animal bones, limestone and other raw materials in, and the mill would transform them into the slip-clay which was/is used to make pottery. Items derived from this process were shipped all over the world.

This early factory, driven by a (working) steam engine which in turn drives visible production cells, is captivating for operations professionals, particularly as it is a living example of one of the first lean production systems. The factory demonstrates concepts such as cellular manufacturing, CONWIP (constant work in progress), factory layout, Just-In-Time production, supply chain management and logistics.

IOM, as the UK's principal professional society for operations management – traditionally in the manufacturing sector, more recently supporting process improvement in the service industry and public sector – is keen to support this national treasure, and is launching a campaign to stop the potential 'spending cuts' closure of Etruria Industrial Museum.

The Institute is planning a number of initiatives aimed at growing awareness to build support for the mill, including a site visit for IOM members, an article in Operations Management, a PR campaign and regular news updates.

In the first instance, members can sign an e-petition at http://eim.epetitions.net/ to register their support; then keep an eye out for updates through your journal and news bulletin.

UK manufacturing ''enjoying success overseas''

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:25:00 GMT

British manufacturers are "taking their products out to the world and winning", it has been claimed.

Group managing director ENER-G Derek Duffill declared that "many people mistakenly believe that the UK manufacturing industry has been dismantled and largely outsourced to China", but this is not the case.

Mr Duffill pointed to the success of his organisation in taking its production and engineering prowess to other countries and insisted "export is crucial to the success of UK plc".

Operations management professionals may be interested in his comments that firms such as ENER-G are also leading the move towards a low-carbon economy both in the UK and overseas.

The production expert's comments follow a report by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which indicated rates of activity in the sector rose during the three months to September 2010, boosted by strong export sales, with the industry expected to outpace total UK economic growth during 2011.

Call for Volunteers

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute is calling for volunteers to serve on its committees. An active committee structure is essential to achieve IOM’s mission, which, put simply, is to develop people. Since IOM became a membership body within CILT, the committees have been kept fairly static in terms of the volunteers to ensure consistency throughout the transition. Three years on, the time has come to revitalise the committees with some fresh thinking, new ideas and improved member involvement.

To apply, please complete the application form here and email this to Emma Moore by the 10th January 2011.

UK index of production climbs during October 2010

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:51:00 GMT

The latest figures for the UK's index of production show that it has risen year-on-year during October 2010.

In news that may interest those concerned with demand planning in the manufacturing sector, the measure climbed by 3.3 per cent over the year.

Meanwhile, the seasonally-adjusted index of manufacturing climbed even faster to 5.8 per cent during the 12 months in question.

Output rose between 2009 and 2010 in ten out of 13 sub-sectors, falling in the remaining three.

The most substantial rises over the period were in machinery and equipment, which witnessed a 16.8 per cent increase in output, while a 13.7 per cent jump was recorded in the basic metals and metal products industries.

In related news, the Office for National Statistics report comes in the wake of figures released by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation and BDO indicating new orders and exports pushed up rates of activity in the sector during the third quarter of this year.

Government ''urged to support UK manufacturing growth''

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:23:00 GMT

More needs to be done to ensure the UK's manufacturing sector leads the country's economic recovery.

This is the call issued by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has recommended ministers focus on enhancing productivity.

According to the organisation's director-general John Cridland, lean manufacturing techniques have substantially improved the sector's performance.

"UK manufacturing is in many ways the unsung hero of our economy," he added, pointing to substantial gains in exports and productivity in recent years.

Mr Cridland advised the government to "act fast" in order to build on the industry's strengths and promote innovation, advising the tax and regulatory regime should be improved and innovation encouraged further.

The CBI pointed to a 50 per cent boost in UK manufacturing productivity since 1997 and outlined a series of goals for the field.

Meanwhile, data published by from BDO and EEF, the manufacturers' organisation has revealed the third quarter of 2010 saw a sharp rise in activity in the sector, fuelled by rising exports and increases in new orders.

Manufacturing companies continue to report growth

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:56:00 GMT

Rates of activity in the UK's manufacturing industry continued to expand in the third quarter of 2010.

This is according to the latest Manufacturing Outlook from BDO and EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which indicates high levels of new orders, boosting by strong levels of demand from overseas during the period in question.

During the three months to September 2010, higher levels of new orders were seen in all regions and all areas of the sector, with bosses predicting further hiring and investment over the coming months.

Manufacturing output stood at record levels for the third quarter in a row, with production expected to outpace general UK economic expansion next year, operations management specialists are advised.

Lee Hopley, chief economist of the EEF, welcomed the figures and suggested growth in the industry would continue during 2011, although she warned the backdrop to recovery is "an uncertain one".

In related news, the most recent UK manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index showed a surprise rise in the sector's rate of growth during November, with the measure of activity reaching a 16-year high.

Public sector bosses urged to impose cuts carefully

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:43:00 GMT

In order to meet further needs, public sector managers are being advised to take care when deciding which positions should go.

Reductions in budgets imposed as part of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review unveiled on October 20th will require bosses to make staff redundancies and efficiency savings.

Operations management professionals and those concerned with demand planning may be interested to learn the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has highlighted the importance of retaining a good balance of members of staff.

The organisation's director of HR research and consultancy Peter Reilly stated: "The people you most want to protect are your particularly good performers, but who are also doing roles that actually there aren't many people in the market for."

He emphasised the importance of forward planning in such circumstances and ensuring the best individuals remain in place.

The IES advice comes after the Office for Budget Responsibility suggested 160,000 fewer roles in the public sector could be cut than initially thought over the coming four years.

IOM ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2011: ‘OPERATING UNCONVENTIONALLY’ – CALL FOR PAPERS

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

‘Operating Unconventionally’ is the theme for the 2011 Annual Conference of the Institute of Operations Management, the professional society for operations management in manufacturing, service and the public sector. Due to the announcement of the royal wedding, the conference date has been changed and will be now held on 11th May 2011 at Studley Castle in the West Midlands.

The event will constitute a main conference stream, together with a simultaneous practical workshop and an exhibition. A cocktail hour and conference dinner will be held in the evening.

IOM Manager Leonie Edwards says ‘Following the recession, pressures on operations and supply chain management are greater than ever – the future is all about developing enhanced efficiency at reduced costs. IOM’s role is to provide a platform for the exchange of information and new ideas, the promotion of best practice, and the development of innovation. The 2011 IOM Operational Excellence Conference comes at a critical moment and provides the opportunity to both promote and receive the latest thinking.’

IOM is seeking submissions for contributions to the conference on such issues as lean and Six Sigma applications, continuous and quality improvements, supply chain operations, environment and sustainability, inventory, sales, automation, demand management and forecasting. However, contributors should not be restricted to these matters – IOM will be delighted to receive contributions on any relevant topic to the overall theme and a longer list of possible subjects appears on the IOM web site.

Potential contributors should submit an abstract of no more than 400 words to the IOM Steering Group c/o Leonie Edwards, Manager – IOM at leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk no later than Monday 10th January 2011.

Delegates are advised to register early as places will be limited to 100 delegates, which will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Comprehensive information on the conference, paper submission guidelines and schedule dates can be found at http://bit.ly/9yNJlh

Notes for Editors

About The Institute of Operations Management

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is the principal UK professional society for operations management in the manufacturing arena, service industries and the public sector. IOM recently became a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) bringing UK supply chain professionals together to increase knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and professional excellence. The IOM was established in 1963, originally as two chapters of the then American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). From 1975 it functioned as an independent organisation called the British Production and Inventory Control Society (BPICS). It changed its name to The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in 1996 and joined with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK) in 2007. In 2009 IOM became the International Associate for APICS in Great Britain.

For more information about IOM visit iomnet.org.uk.

Press enquiries to Leonie Edwards on 01536 740143. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk or Emma Moore on 01536 740108. Email: emma.moore@iomnet.org.uk

Manufacturing ''grows at fastest rate for 16 years''

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:24:00 GMT

Latest figures indicate the UK's manufacturing sector growth has picked up pace, rising to a 16-year high during November this year.

This is according to the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the month, which suggests the industry may be driving forward economic recovery in the country.

Analysts had been forecasting a decline in the pace of expansion during November, but the index rose instead to 58, with any number above 50 indicative of growth.

Compiled by Markit and the CIPS, the study shows a climb in activity from a revised 55.4 in October, while employment in the sector climbed more rapidly than at any time since the PMI commenced in 1992.

Markit economist and author of the report Rob Dobson welcomed the figures and added more needs to be done to stimulate the UK's export business, rather than focusing on consumption.

HIS Global Insight chief UK and European economist Howard Archer forecast: "Not only does the sector look likely to see strong expansion in the fourth quarter but the forward-looking indicators point to healthy growth early in 2011."

UK services sector ''experiences mixed quarter''

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:04:00 GMT

The latest quarter has proven to be a "mixed" one for the UK services sector.

Individuals concerned with demand planning in the industry are advised the latest statistics from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveal a fall in consumer services business volumes over the period in question.

Of the 169 services sector firms polled, 30 per cent of those in the consumer market reported a rise in business value and 38 per cent a fall, resulting in a balance of minus eight per cent.

The field, which includes hotels, travel, bars, leisure and restaurants, reported figures below those anticipated, while there was a fall of minus 18 per cent in volumes, with further dips forecast over the coming three months.

Meanwhile, the business and professional services sector saw the value of transactions drop to a balance of minus three per cent, while volumes were up by three per cent, but are anticipated to fall over the next quarter.

"Uncertainty about demand remains a real concern across the sector and this is reflected in the fact that firms are feeling less optimistic about the business situation than three months ago," CBI economic adviser Ian McCafferty stated.

However, the UK service industry was recently reported to have reached a three-year peak by KPMG, with senior executives anticipating a rise in business activity.

Government calls for views on public service reform

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:35:00 GMT

HM Treasury has issued a call to experts, managers working in the public sector and providers of services to submit ideas for reform.

Those concerned with continuous improvement and operations management in the field may be particularly interested in the government consultation, which will feed into the Public Service Reform White Paper in 2011.

Announced by chancellor George Osborne as part of the Spending Review on October 20th, the document will outline ways in which power will be moved away from Whitehall and towards local communities.

This is according to a statement from the Treasury outlining ministers' intentions for public service reform, with views sought in areas such as "extending innovative payment and funding mechanisms", boosting democratic accountability and permitting communities and public employees to purchase and run services.

Meanwhile, analysts from the Ernst & Young Item Club forecast as many as 100,000 public sector roles could be saved by plans to impose deeper cuts to welfare budgets than initially intended.

Strong future forecast for UK services sector

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:49:00 GMT

The services sector is leading economic expansion within Europe, in particular within Britain, a new study claims.

Individuals involved in demand planning and continuous improvement may be interested in the research from KPMG, which reveals optimism within the UK service industry has risen to a peak last seen in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The poll of senior executives in businesses indicates 54 per cent forecast growth in business activity over the coming year, while 12 per cent forecast a decline.

According to the report, the UK is seeing the services sector rally, as expansion has been steady over the past four years and looks set to continue, particularly as councils and government agencies turn to outsourcing when austerity measures come into force.

Recent figures from Markit and the CIPS revealed a further improvement in service sector growth during October 2010, as the rate of both activity and new orders increased.

UK manufacturers ''to adopt cautious approach in 2011''

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:50:00 GMT

The rate at which UK inventories fall in the manufacturing industry is likely to be sharper than earlier predicted.

The KPMG and Markit Economics Global Business Outlook suggests optimism among UK businesses in the sector is being affected by public sector spending cuts, as well as fears for the stability of the euro and has fallen slightly.

According to the international survey of senior executives, 60 per cent of UK manufacturers predict they will increase business activity during 2011, prompted by the weakening pound and rising export activity, with one in three expecting to recruit new workers over the period.

Operations management professionals may be interested in KPMG's forecast that approaches over the coming year could be more cautious as a result of economic conditions.

"Looking ahead a year or two, we expect that many UK manufacturers will shift their planning horizons to shorter periods," Gautam Dalal, KPMG UK head of diversified industrials, explained.

He added flexibility and the ability to adapt to changes in market conditions will prove increasingly important.

A recent CBI study indicated the manufacturing industry saw growth in demand for goods between October and November.

UK manufacturing ''could fill public sector gap''

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:57:00 GMT

The gap in economic growth that is expected as a result of public spending cuts in the UK could be filled by the manufacturing industry, a new report claims.

According to the study entitled The Shape of British Industry by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), companies concerned with production could lead private sector growth.

Industry group EEF has called on the government to employ policies that both support small enterprises and ensure larger companies are able to expand their operations.

A poll of 300 businesses indicated 76 per cent expect to boost innovation in order to meet expansion targets and 40 per cent cite exports as responsible for more than half their total turnover.

RBS Corporate and Institutional Banking head of manufacturing sector Peter Russell said: "Manufacturing continues to make a significant contribution to the UK economy and is well placed to play an even greater role in a sustained economic recovery."

In a recent Telegraph interview, the new CBI director-general John Cridland claimed future UK growth will be reliant on industry.

CBI chief: UK growth will rely on manufacturers

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:06:00 GMT

The new director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has declared manufacturing will play a central role in future economic growth in the UK.

John Cridland forecast a renaissance for British manufacturing and exporting in order to reduce the level of dependency on financial services, with energy and low-carbon investment expected to drive markets.

An article for the Telegraph quotes the newly-appointed CBI chief as stating: "I'm confident that growth is gradually strengthening."

During the interview, he outlined his vision for the UK during the coming decade, stating he wants "our productivity, our export performance, our investment" to be at the top of the global league table of countries.

In comments that may interest operations management professionals, Mr Cridland added access to finance and "common sense" regulations are needed to secure future growth for industry.

He was appointed to succeed former Financial Times editor Richard Lambert - who is stepping down from the post - and will take over at the end of January.

Recent figures from the CBI showed an increase in demand for goods made in the UK during November 2010 compared with October.

Increase recorded in demand for UK goods

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:42:00 GMT

Demand rose for goods manufactured in the UK this month compared with October, new figures show.

A report by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals the country saw orders increase month-on-month, although levels still remained "below normal".

Those concerned with manufacturing management and demand planning may be interested to learn prices are expected to rise more rapidly during the next quarter, although output growth in the production sector is predicted to slow.

"Demand is now back in line with that over the summer months, suggesting that particularly weak order book readings last month may have been a one-off," CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty noted.

He added factory output is still forecast to witness growth, although inflationary pressures remain a concern for companies.

Earlier this month, a survey published by the CBI suggested small and medium-sized manufacturers in the UK expect to boost production over the coming three months because of an anticipated rise in domestic demand.

Firms ''facing rise in seasonal demand''

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:59:00 GMT

The festive period means that many UK businesses must meet additional orders and fulfill them in time for Christmas, a report warns.

According to Bibby Financial Services, importers in particular may be facing pressure to meet the seasonal rush, something demand planning could assist with.

Operations management professionals might like to note that as companies gear up for Christmas, volumes of goods coming into the UK has risen over the past year indicating consumer confidence is growing.

Cash flow is central to ensuring importers are able to take advantage of new opportunities - such as purchasing new stock when orders come in - and cover seasonal expenses such as bonuses.

Meanwhile, demand planning could also assist with preparations for "manic Monday", which falls on November 29th this year and is expected to generate sales in the UK of £22 million, a 29 per cent rise on the same day in 2009.

Further increase reported in public sector borrowing

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:57:00 GMT

The net level of money borrowed by the UK's public sector rose during October 2010 to £10.3 billion.

According to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this figure is higher than the £10.1 billion recorded for the same month of 2009, although public sector net borrowing exclusive of financial interventions has fallen over the 2010-11 year-to-date to £81.6 billion, declining from £87.5 billion for the period of 2009-10.

Operations management techniques may be implemented by organisations in order to address the shortfall, with the ONS report defying predictions from some analysts that net public sector borrowing would fall last month.

Chancellor George Osborne announced a series of cuts to public sector spending as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review on October 20th.

The budget restrictions are intended to reduce the UK's deficit and continuous improvements programmes may assist departments aiming to decrease their expenditure.

Latest statistics from the ONS place the country's budget deficit at £7.1 billion for October 2010, rising from £6.9 billion last year.

Manufacturing firm plans to expand production

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:38:00 GMT

Operations management experts may be required by a Scottish firm that is expanding its production capacity.

Angel Biotechnology is planning to take over a mothballed site in order to meet rising demand following a number of contract wins.

Those working for the company may be interested in obtaining a APICS qualification in order to assist with manufacturing management associated with the move, which follows the firm selling off a plant in 2007 to focus efforts on its facility near Edinburgh.

In addition to the new production facility, Angel Biotechnology also has plans to expand the plant at Pentlands Science Park following a successful rights offering.

According to the contract manufacturing business, it has also appointed two business development specialists to assist with operations management.

Chief operating officer Gordon Sherriff remarked: "With the advanced biologics market growing apace in both the EU and USA we need to ensure Angel is well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities available."

The announcement follows official figures showing a rise in UK production during September 2010 of 0.4 per cent compared with August.

OPERATING IN THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ – OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE RETURNS

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The IOM is delighted to announce the return of its Annual Conference on 11th May 2011 in the West Midlands. Operations professionals are invited to submit papers for presentations or workshops on the theme of ‘operating unconventionally’.

As we emerge from the global recession, operations and supply chain management professionals must navigate the significant, permanent changes within their organisation, in their profession, and in the economy. The IOM Operational Excellence Conference 2011 aims to help attendees meet these new challenges and prepare themselves for what’s next in their careers, highlighting lessons learned in the global recession to present applicable best practices to move professionals and their organisation forward in the ‘new normal’.

Topics to include:

Lean and Six Sigma applications
Demand management and forecasting
Automation
Supply chain operations
Process excellence
Inventory management
Sales & Operations Planning
Quality improvements
Productivity
Legislation
Environment and sustainability
Globalisation
Planning and Strategy
Continuous improvement
Leadership, innovation and change management

Submissions are invited from the broad spectrum of industries in which operations professionals operate – including, service industry, manufacturing, supply chain and distribution, public sector and third sector.

Please submit your abstract to the IOM Steering Group, c/o Leonie Edwards, Manager – IOM. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk by Monday 10th January 2011.

Further information on the Conference, paper submission guidelines and schedule dates can be found by visiting the web site: http://bit.ly/9yNJlh.

Notes for Editors

About The Institute of Operations Management

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is the principal UK professional society for operations management in the manufacturing arena, service industries and the public sector. IOM recently became a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) bringing UK supply chain professionals together to increase knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and professional excellence. The IOM was established in 1963, originally as two chapters of the then American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). From 1975 it functioned as an independent organisation called the British Production and Inventory Control Society (BPICS). It changed its name to The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in 1996 and joined with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK) in 2007. In 2009 IOM became the International Associate for APICS in Great Britain.

For more information about IOM visit www.iomnet.org.uk

Press enquiries to Leonie Edwards on 01536 740143. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk or Alexandra Burns on 01536 750129. Email: alexandra.burns@iomnet.org.uk

Indian scheme trials lean manufacturing measures

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 15:44:00 GMT

Lean manufacturing techniques are being trialled in a new scheme taking place in India.

According to the country's Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises, the aims of the initiative will include boosting productivity, reducing waste, enhancing productivity and creating effective management systems.

Aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the project is intended to increase the competitiveness of firms in the sector, minister of state for MSMEs Shri Dinsha Patel has revealed.

"Imbibing a culture of continuous improvement" has also been cited as a goal of the programme, which will enhance awareness of lean manufacturing among Indian MSMEs and share the costs of consultants between organisations.

The term lean manufacturing refers to a system of production that includes the limiting of waste in order to achieve more with fewer resources. This can refer to people, materials, money, time or other factors that contribute to the manufacturing process.

Public sector sharing plans ''face enormous challenges''

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:31:00 GMT

There are "some enormous challenges" connected with sharing public sector services between council departments, an expert has asserted.

According to the Joint Executive of Human Resources at the London boroughs of Sutton and Merton, cultural and political barriers to successful collaboration must be overcome in such circumstances.

Dean Shoesmith suggested individuals are often cautious about supporting service sharing, as they believe their jobs could be made redundant.

Addressing the CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition 2010 in Manchester, he likened it to "turkeys voting for Christmas" and insists that it "requires a bit of risk-taking, courage and fortitude that people don't necessarily always have".

Those concerned with operations management and demand planning in the public sector may be interested in a recent partnership deal signed by Leicestershire County Council and Nottingham City Council, which is intended to generate savings worth over £2 million a year.

It will see the local authorities share administrative services such as payroll and human resources.

IOM Operational Excellence Conference 2011 - Operating Unconventionally

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Call for Papers

Calling all operations professionals...

The Institute of Operations Management is delighted to announce the return of its annual conference on 11th May 2011 in the West Midlands, England. Operations professionals are invited to submit papers for presentations or workshops on the theme of operating unconventionally. Submissions are invited from the broad spectrum of industries in which operations professionals operate – including, service industry, manufacturing, supply chain and distribution, public sector and third sector.

As we emerge from the global recession, operations and supply chain management professionals must navigate the significant, permanent changes within their organisations, in their profession, and in the economy. The IOM Operational Excellence Conference 2011 aims to help attendees meet these new challenges and prepare themselves for what’s next in their careers, highlighting lessons learned in the global recession to present applicable best practices to move professionals and their organisations forward in the ‘new normal’.

Submission suitability will be determined by how well your proposal supports the following goals:

Presentation of best practices with real world applications (case studies)
Practical education for skills that will improve performance
Content that will appeal to attendees’ interests

Theme and topics

Presenters should focus on increasing efficiency and reducing costs through operations management techniques, particularly where a novel or unusual solution has been used to overcome specific difficulties associated with the ‘new normal’ – a rapidly changing world where traditional thinking is challenged, old business models are disrupted and new opportunities arise. Sessions are limited to 40 minutes, (including Q&A) for presentations and 90 minutes for workshops.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

Lean and Six Sigma applications
Demand management and forecasting
Automation
Supply chain operations
Process excellence
Inventory management
Sales & Operations Planning
Quality improvements
Productivity
Legislation
Environment and sustainability
Globalisation
Planning and Strategy
Continuous improvement
Leadership, innovation and change management

Abstracts of the proposed presentation should be limited to one side of A4 (including author biography) and must include:

Abstract requirements

1. Length and format of abstract:
a. Presentation title (15 words or less)
b. Abstract body (up to 400 words)
c. Supplied in 11 point, Arial font, 1.5 line spacing

2. Elements of abstract evaluation:
a. Clearness of purpose
b. Suitable for general level of audience
c. Expected learning outcomes
d. Originality and value

Biography requirements

1. Digital author photograph
2. 150-200 words
3. One paragraph that includes:
a. Full name
b. Degrees / education
c. Certificates / associations
d. Job title
e. Company or organisation
f. Experience

Please submit your abstract to the IOM Steering Group, c/o Leonie Edwards, Manager – IOM. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk

Schedule

The paper submission schedule is as follows:

Abstracts Monday 10th January 2011
Acceptance notification Monday 7th February 2011
Papers (for Conference Proceedings) Monday 7th March 2011
Presentations Monday 4th April 2011

Operations management improves Sainsbury''s bottom line?

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:16:00 GMT

Introducing measures that have led to cost efficiencies in its operations have helped Sainsbury's to improve its financial results.

This is according to the company's first half statement for the six months to October 2nd 2010, which show that underlying operating profit rose by 8.2 per cent to £370 million compared with the same period the previous year.

Part of this increase was attributed to efforts to simplify aspects of its running and deliver costs savings throughout the store chain, which are reported to have completely offset any inflationary pressures over the period in question.

Operations management systems that have enhanced the company's profits include self-scan checkouts, optimising the use of trailer space, reducing unnecessary journeys and saving energy in stores.

Additional efforts have been made by the firm to reduce waste and packaging, while new supply chain technology is expected to improve its carbon footprint

In its second quarter trading statement for the financial year to the end of March, Sainsbury's recently revealed that sales rose by 6.6 per cent.

NHS trusts ''attempting to identify efficiency savings''

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:11:00 GMT

Health service bodies are already seeking ways in which they can reduce costs ahead of their budgets being constrained by government spending plans, one expert claims.

Editor of website Health Matters Steve Iliffe explained that NHS trusts are already looking at ways of maximising productivity by reorganising aspects of their operations.

He predicted that efficiency savings may "cause a lot of discomfort", although it is too early to determine what the impact on patients such measures will have.

"In some places there will be very little slack in the system, so changes will be felt keenly, while others will be able to adjust," Mr Iliffe forecast.

The UK's healthcare agencies will be required to generate efficiency savings following the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review, with administration funding facing cuts.

Announced by chancellor George Osborne on October 20th, government plans to reduce the UK's budget deficit will see resources for public sector organizations tightened.

Mr Iliffe's remarks come after a survey of over 8,000 NHS staff by Unison indicated operations management measures being taken by hospitals include reducing posts and services, outsourcing operations, restructuring and freezing recruitment.

September sees rise in UK production index

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:12:00 GMT

The UK's Index of Production rose during September 2010 compared with the previous month, official data show.

Overall output was up by 0.4 per cent from August, boosted by a 1.3 per cent jump in mining and quarrying and energy supply figures.

In addition, the measure of production has risen by 3.8 per cent year-on-year over the 12 months to September.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Index of Production has fallen back from a high of almost 102 reached in 2008.

In the manufacturing industry, those concerned with demand planning may be interested to learn the report reveals an annual boost in output of 4.8 per cent in September, while the index increased by 0.1 per cent over the month from August.

High levels of activity were recorded in the machinery and equipment, metals, and food, drink and tobacco sectors of the market.

The ONS figures come after a report from Markit and CIPS showed acceleration in the UK's purchasing managers' index during October, with the measure rising over the month from 53.4 in September to 54.9.

Manufacturers ''should consider MES with care''

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:39:00 GMT

As the rapidly changing nature of the sector requires manufacturers to be able to alter tactics fast, companies have been advised to choose their Manufacturing Execution System (MES) with care.

This is according to Europe, the Middle East and Africa region research director for IDC Manufacturing Insights Pierfrancesco Manenti, who advocates directly managing "the selection, implementation and maintenance" of solutions.

The expert claimed MES is as important as other execution systems, such as enterprise resource planning and supply chain management software.

"Being a successful manufacturer is not an easy task today," Mr Manenti declared, urging operations management professionals to ensure they can respond to changes in demand, opportunities arising in new markets and shorter product life cycles.

His advice comes after a survey by the organisation found production-focused businesses are uncertain which MES suite to select and urged them to consider such solutions as "a corporate-wide business application".

The international study comes as figures from the Confederation of British Industry found that small manufacturing firms in the UK expect domestic demand to grow over the coming months.

UK services sector activity continues to grow

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:24:00 GMT

Further expansion of activity in the UK's services sector was seen last month, new figures reveal.

According to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the industry, October 2010 saw a climb from 52.8 in September to 53.2, with any number above 50 indicative of growth.

Published by Markit and the CIPS, the data for last month shows a further climb following a rise in activity from August to September, with new business driving the market.

However, the latest report by the companies has warned that the outlook for services businesses remains uncertain, particularly with companies waiting to determine what the impact of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review will be.

As a result, expectations among professionals in the sector remain cautious and Markit senior economist Paul Smith stated: "On both output and new orders measures, rates of expansion remain soft compared to long-run averages."

The latest services sector growth statistics defied analysts' expectations for October, as did the PMI for the manufacturing industry for the same month, which rose from 53.4 in September to 54.9.

Questions raised about public sector spending cuts

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:18:00 GMT

Reductions to public sector expenditure planned by the government may not be achievable, a group of MPs claims.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee notes that proposals to deliver £81 billion in cuts following the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) may be on too great a scale.

A report by the parliamentary spending watchdog suggests £15 million out of a planned £35 million worth of savings were achieved during the first two years of a three year scheme to deliver efficiency savings.

"The results from this programme left us with grave concerns as to whether departments are ready to implement effectively a programme of value-for-money savings," it states.

However, the chancellor has dismissed claims that the cuts are not possible to achieve during an appearance before MPs on the Treasury Select Committee.

George Osborne stated that the government remains committed to reducing waste within the public sector, something that operations management practices could assist with.

He announced cuts to Whitehall budgets on October 20th as he presented the conclusions of the CSR.

PMI rises further in October

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:54:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry saw growth accelerate during October 2010, which was unexpected.

Despite concerns over a possible economic slowdown, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) increased from 53.4 to 54.9 over the month.

The data from Markit and CIPS indicates the manufacturing industry is in good health, with hiring in the sector increasing during October.

In addition, the composite figures reveal expansion of export and new orders have picked up, with overseas business driving growth, something that may affect demand planning activities.

CIPS chief executive David Noble suggested this reliance on exports could lead to a "bumpy" recovery, although production looks set to drive economic growth in the UK over the fourth quarter of 2010.

October's PMI was in contrast to September's index, which fell from 53.7 in August to 53.4, with any figure above 50 indicative of manufacturing growth.

The level of new orders slowed over the month from highs recorded during the summer, while export orders dipped.

It had been suggested that the government's Comprehensive Spending Review and cuts to public spending announced on October 20th could affect confidence in the industry.

Domestic demand ''to drive UK manufacturing''

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:33:00 GMT

Small businesses in the UK production sector are planning to increase production during the coming quarter as a result of an expected rise in domestic demand.

This is according to figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which suggest that 31 per cent of respondents to a poll of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) forecast a rise in output over the next three months.

In addition, the CBI SME Trends Survey shows that the balance of those anticipating a climb in production rather than a fall stands at plus 19 per cent, up from plus nine per cent three months ago.

Overseas, as well as domestic demand, is predicted to grow over the coming quarter and a balance of plus nine per cent of the 382 respondents to the research revealed growth in total new orders over the past quarter, with staffing numbers rising as a result.

"It is encouraging that firms have increased their headcount this quarter and are now planning to invest in plant and machinery and innovation," CBI SME Council chairman Russel Griggs stated.

A poll carried out by the CBI in October discovered the UK manufacturing sector as a whole forecasts steady expansion in output over the quarter, which is expected to be fuelled by higher export orders.

Internet services sector ''UK''s fifth largest''

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:15:00 GMT

The internet is now responsible for around 7.2 per cent of the UK's total economy per year, a new study claims.

Research by the Boston Consulting Group indicated that the sector contributes around £100 billion a year, making it the fifth largest economic market in the country.

Carried out for Google, the report, entitled Connected Kingdom, suggests the web is just behind financial services and ahead of construction, transport and utilities in terms of economic power.

The Boston Consulting Group's Paul Zwillenberg said: "The internet is pervasive in the UK economy today, more so than in most advanced countries."

Those concerned with sales and operations planning in the online industry may also be interested in the finding that 73 per cent of households in the UK have broadband, with the internet economy expanding at a rate of around ten per cent a year.

Meanwhile, a technical problem at an exchange near Edinburgh affected internet broadband services at tens of thousands of UK homes on Friday night (October 29th), although the exact cause of the outage remains unclear.

Manufacturing confidence improves in Europe

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:11:00 GMT

Industry confidence improved across the 27 European Union member states during October this year, new figures show.

The latest EU Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) suggests that optimism among firms increased by 0.5 percentage points over the month, rising by 0.9 points within the euro area.

Operations management professionals are advised the data reveal the overall ESI is currently placed at 104.1 and stands above the long-term average for the measurement.

The index also reveals companies and individuals working in industry are more positive about employment prospects, with sentiment in the sector up by two points with the eurozone and one point across the EU27.

Sharp improvements in areas such as order books and output predictions helped to improve optimism, with exports forecast to grow over the coming quarter.

Improvements in confidence ranged across the region from +3.4 per cent in France to -2 per cent in Spain.

Meanwhile, the European Commission's Business Confidence Indicator stood at 0.98, rising to its highest point since September 2007 during October 2010, something which may also interest those concerned with demand planning.

New Public Sector Lean Training

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

In response to the recent spending review, The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) has developed a series of one and three-day lean training programmes for public sector executives to show how waste can be removed and efficiency increased without headcount reduction.

New lean programme dedicated to local authorities and public sector

2010

Understanding lean in the public sector (1 day), 24th November, London
Understanding lean in the public sector (1 day), 8th December, Northamptonshire

2011

Understanding lean in the public sector (1 day), 13th January, Manchester
Public sector accelerated lean skills programme (3 days), 25th-27th January, Leicestershire
Understanding lean in the public sector (1 day), 14th February, Edinburgh
Understanding lean in the public sector (1 day), 15th March, Portsmouth
Public sector accelerated lean skills programme (3 days), 29th-31st March, Oxford
Understanding lean in the public sector (1 day), 4th April, Birmingham

Mark Eaton, Managing Director of Amnis, IOM’s lean training partner, said: ‘The spending cuts will trigger the most radical period of transformational change in the public sector that anyone has seen in their lives. There will be fundamental differences in the way services are commissioned and managed with inefficient and non-core activities merged or withdrawn.

‘As well as the public sector, the cuts will have a deep, prolonged impact on third sector organisations and tens of thousands of private sector businesses, from suppliers of equipment to outsourced services providers.

‘While the public perception will focus largely on across-the-board cuts, senior service managers will have a complex task to transform what they do in such a way that it maintains quality within their reduced budgets.

‘Most organisations are not prepared for that. Looking fundamentally at how you structure your activities is not easy. Many organisations have difficulty co-ordinating their operations, management hierarchies and value streams.

‘I believe the spending cuts will pave the way for greater use of Lean management techniques to solve these problems. Lean has already proved effective in a wide range of small and medium-scale public sector programmes. Examples include reducing the costs of managing vacant properties, reducing the time from referral to treatment in the NHS and improving the processes associated with home fire risk assessments. Now, the challenge will be on transforming whole systems.'

Click a link above for more information and to book...

Staff engagement ''key to public sector efficiency''

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:49:00 GMT

In order for public sector organisations to run smoothly, employee engagement should be a priority, one expert claims.

According to the director of human resources research and consultancy at the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), budget cuts will inevitably lead to job losses and this could have an impact on staff motivation unless action is taken.

Peter Reilly was commenting after chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne announced reductions to public sector funding as part of the results of the government's Spending Review.

This may be of interest to those seeking operations training courses, as Mr Reilly said that employers should concentrate on what positive things they are offering members of staff "to make them not just want to stay because they may not have any option, but want to make them more productive and more engaged".

Mr Osborne announced that around 490,000 public sector jobs are expected to go as a result of the Spending Review, with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development suggesting that this figure might be underestimating the scale of cuts and forecasting that up to 750,000 positions will be axed.

Spending Cuts To Pave Way For Greater Use Of Lean Management

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Institute of Operations Management (IOM) response to public spending review announcement – 20 October.

In response to the recent spending review, Mark Eaton, Managing Director of Amnis, IOM’s Lean training partner, said: ‘The cuts will trigger the most radical period of transformational change in the public sector that anyone has seen in their lives. There will be fundamental differences in the way services are commissioned and managed with inefficient and non-core activities merged or withdrawn.

‘As well as the public sector, the cuts will have a deep, prolonged impact on third sector organisations and tens of thousands of private sector businesses, from suppliers of equipment to outsourced services providers.

‘While the public perception will focus largely on across-the-board cuts, senior service managers will have a complex task to transform what they do in such a way that it maintains quality within their reduced budgets.

‘Most organisations are not prepared for that. Looking fundamentally at how you structure your activities is not easy. Many organisations have difficulty co-ordinating their operations, management hierarchies and value streams.

‘I believe the spending cuts will pave the way for greater use of Lean management techniques to solve these problems. Lean has already proved effective in a wide range of small and medium-scale public sector programmes. Examples include reducing the costs of managing vacant properties, reducing the time from referral to treatment in the NHS and improving the processes associated with home fire risk assessments. Now, the challenge will be on transforming whole systems.

‘The starting point with Lean is that any use of resource which does not create value is wasteful and should be challenged. Managers looking to lead whole system Lean programmes in the public sector will have to overcome any limiting beliefs about risk, performance and accountability.

‘To achieve this, they should ensure transformation becomes a core business function just as much as the management of day to day operations. This will need to be preceded by the creation of a Transformation Map that looks at the whole system and details the steps that will be taken.

‘Organisations will need to ‘cut through the politics’ and build effective relationships with each other to get to grips with tough decisions. Staff, customers and other stakeholders will need to understand the scale and scope of the changes that are required and also how important the need for transformational change is. This requires effective, regular and high impact communications.

‘Perhaps the biggest challenge is for everyone involved to develop three key Lean behaviours: be obsessive about finding better and more efficient ways of doing things; constantly search for the ‘hidden’ part of the organisation that is adding no value and eliminate it; and tackle limiting beliefs that prevent the organisation from becoming more efficient.

‘Organisations that can successfully get staff to adopt these three behaviours will survive and prevail in the new public sector environment.’

For an article on Lean in the public sector, ‘Optimisation and transformation for the public good’, visit www.iomnet.org.uk/uploaded/documents/Optimisation_Transformation_Public_Good.pdf

IOM and Amnis are offering an ‘Understanding Lean in the Public Sector short course. A well led and well executed lean approach can help deliver transformational change in the public sector, making the achievement of financial and operational targets easier and helping to change organisational cultures. For more information and how to book go to:
http://www.iomnet.org.uk/Events/08-12-10/Understanding-Lean-in-the-Public-Sector.aspx

Councils ''should be innovative with money''

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:35:00 GMT

Local authorities should adopt a fresh approach to spending following the announcement of government cuts to public sector funding, it has been claimed.

According to the UK's secretary of state for communities and local government, Eric Pickles, councils will need to alter the way in which they deliver services in order to maximise the potential of the money they have following the government cuts.

Those concerned with operations management may be interested in his assertion that local authorities should be "innovative" in order to protect frontline services and take advantage of greater freedoms being offered to them.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) ahead of the announcement of the results of the Spending Review discovered that 85 per cent of public sector managers do not feel there is room for efficiency savings in their operations, despite planned cuts.

The ILM study also showed that more than two out of three respondents admitted to not being fully prepared to cope with their budgets being reduced.

Home Retail Group reduces costs by £39m

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:21:00 GMT

Improvements to operating and distribution channels led to a £39 million reduction in operating and distribution costs for Home Retail Group to £947 million.

The company revealed it introduced measures across its operations to cut expenditure during the first half of 2010 by four per cent.

Latest figures from the company, which owns the Homebase and Argos store chains, show that trials of extended delivery times for larger items have improved convenience for customers.

However, the firm saw a three per cent year-on-year fall in total group sales over the six months in question to £2.72 billion, while benchmark operating profit declined by 23 per cent to £93 million.

Home Retail Group chief executive Terry Duddy stated: "We are about to enter our busiest trading period, and whilst we are planning cautiously, we do so from a position of operational and financial strength."

The company describes itself as the largest home and general merchandise retailer in the UK, with stores across the UK and Ireland.

Manufacturing sector orders ''to pick up''

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 16:55:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry has seen a decline in growth during the past quarter, but this slide is unlikely to continue, it has been forecast.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the sector saw total orders dip during the three months to October, with the number of firms reporting that they had fallen below normal sliding from 16 per cent in July to 28 per cent.

However, the poll of 420 businesses carried out by the CBI for the three months to October indicated that firms expect output to increase during the coming quarter.

Individuals involved in production and inventory control may be interested to learn that manufacturers are predicting growth in export orders, with 32 per cent expecting activity to increase compared with 14 per cent anticipating a fall.

The balance of firms forecasting a rise rather than a drop was plus 18 per cent, compared with plus nine per cent for the previous quarter, while employment and investment trends also rose.

CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty stated: "The recovery in the manufacturing sector is well grounded and looks set to continue, despite a soft patch last quarter."

In its response to the government's spending review of public sector finances, the CBI has welcomed it as painful but necessary to balance the UK's economy.

Local councils to feel Spending Review impact

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:01:00 GMT

Cuts have been introduced to local authority budgets as part of the government's Spending Review.

Announcing the results of the exercise in parliament, chancellor George Osborne stated that local authorities will see a fall of around 30 per cent in their overall capital expenditure over the review period, which runs to 2015.

In addition to cuts to capital spending, money provided in this area by government departments will be reduced by an estimated 45 per cent.

Local government resource DEL, which includes resource and capital expenditure, will drop by 28 per cent, with an overall reduction in revenue grants of around 26 per cent when funding from other departments is taken into consideration.

Operations management professionals may be involved in implementing savings, as they are expected to be generated through smarter procurement, improving asset management, streamlining and merging operations and identifying better ways of delivering services.

Commenting on Mr Osborne's announcement to parliament yesterday (October 20th), communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles stated: "Councils need to be innovative - to change the way they deliver services to get the most for their money and get at problems before they become entrenched."

Chancellor announces public sector spending cuts

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:02:00 GMT

The conclusions of the government's public sector spending review have been announced today (October 20th in parliament.

Chancellor George Osborne delivered a speech outlining the major cuts the Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration is imposing in order to reduce the country's budget deficit.

The plans include reductions in the workforce, which could impact upon those involved in operations management within the public sector.

Mr Osborne stated that the government believes the most accurate estimate for public sector job losses has been issued by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, standing at 490,000 during the four-year period in question.

"Of course, there is understandable concern about the reduction in the total public sector headcount that will result from the measures in the Spending Review," he said, adding that much of the reduction will be achieved through natural churn.

The chancellor stated that each government department is producing a business plan that will outline its proposed reforms, which will be published next month.

Science minister opens cutting-edge facility

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:19:00 GMT

A new £26.3 million plant for the manufacture of packaging has been opened by the UK's science minister.

Situated in Havant, the Pfizer facility is a state-of-the-art biotechnology centre built on an existing site, which is intended to utilise the country's life sciences and production skills.

Science minister David Willetts stated: "I'm hugely encouraged that even in these tough economic times the world’s largest research-based biopharmaceutical company has chosen the UK to make this significant investment."

Pfizer UK managing director Richard Blackburn added that the Havant hall will ensure its site "remains a centre of expertise for cold chain distribution and packaging".

The pharmaceutical group has invested millions to create the manufacturing factory for its packaging lines, with plans to add extra cold storage for 2011.

Individuals concerned with continuous improvement may also be interested in comments made recently by Ed Moss of the Manufacturing Institute, in which he claimed that access to finance is restricting the expansion of UK production companies and more should be done to make capital available.

Jaguar Land Rover reaches UK operations agreement

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:32:00 GMT

An agreement has been reached that will expand Jaguar Land Rover's operations in the UK and keep all three of its plants in England open.

The pact was struck with union leaders, who now plan to unanimously recommend it to their members and will see billions of pounds invested by the carmaker in its UK sites over the coming decade.

Under the proposals, the Castle Bromwich and Solihull sites in the Midlands and Halewood in Liverpool will be retained, despite earlier plans to close one as part of a planned consolidation of Jaguar Land Rover's manufacturing operations.

The deal is also anticipated to result in thosuands of new jobs with the company, including over 1,500 expected at Halewood during 2011 for the launch of the Range Rover Evoque.

"We have ambitious plans for growth and the success of our products around the world and this agreement will allow us to accelerate and realise those plans," Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Dr Ralph Speth stated.

Those concerned with operations management may be interested in comments made last month by Halewood operations director Michael Straughan, who said the facility "is recognised throughout the industry as a centre of excellence for lean manufacturing".

Hoist UK and AJB Precision combine operations

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:59:00 GMT

Two manufacturing companies have brought together their production operations under a single roof.

Hoist UK has announced it is now sharing a new facility on the Wirral with sister company AJP Precision Fabrications, international magazine Hoist reports.

The lifting and mechanical handling equipment company moved to the new prefabrication plant in Bromborough following its expansion, something that may interest operations management specialists.

It last shifted its manufacturing base three years ago and now requires more capacity, while the latest relocation allows it to take advantage of AJB's in-house CNC machining facilities.

In addition, AJB director Phil Williams said Hoist UK's design facilities provide it with access to a range of solutions, including AutoCAD inventor software.

Hoist UK director Tony Dickson told the news source housing both companies under one roof "will allow us to offer seamless integration of our own manufactured products and those of our internationally renowned suppliers to our clients".

The firm supplies lifting and handling equipment to the industrial and entertainment sectors around the world, integrating its own equipment and services with those from other firms.

Public sector ''could benefit from outsourcing''

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:22:00 GMT

Outsourcing some aspects of their operations could benefit public sector bodies, an expert claims.

Chairman of the National Outsourcing Association (NOA) Martyn Hart claims the benefits of doing so extend beyond simply reducing costs and could provide organisations with greater resources to call upon.

He advocates employing outside companies to carry out some services in order to allow public sector agencies to benefit from their experience handling large agreements.

Mr Hart's remarks may be of interest to operations management specialists in the public sector, as he added: "Organisations in the private sector are structured to be able to deliver some of the larger supply chain requests necessary when dealing with a large, national contract and can turn them around quickly and easily."

His comments come after a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers indicated public sector spending cuts will provide a boost to the outsourcing industry in the UK, as contractors are increasingly used for the delivery of services.

Key service sector indicators slowing

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:46:00 GMT

The service sector witnessed all key indicators of growth slow during the third quarter of 2010, a new study shows.

Research carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) showed that expansion is continuing, but at a slower rate than that seen earlier in the year, as the economy recovers from the global downturn.

According to the organisation's latest Quarterly Economic Survey, some balances in the manufacturing industry weakened during the three months to September and "serious challenges will be faced by the business community over the coming year" as the government imposes austerity measures.

More than 5,000 businesses were polled for the report, which indicates a decline in the pace of growth from strong figures for the second quarter of 2010, something that may be of interest to those concerned with demand planning.

BCC director general David Frost remarked: "These results highlight the fact that wealth-creating businesses must be supported for Britain to achieve a sustainable recovery."

In related news, recent statistics from the CIPS and Markit revealed an increase in service sector activity during September 2010, with the purchasing managers' index for the field rising from 51.3 in August to 52.8 last month.

English regions experience business growth

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 11:41:00 GMT

September saw an increase in business activity during September this year within England, although rates of growth slowed.

The most recent Purchasing Managers' Index from Markit and the Regional Development Agencies in England revealed higher levels of activity were witnessed in all nine regions of the country over the month.

In addition, employment grew in six areas and input price inflation accelerated, while weak pricing power dampened output charges growth.

Individuals involved in demand planning are also advised that the most recent Office for National Statistics data showed a six per cent year-on-year rise in the index of manufacturing for August 2010, with output up in ten of the industry's sub-sectors.

However, there has been a decline in the pace of expansion in terms of output during the past few months.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Manufacturing Institute, Ed Moss, has warned companies in the UK manufacturing industry are being held back by a lack of available capital and could see their growth stall altogether as firms "don't know where they are going to get their money from".

Access to capital ''restricting manufacturing growth''

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:24:00 GMT

The ability to access finance easily is restricting the expansion of the UK's manufacturing industry, it has been claimed.

According to a spokesman for the Manufacturing Institute, the leading insurance market, public spending cutbacks are affecting the availability of capital and the willingness of businesses to borrow.

Ed Moss added the current climate of economic uncertainty is affecting consumer confidence and lack of finance for firms is "dragging things down".

"The opportunities that are there can't really be grabbed, because businesses don't want to overstretch themselves - that's it, really, in a nutshell," he declared, adding that restocking activity in the UK is coming to an end, pushing down output.

Manufacturing management professionals are advised his remarks come in the wake of data from the Office for National Statistics showing output in the manufacturing industry increased year-on-year by six per cent during August.

However, the quarterly figures for the three months to August showed a slowdown in expansion from 2.7 per cent to 0.7 per cent.

ABB increases investment in robot training centre

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:08:00 GMT

A facility dedicated to training professionals in using robotics is undergoing fresh investment.

The Milton Keynes centre is being expanded with new additions including two IRB 360 FlexPicker robots, used for picking and packing applications in the fast moving consumer goods market.

ABB UK robotics sales and marketing manager Nigel Platt commented that as the UK's manufacturing industry grows, it is important to invest in training "the present and future generation of engineers and operators" to take advantage of the potential benefits of robotics.

"We now need to encourage more UK manufacturers, colleges and training schools to embrace the opportunities and value of training in robotic technology," he declared.

Individuals involved in improving manufacturing processes may be interested to lean that ABB is doubling investment in the institution, spending more than £100,000 to install additional robot training cells.

ABB's news comes as the Office for National Statistics revealed year-on-year manufacturing industry growth reached six per cent in August 2010, exceeding experts' predictions.

UK manufacturing sector exceeds expectations

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:10:00 GMT

Growth within the UK's manufacturing industry exceeded analysts' forecasts during August 2010, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the UK's seasonally-adjusted index of production expanded by 4.2 per cent during the month compared with the same period of 2009.

Additionally, manufacturing output climbed year-on-year by six per cent in August 2010, up from five per cent the previous month - a higher figure than had been predicted by experts.

It was the highest rate of annual growth in the sector since 1994, following a 0.3 per cent climb between July and August 2010.

Output rose in ten out of 13 manufacturing sub sectors in August and fell in the remaining three, with the most substantial increases in the machinery and equipment and the food, drink and tobacco sectors.

Those interested in operations training courses are also advised that figures for September from Markit and the CIPS showed manufacturing output continued to increase, albeit at a slower rate than in August.

New Distance Learning Opportunity for IOM Qualifications

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Students seeking qualifications from The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) will in future be able to undergo courses via the IOMDLC – The Institute of Operations Management Distance Learning Centre.

The Institute of Operations Management is the UK professional society for operations management in manufacturing, the service industries and the public sector.

Those seeking to undertake both the IOM Certificate in Operations Management and the (IOM) Diploma in Operations Management can now enrol for a study process which will provide literature and course work by paper or CD (depending on the chosen qualification), together with easy access to a Direct Learning Advisor either by email, by direct phone contact, or a combination of both.

Both courses require the completion of the work over a maximum of three years but, in practice, the majority of students complete the process in a shorter time. Examinations are held four times a year allowing regular opportunities to complete the work and achieve the qualifications.

IOM Manager, Leonie Edwards, says: ‘IOM qualifications are continuously gaining in respect and repute, and graduates are increasingly recognised as having achieved a high quality industry standard. Many companies are now using the Diploma qualification as the basis for career progression. This new process of distance learning widens the learning facility opportunities and enables the student to work at a pace and convenience suitable to his or her professional and personal commitments. We look forward to welcoming increasing numbers of students opting for this mode of learning.’

UK services sector ''concerned by immigration cap''

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:06:00 GMT

Companies operating in the UK's services sector are concerned that the government's cap on immigration may have a detrimental effect on their operations.

This is according to a study from the Professional and Business Services Group, which is concerned with issues relating to sectors such as legal, construction and accountancy services, the Telegraph reports.

Operations management experts in such fields may be interested in examples published by the organisation of firms that have used up their quotas for migrant workers and are struggling to appoint the staff they need.

"The restrictions have stopped us being able to move forward on a couple of instances so far this year," one professional services company stated.

With the sector responsible for around eight per cent of total UK output and 11.5 per cent of employees in the UK, such restrictions could be damaging to economic growth, the group warns.

The Professional and Business Services Group's concerns follow a statement from the Confederation of British Industry urging the government to ensure that any new immigration system supports the nation's recovery from the downturn and allows enterprises to operate internationally.

UK service sector growth outpaces expectations

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:03:00 GMT

Growth recorded in the UK's service sector outstripped analysts' predictions during September this year.

This is according to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the industry, which rose from 51.3 in August - a 16-month low - to 52.8 in September.

Any number above 50 is indicative of growth and the figures boosted the pound against the dollar, after experts had predicted a drop in the index.

However, the latest PMI from Markit and CIPS indicated that growth in new orders has slowed from 51.4 to 51.3 over the month, with businesses concerned about forthcoming public spending cuts.

Chris Williamson, an economist from Markit, stated: "Unless trends in new business show an improvement soon, the lack of confidence is consistent with a downturn in business activity in the coming months."

Those concerned with operations management in the service sector may also be interested in a recent statement by the Confederation of British Industry, in which it called on the government to place economic growth at the heart of its planned spending cuts.

UK manufacturing growth slows

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:05:00 GMT

There has been a further slowdown in manufacturing growth in the UK during September 2010, new figures show.

According to the latest purchasing managers' index (PMI), expansion dipped from 53.7 in August to 53.4 last month, with any figure above 50 indicative of growth.

However, this was a ten-month low for the PMI, while export orders declined to their lowest point since July last year to stand at 49.28, manufacturing management professionals are advised.

The survey of UK purchasing managers also showed that expansion in the sector has fallen back from a high recorded in March 2010, although new orders improved during the month to September.

Chief economist at IHS Global Insight Howard Archer predicted the CPI would fall back in September as a result of foreign and domestic orders softening and suggested that the weak pound and lean stock levels contributed to strong figures during the first half of the year.

"Going forward, the concern is that manufacturing activity will be increasingly pressurised by tighter fiscal policy increasingly hitting domestic demand, global growth slowing and stock rebuilding winding down," he stated.

UK witnesses productivity climb

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:17:00 GMT

Productivity increased in the UK during the second quarter of 2010, new data reveal.

A report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the period in question saw an increase of 1.4 per cent in whole economy output per worker compared with the same three months of 2009.

This marked a rise in annual growth from 1.1 per cent in the first quarter of the year and a 0.5 per cent quarter-by-quarter climb in output.

Additionally, output per hour worked expanded by 1.4 per cent over the 12 months to the second quarter of 2010 and by 0.9 per cent over the three months, with manufacturing output per hour up by 5.7 per cent year-on-year.

Those involved in operations management may be interested to learn that manufacturing output growth accelerated in the second quarter of the year, while hourly output in the services sector was 0.7 per cent higher than in 2009.

Commenting on the ONS data, IHS Global Insight suggested that productivity may have been boosted by organisations "having to adapt and streamline their operations to survive the recession, with this leaving them leaner and fitter to compete".

Manufacturing still strong despite slow-down - Barclays Corporate

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Following the release of today's manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), Graeme Allinson, Head of Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at Barclays Corporate, said:

“UK manufacturing remains strong in spite of today’s figures confirming a slow-down in production during September. Export growth, particularly to developing countries, will continue to remain a key focus area for manufacturers, even though global demand has weakened.

“Although there has been little correlation between Sterling depreciation and exports, the extra profits seen in current transactions can boost a company’s bottom line and be fed into securing and developing the organisation as we move further through recovery.

“The environment is likely to become tougher as the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review approaches. In the face of expected cuts manufacturing confidence will be critical in maintaining the stability of the sector.”

Ford boss sings praises of UK workers

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:20:00 GMT

The chief executive of the Ford motor group has described workers in the UK as "the best in the world".

Alan Mulally stated in an interview with Sky that he plans to maintain the company's operations in Britain and expand them in the future because of the quality of the country's employees.

He explained to Jeff Randall that although Asia offers lower manufacturing costs and expanding markets, the UK is an important location for the automotive firm.

Those involved in continuous improvement and manufacturing management may be interested in the Ford boss's comments that "the team we have here in the UK is the best in the world".

Mr Mulally added that Ford has more than 10,000 engineers out of 15,000 UK staff members and said the country is "the heart and soul" of its global operations.

He recently delivered the Confederation of British Industry's annual lecture, in which he outlined how he had managed to turn around the firm's fortunes by focusing on policies such as maximising economies of scale, Car Dealer Magazine reports.

UK wind power supply chain ''needs enhancing''

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 12:30:00 GMT

More needs to be done to ensure that the UK's domestic market for renewable energy expands, it has been claimed.

In addition, a report by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) highlights the importance of developing a home-grown industry and an effective supply chain in order to ensure national environmental targets are met.

The study notes that the deployment of offshore wind technology could be reduced by better operations management and a domestic sector, with bottlenecks, planning delays and shortages contributing to rising prices.

With an estimated 80 per cent of equipment and services for such power generation currently imported, the organisation calls for the country's manufacturing industry to be bolstered in this field.

"The UK is not yet fully benefitting from being a world-leader in the field; in effect UK consumers are subsidising Danish and German wind energy companies," chief author of the study and UKERC head of technology and policy assessment Dr Robert Gross remarked.

Carrying out research into sustainable energy and innovation, the UKERC was established in 2004 and helps to inform the development of national policy in the sector.

Government plans ICT services overhaul

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:34:00 GMT

The government has announced plans to overhaul public spending on information and communication technologies (ICT).

A freeze has been placed on all new spending in the field over £1 million and the deputy government chief information officer (CIO) has stated that the long-term plan is to provide better services.

Bill McCluggage told an audience at the 360 IT event in London that the government aims to allocate less to ICT over the short-term by "cutting back on wasteful spend and duplication".

Those working in operations management in the sector may be interested to learn that the public sector block on major new ICT projects will help to deliver these plans, while future strategies will "enable and empower savings and delivery of improved services through items".

It came into force in May and Mr McCluggage explained the focus will be on using technologies to generate an "improved return on investment".

A recent report by Gartner outlined steps governments need to take to reduce costs and create joint business and IT initiatives.

University unveils manufacturing facility

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:24:00 GMT

A UK institution has unveiled a new £9 million facility dedicated to metals engineering and manufacturing.

Individuals involved in manufacturing management and continuous improvement processes in the sector may be interested in the Brunel University hub, which is intended to develop advanced technologies in the field that reduce energy use, cut carbon emissions and save natural resources.

Designed to further efficiencies and innovation within metals production, the Manufacturing Research Centre has received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Eureka reports.

Technologies under development at the premises will include those for the recycling, reuse and remanufacture of metals. Professor metallurgy Zhongyun Fan has stated that the industry has declined during recent years due to the downturn.

However, he added: "The government has recognised the need to invest in new research and new technologies that will secure a future for key manufacturing industries."

A series of 15 industrial partners have been secured for the centre from across the metals manufacturing supply chain and industry trade organisations and networks will also work with the facility on its research.

US firm employs lean manufacturing processes

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:17:00 GMT

By using lean production techniques a US firm claims to have reduced waste and addressed defects.

Flextronics focuses on building a single redbox kiosk at a time and uses lean manufacturing management processes to achieve high levels of productivity at its North Carolina plant.

According to Self Service World, the company constructs the kiosks for client Coinstar for locations across North America, with 25,000 built and shipped to date.

The manufacturer's 300,000 sq ft factory has been employing measures aimed at reducing excess effort and keeping assembly lines moving since 2005 and general manager John Mainey explained that he believes the lean method works.

Measures adopted by Flextronics include "just in time" parts supply to control the flow of items better, cutting down on packaging and establishing teams of workers.

Lean manufacturing is a term that was coined in the 20th century to describe practices that ensure that more is achieved at production facilities by using fewer resources and eliminating waste.

CBI calls for spending cuts to prioritise growth

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:27:00 GMT

Growth of the economy should be at the heart of government spending cuts, in addition to enhancing the efficiency of the public sector.

This is the assertion made by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has issued a call to ministers to consider fiscal expansion when implementing spending limits.

In its submission to the Treasury, the organisation proposed re-engineering public service delivery and cutting expenditure in other areas to ensure that investment in those fields that boost economic growth is protected, something that may interest operations management professionals.

Published ahead of October's Spending Review, the statement highlighted the need to guard against reductions to transport infrastructure projects, research and development and skills training.

CBI deputy director-general John Cridland remarked: "The government must improve the efficiency of public services and focus the limited public money available on areas that do most to galvanise growth."

Meanwhile, the CBI revised its estimate for the UK's economic growth during 2010 up from a previous forecast of 1.3 per cent to 1.6 per cent.

Credit conditions ''remain difficult for manufacturers''

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:02:00 GMT

Access to credit remains tight for manufacturers, new research has found.

Approximately 30 per cent of companies surveyed noticed an increase in the cost of credit over the past three months, EEF figures show.

The organisation noted that while this figure has remained relatively constant over the past three quarters, more manufacturers are now reporting increases in the cost of new lines of borrowing, despite small improvements in the availability of credit.

Tighter credit conditions could affect manufacturing management processes.

Chief economist at the organisation Lee Hopley said: "Despite the pick up in the economy, too few companies are seeing a significant improvement in lending conditions."

He added that there are now concerns that the supply of credit could affect the upturn in manufacturing.

Similar findings have been recorded by Manufacturing Advisory Services North West, which found that lack of sales is affecting cash flow for businesses in the region. Sales levels have become the biggest concern for manufacturers in the north west, the Liverpool Daily Post reports that the survey found.

UK manufacturing industry ''forecasts more growth''

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:11:00 GMT

Further growth is anticipated by companies in the UK's manufacturing sector, a poll shows.

Results from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey of producers reveal that the industry remains confident about its prospects for the next quarter and saw demand remain steady during September.

In its monthly Industrial Trends Survey, the body revealed a balance of minus 17 per cent of respondents reported total orders above normal, slightly below August, but in line with the average over the past year.

Those in manufacturing management and concerned with demand planning may be interested to note that the number of manufacturers predicting growth in output reached plus 12 per cent in September, up from a balance of ten per cent last month.

"Demand is still considered to be better than it was in the first half of the year, export order books are holding up reasonably well," CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty noted.

However, a slight weakening was seen in export orders but overseas business remains considerably higher than at the beginning of the year and stock levels increased to plus four per cent this month from one per cent in August.

Official figures for July 2010 showed recently that the UK's official index of production was 4.9 per cent higher year-on-year, with output up in nine of the 13 sub-sectors covered.

Union leader calls for alternatives to cuts

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:24:00 GMT

Alternatives are available to public spending cuts, an official has declared.

This is the view expressed by general secretary Brendan Barber at the 142nd Annual Trades Union Congress (TUC) Conference.

Speaking in Manchester this week, he stated that voters are concerned that cuts "might be too fast and too deep" but they are not yet accepting that there is an alternative.

He claimed trade unions should convince the public that "there is a better way to reduce debt" and outlined options that he feels ought to be considered, such as prioritising growth, supporting 'Robin Hood' taxes and greater flexibility.

Public sector professionals involved in continuous improvement and operations management may be interested in Mr Barber's remark that such approaches reducing the budget deficit are "more likely to work in the short, medium and long term".

His keynote speech to the conference follows the release of a report for the TUC and Unison entitled Where The Money Goes, which suggested that the government's proposed spending cuts will hit the poorest ten per cent in the UK around 13 times harder than the richest ten per cent.

Access to talent ''central to manufacturing competitiveness''

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:01:00 GMT

Ensuring a ready supply of talented employees who can help to drive forward innovation is a must for the manufacturing industry to remain competitive, it has been claimed.

This is the conclusion reached by a new study, which places the UK 17th in a global index led by China, India and Korea.

According to the report by Deloitte and the US Council on Competitiveness, skilled workers are the key to production success, ahead of traditional factors such as labor and materials costs, energy, infrastructure and tax systems.

The research indicates that the UK could drop down to 20th place in the next five years, with the sector expected to be dominated by India and China, while nations such as Brazil, Russia, Poland and Mexico are expected to witness manufacturing gains.

A poll of over 400 senior industry staff was conducted, those concerned with improving manufacturing processes may be interested to learn.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu chief executive James Quigley stated: "A strong manufacturing sector is a crucial component of a country's intellectual capital, innovation capacity and economic prosperity."

UK official figures revealed recently that the index of production climbed by 1.9 per cent in July to stand 4.9 per cent higher year-on-year, with output up in nine out of 13 industry sub-sectors.

Union leaders issue job cuts warning

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:55:00 GMT

Imposing significant job losses across the public sector could lead to industrial action, union officials have cautioned.

The warning was issued during the TUC Congress in Manchester, with delegates voting in favour of a "co-ordinated campaign" of action against the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition's plans to reduce the budget deficit.

Reductions in spending of between 25 per cent and 40 per cent are being ordered across government departments, but unions want to see these scaled back in order to protect jobs and services.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the TUC Congress, the organisation's general secretary Brendan Barber highlighted the findings of a recent report indicating that the poorest areas of society will be hardest hit by spending cuts.

Those concerned with operations management in the public sector may be interested in his comments that "there are alternative ways to drive down the deficit", such as imposing higher tax on the rich and investing more in green industries.

Scotland sees increase in manufacturing activity

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:54:00 GMT

Manufacturing activity rose in Scotland during August, it has been suggested.

A new report published by the Bank of Scotland showed that the purchasing managers' survey rose for the 14th month in a row.

Operations management professionals may also be interested to learn that the country's services industry has witnessed an improvement in activity, in particular within the fields of tourism, travel and leisure.

Hiring activity also increased within manufacturing during August, but the data from Bank of Scotland showed that growth in new orders for companies in the country remained constrained.

Donald MacRae, Bank of Scotland chief economist, remarked: "The recovery is more robust in manufacturing. However, new orders growth in both sectors remains weak and rising costs continue to exert pressure on Scottish business."

The Scottish index follows the publication of Office for National Statistics figures for the whole of the UK showing that production increased year-on-year in July 2010 by 1.9 per cent to stand 4.9 per cent higher year-on-year.

Private sector ''needs to respond to public spending cuts''

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:34:00 GMT

The decision by the coalition to cut public spending budgets will require private businesses to provide support, an expert has stated.

Speaking to the annual CBI Scotland dinner, chairman of the organisation Linda Urquhart declared that bosses need to assist national local government in making "the radical change necessary to restore equilibrium, although that may take several years".

Those in both public sector and services industry operations management may also be interested in her assertion that state bodies will become increasingly reliant on enterprises for the delivery of services and new partnerships should be created to facilitate this.

Ms Urquhart, chief executive of Morton Fraser, added during her address to the event at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow that the focus should be on reducing regulation and bureaucracy and spending more carefully.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics showed that public sector employment rose in some parts of the UK and fell in others during the first quarter of 2010 as the effects of the recession were felt.

Further increase for official index of production

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:54:00 GMT

The UK's official index of production continued to rise during July 2010.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the measure of activity in industry expanded on a year-on-year basis by 1.9 per cent.

Standing 4.9 per cent higher over the 12 months to July, the index of manufacturing saw output increase in nine out of 13 sub-sectors.

The seasonally-adjusted figures showed that output in the manufacturing field rose by 0.3 per cent in the month between June and July 2010, boosted by strong growth in the machinery and equipment and basic metals and metal products industries.

The figures, which were in line with experts' projections, were welcomed by Caxton FX analyst Duncan Higgins as evidence of continuing recovery in the market.

"For the time being at least the signs point to economic expansion in the third quarter, but there are clear risks ahead as the government's spending cuts bite," he cautioned.

Recent figures from Markit and the CIPS showed a fall in the UK purchasing managers index from 56.9 in July 2010 to 54.3 in August.

Manufacturing innovation highlighted by BIS exhibition

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:00:00 GMT

A new exhibition unveiled by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is intended to encourage and attract talent to the manufacturing sector.

The show has been created to highlight innovation in the industry and will form part of a series of planned events based on excellence in the fields of engineering, design and manufacturing.

Curated at the BIS headquarters in London, the theme of the event is the engineering supply chain, something which may be of interest to those concerned with production and inventory control.

Exhibits have been provided for displays at the BIS exhibition by Renishaw, JCB and Craftsman Tools, with highlights including a Backhoe Loader JCB painted with a Union Jack.

Commenting on the event, business minister Mark Prisk said: "Britain is a world leader in manufacturing but if we are to inspire future generations we must do all we can to promote UK excellence."

The industry is responsible for an estimated 2.8 million UK jobs and 53 per cent of all exports from the country, with recent data from EEF - the manufacturers' organisation and BDO showing that output and orders are rising, boosted by high demand from overseas.

Manufacturers ''should exploit overseas buoyancy''

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:27:00 GMT

UK manufacturing companies have been advised to take advantage of the current buoyancy in export markets.

This is according to a spokesman from EEF - the manufacturers' organisation, who pointed to growing levels of demand in new markets as potential opportunities for producers.

Individuals concerned with operations and manufacturing management may be interested in Mark Swift's comments that more traditional markets such as the US and Europe have become well established, but other countries are increasingly demanding UK products.

"The growth figures coming out of places like China, Brazil and Russia are very strong," the expert said, adding that firms have realised this and are breaking into such countries to establish new customer bases.

He also pointed to the expanding low-carbon economy as offering future opportunities for profit.

Mr Swift's comments come after the body's latest manufacturing sector statistics showed that trading conditions for companies in the industry remain buoyant as a result of growing exports, with good prospects for growth anticipated during the remainder of 2010.

Manufacturing output and orders ''continue to rise''

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:12:00 GMT

The UK's manufacturing industry is showing "strong" signs of recovering from the recession, a new report states.

A survey by BDO and EEF - the manufacturers' organisation discovered that output and orders reached record levels for the second time in a row during the third quarter of this year.

In addition, the Manufacturing Outlook study claims balances remain high and confidence among firms means that a growing number are hiring new staff and planning investment in their operations.

Those concerned with manufacturing management may also be interested to note that overseas demand has increased, with prospects for producers looking strong over the short-term.

However, EEF chief economist Lee Hopley cautions that uncertainties still remain, particularly with regards to the global economy.

"We have to maintain perspective that the recovery is coming from a very low base and the risks to the economy in the medium term haven't gone away," he explains.

The figures follow on from a report from Markit and the CIPS, which indicated the UK's purchasing managers index declined between July and August 2010 from 56.9 to 54.3, although the manufacturing industry continued to expand.

UK services sector ''sees profitability squeeze''

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:16:00 GMT

Profitability among companies in the UK's services sector dipped in the past quarter, new data show.

Figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) show that both the consumer and business and professional services fields witnessed declines in the value of business during the period in question.

Carried out between July 28th and August 11th, the survey covered 165 industry organisations and found that the rounded balance of consumer services companies reported growth in the value of business stood at minus eight per cent during the three months, with falls in volumes and profitability.

"These survey results highlight that activity across the economy is patchy, with some sectors doing better than others." CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty stated, predicting such conditions will continue into 2011.

Declines were also seen in value, profitability and selling prices within the business and professional services, while volumes remained little changed at plus two per cent.

However, professionals concerned with inventory control techniques may be interested in CBI statistics revealing that high street sales volumes rose during the year to August 2010, the second rise in a row.

UK manufacturing expansion slows in August

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:28:00 GMT

The rate at which the UK's manufacturing industry is expanding slowed during August this year.

According to a new report, the purchasing managers' index dipped from 56.9 the previous month to 54.3, with any number above 50 indicative of growing activity.

The figures from Markit and the CIPS show that the industry is continuing to see increasing activity and output as the UK recovers from recession, with the sector boosted by strong expert growth in recent months.

However, growth is anticipated to continue to slow as proposed cuts to public sector spending planned by the coalition government affect the market and the UK's economic expansion.

Operations management professionals are advised that Caxton FX has noted the latest index is considerably below analysts' expectations and slower growth is predicted during the latter half of 2010.

The company pointed to the impact of the data on sterling, as it pushed down the value of the pound against the euro.

Conditions ''remain difficult for retail sector''

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:23:00 GMT

The retail industry is witnessing signs of recovery, but conditions for the sector remain difficult, one expert has declared.

British Retail Consortium (BRC) spokesman Richard Dodd stated that although consumer confidence has improved slightly, many people remain reluctant to make significant purchases.

Those involved in continuous improvement programmes in the retail industry may be interested to learn that his remarks come after the GfK NOP Consumer Confidence Index climbed by four points month-on-month during August 2010 to 18.

Mr Dodd said that the increase could be attributed to the fact that the full impact of government spending cuts has not yet occurred.

He explained: "We are experiencing a bit of an interim period where the intense speculation about cuts that we've had in the media has eased off slightly."

The specialist added that the rise in August followed a poor index rating for July, although he welcomed the fact that consumer confidence went up last month.

Recovery forecast for UK manufacturing

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:34:00 GMT

A recovery has been projected for the UK's manufacturing industry, with a return to positive average annual growth anticipated during 2010 and 2011.

This is the view expressed in a new report from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which pointed to sharp falls in output during 2009 and predicted that the production sector will rally over the coming years.

However, operations management professionals may be interested to note that "falling investment and damaging regulations" could restrict the pace of recovery, as industrial firms may struggle to boost output in the wake of the recession.

Capital investment is needed, the organisation claims, to ensure that Britain meets its "productive potential" and maintain growth in manufacturing output recorded in recent quarters.

Increases in production are expected of three per cent during 2010 and two per cent next year, following a drop of 10.5 per cent in 2009.

"Though the manufacturing sector has the potential to recover in the next few years, it must be nurtured and supported, to ensure that viable firms do not lose their skills base," the report states.

In addition, the services sector is forecast by the BCC to expand by 1.1 per cent this year and by 2.2 per cent in 2011.

Cuts warning issued by Scottish police chief

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:48:00 GMT

A police chief in Scotland has warned that jobs will have to be lost at the force as a result of funding cuts.

Strathclyde Police has been advised that finances could be reduced by up to 24 per cent during the next four years and to plan appropriately.

According to Chief Constable Steven House, there is "no choice" other than proposals to slash hundreds of positions from the largest force in Scotland.

"With cuts of this scale, it's inevitable we won't be able to do everything that we currently do," he stated, insisting that retaining frontline services will remain a priority for the force.

In addition to the proposed job cuts, specialist units may have to be sacrificed, the policing boss stated.

Those specialising in operations management in the public sector are advised that the Herald welcomed Chief Constable House's comments as "spelling out the kind of hard choices that must be made".

Rise reported in automated machinery purchases

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:18:00 GMT

In order to boost productivity rates in manufacturing operations, rates of automation and robotic equipment purchases have risen.

This is according to the latest industry figures, which suggest that sales have surged by 55 per cent during the first half of 2010, compared with the same period of 2009.

A report by the British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA) reveals that the sector has witnessed its first expansion since 2006, something which may interest those working on continuous improvement programmes.

Orders have risen substantially in fields such as food and drink production and the pharmaceuticals, medical and healthcare industry, BARA claims, anticipating further growth during the rest of the year.

The organisation's president Mike Wilson said: "The growth both overall and in the newer sectors is very encouraging, but the UK's robot sales are still well behind other countries who are also achieving significant growth rates in 2010."

BARA has been involved in a study on behalf of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills in conjunction with the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association into why firms in other European nations have higher levels of automation than similar companies in the UK.

European industry continues to grow order books

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:02:00 GMT

Companies operating in the European industrial sector have witnessed a further monthly increase in order books.

This is according to Eurostat, which revealed that new purchases expanded by 2.4 per cent month-on-month in June, something that may increase operations management activity.

Coming in the wake of an increase of four per cent in May 2010, the figures indicate the sector is rallying in the wake of the global downturn.

According to the European Union (EU) statistics agency, the eurozone nations saw order books expand by 2.5 per cent during the month.

In sectors including those that are perceived to be more volatile, such as rail, ships and aerospace, new orders rose by 1.8 per cent across the EU as a whole and by 1.6 per cent in the euro area.

Over the year to June 2010, books stand 22.5 per cent above the levels recorded for the same month of 2009.

Meanwhile, rising demand for vehicles has led truck giant Scania to announce plans to expand its European workforce by 500 employees.

Firms ''should check energy efficiency claims''

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:13:00 GMT

Companies investing in technology to enhance the energy efficiency of their operations should ensure they investigate all claims made about its performance.

This is according to Carbon Trust Footprinting Company general manager Euan Murray, who noted that the "environmental credentials" of solutions should be examined to ensure they are "based upon robust research which can be independently verified".

His comments may be of particular interest to those involved in operations management who are looking at ways of enhancing the energy efficiency of their organisation and reducing its carbon footprint.

Mr Murray noted the Dyson Airblade - which was granted a Carbon Reduction Label earlier this year - has been shown in tests to reduce power consumption by up to 80 per cent in comparison with traditional models and added that "investing in more energy-efficient equipment of any kind has real environmental and economic benefits to all businesses".

Developed by the Carbon Trust, the Carbon Label scheme provides businesses with detailed information about the environmental footprint of products or services and the greenhouse gases emissions during their lifetimes.

Government asks public to vote on savings ideas

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:23:00 GMT

Members of the public are being invited to visit a new website that allows them to vote on areas where public sector savings and changes should be made.

The Spending Challenge has been launched by HM Treasury as part of efforts to reduce government expenditure and cut the current budget deficit with the minimum harm done to the delivery of public services.

It forms part of the Spending Review, which comes to an end on October 20th, with voting closing on August 31st, something that may be of particular interest to operations management professionals.

The process of consultation will be used to inform public sector budgets over the coming four years and the website has been divided into categories such as benefits, transport, charities, defence, central government, environment, health and police.

Visitors to the portal are invited to rate proposals with between one and five stars after more than 44,000 suggestions were made.

Demand for UK manufactured goods rises

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:59:00 GMT

The balance of UK manufacturers reporting a rise in total orders compared with those claiming them to be below average has reached its highest level since August 2008, it has been reported.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), demand for goods improved, taking the index to a balance of -14 per cent, two points higher than the -16 per cent recorded in July.

Those concerned with production and inventory control may be interested in the latest monthly Industrial Trends Survey from the organisation, which reveals that export order books strengthened significantly over the period - rising from a balance of -12 per cent in July to -1 per cent this month.

August 2010 also saw 30 per cent of respondents forecast a rise in production during the coming quarter, compared with 20 per cent predicting a fall, while prices are also anticipated to increase over the period.

"Prospects for the manufacturing sector remain very positive," CBI head of economic analysis Lai Wah Co remarked. "Demand is steadily improving, helped by the revival of export orders after some weakness last month."

Manufacturing management specialists are also advised that the Office for National Statistics' Index of Production for June revealed a 4.1 per cent jump in total manufacturing output, with nine out of 13 sub-sectors witnessing rises.

Scheme aims to boost energy efficiency of buildings

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:31:00 GMT

A new initiative aims to industrialise supply chains in order to speed up efforts to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings.

Launched by a consortium led by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), the project is looking to improve the operations management of distribution channels in order to facilitate the refurbishment and retrofitting of existing residential properties.

The £3 million scheme is part of efforts to meet the UK's 2050 goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure that more homes are energy-efficient by improving design, supply and implementation processes.

Covering two years, it will focus on developing technologies in order to reduce the impact on the environment of most of the 26 million residential properties in the UK through supply chain solutions.

ETI chief executive Dr David Clarke commented: "Persuading consumers to take-up refurbishment and technology retro-fit opportunities requires us to address the challenge of creating supply chains and delivery routes which consumers trust and which they consider affordable."

The launch of the ETI initiative comes in the wake of calls by Ebico for property owners to make buildings more energy-efficient ahead of a new European Union directive that comes into force in 2012 regarding the sale of homes.

Government appoints Sir Philip Green to head efficiency review

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:33:00 GMT

Ministers have selected retail tycoon Sir Philip Green to head an efficiency review of government spending.

In news that may affect operations management experts in the public sector, the boss of clothing giant Arcadia Group will assess expenditure over the past three years in a bid to highlight potential savings.

Under the terms of the external review, requested by prime minister David Cameron, inefficiencies will be identified in the current system and recommendations made for the future.

Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude commented: "This government is doing its utmost to ensure we make savings at the centre, not the front line."

Sir Philip will be supported by officials from the Cabinet Office and will examine progress towards implementation of the Operational Efficiency Programme and whether government contracts and leases offer value for money.

Analyst Gartner recently advocated adopting a "radical" approach to delivering public services around the world in order to reduce budget deficits through sustainable savings.

Government is "really keen on manufacturing"

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:54:00 GMT

The UK's energy secretary has insisted the government is "really keen on manufacturing" and wishes to provide support to the sector.

Speaking to the BBC, Chris Huhne declared that a double dip recession is unlikely and forecast the industrial sector would help to pull the economy out of the downturn.

"We've got good export growth," he declared, adding "there are a lot of forces working to sustain the recovery".

Mr Huhne's comments come as recent figures published by Business Green show that despite the recession, the number of firms signed up to the Prince's Mayday Network - which encourages organisations to reduce their carbon emissions and improve their energy efficiency - almost doubled during the past 12 months.

Those concerned with continuous improvement and operations management programmes may be interested to learn that the growth in the body has been driven by small businesses, according to its marketing manager Lauren Sandwell.

She told the publication that registration had risen by 87 per cent in 12 months to more than 2,850 enterprises aiming to tackle climate change and reduce their impact on the environment.

Support for manufacturing SMEs ''should focus on growth''

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 16:58:00 GMT

Rather than concentrating on issues such as enhancing productivity and efficiency programmes, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector should concentrate on generating revenue growth.

This is the conclusion of a new report on the industry from the University of Cambridge's Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), which predicts the field could play a major role in the country's economic revival and job creation among a range of sectors.

Compiled by the IfM Education and Consultancy Services (IfM-ECS) industry engagement unit, the study was based on information from more than 500 manufacturing SMEs and suggested growth and sustainability should be the goals of efforts to assist businesses.

Those concerned with continuous improvement efforts in companies may also be interested in the assertion by IfM-ECS chief executive Peter Templeton that SMEs need to be given "appropriate tools to help them develop a coherent strategy", as well as help to prioritise the best way to focus limited resources and develop capabilities.

Recent figures from EEF - The Manufacturing Institute indicated that the expansion of the production sector as a whole will outstrip UK economic growth both this year and in 2011.

Governments ''should adopt radical public sector cost approach''

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:49:00 GMT

A "radical" approach should be adopted by governments around the world to reduce the cost of delivering public services.

This is the view expressed in a new report from analyst Gartner, which advocates employing more innovative and less "traditional" ways of cutting budget deficits.

According to the study, which may be of interest to operations management professionals in the public sector, uncertain economic conditions require new means to generate the required sustainable savings in the wake of the global downturn.

"The aftermath of the most recent global financial crisis, the sluggish recovery in some countries and the significant level of debt require continued and increasing cost-containment discipline," Gartner vice-president Andrea Di Maio stated.

The company recommends that areas such as e-government, workforce management, crowdsourcing, cloud services, linking interoperability frameworks, portfolio management and IT initiatives offer opportunities to cut spending.

For example, the UK government recently launched a scheme aimed at providing NHS employees with an opportunity to improve patient treatment as part of the Big Society concept.

Manufacturers ''driving out costs'' to ensure survival

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:36:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing companies will be intent on "driving out costs" over the next year to ensure they remain competitive and guarantee their survival, one specialist has declared.

"Everyone is trying to examine the cost base as much as possible," Steve Knight stated, adding that the industry is likely to see continuing consolidation, something operations management professionals may be involved with.

The business manager for consultancy Newton explained that certain firms, including commodity producers, businesses providing items to the government and a number of food and drink companies, are under particular strain in the current climate.

Mr Knight suggested that investment will improve in the market during the coming months, but this will tend to go towards green manufacturing and emerging technologies rather than "traditional factories".

His comments follow projections from EEF - The Manufacturing Institute, which forecast growth in the production industry of 3.8 per cent this year and 3.4 per cent in 2011, significantly ahead of anticipated UK economic expansion rates of 1.1 per cent and 2.1 per cent.

Continuous improvement solution boosts Barloworld efficiency

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:35:00 GMT

A continuous improvement programme has generated cost savings and better process outputs for Barloworld Handling.

According to the company the Six Sigma tools and techniques have significantly enhanced the efficiency of its operations and improved customer service levels.

Commenting on the scheme, Barloworld field service manager Phil Marles said that key "positives" have been a better working relationship with Hyster, as well as boosts to "both manufacturing and quality testing".

A total of 16 staff members from the company have "black and green belt" qualified in order to deliver improvement initiatives since the launch of the Six Sigma programme in April 2008.

It is aimed at enhancing consistency and quality, with schemes achieving faster response times from engineers, a reduction in waste and fewer breakdowns, among other outcomes.

Those considering taking operations training courses may also be interested to learn that forklift supplier Barloworld recently implemented a new fleet management system for materials handling equipment, which analyses live performance data through a web portal.

National public sector cuts ''to affect small firms''

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:39:00 GMT

Small businesses are likely to be affected by public sector funding cuts, it has been forecast.

Both head of policy at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Andrew Cave and former Apprentice winner Tim Campbell made this assertion during the T-Mobile Small Business Roundtable Debate.

Addressing the event, founder of Bright Ideas Mr Campbell explained that high jobless rates as a result of falling sector employment could place a squeeze on disposable income within local economies, something which operations management specialists may wish to plan for.

For example, Mr Cave cited Kent as a location where the removal of funding for schools construction is having an impact upon building firms, as the private sector in this field remains sluggish.

The event at the Haymarket Hotel in London this month examined the changes smaller firms are making to their business practices as part of continuous improvement programmes, in order to succeed and grow in 2010.

Manufacturers ''experiencing component supply problems''

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:18:00 GMT

Difficulties relating to the supply of components are hindering manufacturers in the UK and Europe, it has been asserted.

In an article for the Financial Times, Hal Weitzman warned that such problems could lead to disruptions to production and may even place businesses'' recovery from the economic downturn in jeopardy.

He explained that a number of leading international companies have had supply chain issues in recent months, including Audi, Porsche, Boeing and Caterpillar.

Those concerned with demand planning and employing inventory control techniques may be particularly interested in his comments that distribution networks were heavily affected by the recession and some are struggling to cope with growing order books.

Mr Weitzman noted that 51 per cent of US manufacturing enterprises polled recently by MFG.com had experienced "significant supply chain disruptions" between April and June 2010.

His comments come as the latest purchasing managers'' index for the UK''s production industry revealed it is continuing to grow, standing at 57.3 in July this year.

Operations management innovations sought from NHS staff

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:04:00 GMT

A new scheme has been launched by the government which is intended to give NHS staff the opportunity to have a say over how patient treatment may be improved.

The Department of Health initiative is part of the Big Society concept and will provide public sector workers with the opportunity to establish social enterprises.

Projects could include ways of enhancing operations management within the health service and care services minister Paul Burstow stated they will help to "plough resources back into the community", using "local know-how on how resources can best be used" by placing NHS staff in charge.

All employees of Primary Care Trusts are being given the opportunity to request to establish social enterprises in two-thirds of Strategic Health Authorities, with a number of schemes, such as a specialist health-visiting programme in Derby, already launched.

Meanwhile, a new Procure 21+ framework has been unveiled by health minister Simon Burns, which is intended to save more than £200 million in NHS procurement costs by streamlining and simplifying current processes.

Strong UK manufacturing growth continues

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:30:00 GMT

July witnessed a rise in manufacturing output in the UK for the tenth consecutive month, new figures have revealed.

Markit''s Purchasing Managers'' Index (PMI) for the period stood at 57.3, a slight decline from June''s 57.6 total, with any figure above 50 representing growth.

The dip in activity was slower than anticipated and new orders continued to expand during the month, with strong demand from the US and Asia offsetting a decline in orders from Europe.

Jobs increased in the field and volumes of new business remained strong, with the pace of growth in the industry expected to remain steady as it recovers from the effects of the economic downturn.

However, there was a slowdown in export orders over July, as overseas demand for products contracted, something that could affect operations management activities.

Meanwhile, another report by Markit for KPMG has predicted that employment will expand strongly within the manufacturing sector over the next 12 months.

Voluntary sector views invited on efficiencies

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 11:09:00 GMT

The voluntary sector is being consulted by the government about ways in which public services can be streamlined.

Employees committed to continuous improvement programmes in the sector may be interested to learn that charities are being asked for their ideas about how to produce greater value for money spent.

Unveiled by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude and civil society minister Nick Hurd, an open letter has been addressed to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations asking them for views about how to reduce the Budget deficit.

Bodies are being invited to work alongside the Office for Civil Society in generating savings across the public sector and identifying "better ways of doing things", something which operations management could help with.

"We are facing some of the most challenging economic times and every area of government is looking at reducing costs and streamlining their work," Mr Hurd declared.

In related news, a recent poll by the British Chambers of Commerce found that 64 per cent of business leaders welcome the balance of spending, savings and tax rises outlined by the coalition government.

UK''s small manufacturers ''increasing production''

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:55:00 GMT

Production among smaller manufacturers in the UK increased over the three months to July this year at its fastest rate since April 1995, new figures show.

Data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals such companies have witnessed an increase in demand both abroad in at home, while many are also boosting their stocks of goods in the wake of the recession.

Latest statistics from the organisation''s poll of more than 400 small and medium-sized producers indicate 41 per cent witnessed an increase in output over the period in question, compared with 20 per cent claiming that it dropped, giving a balance of +21 per cent.

However, the CBI''s SME Council chairman Russel Griggs warned that growth in productivity could stall over the coming quarter as demand for UK manufactured goods is anticipated to weaken.

Operations management specialists in the field may also be interested to learn that the same body recently reported there was a balance of +24 per cent in the number of manufacturers reporting an increase in output during July 2010, with the index climbing to its highest rate in 15 years during the month.

UK manufacturing ''leading nation''s output''

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:39:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing industry led the nation in terms of output during June this year, a new report has claimed.

Figures published by Bibby Financial Services showed the sector witnessed stabilising conditions in the wake of the recession, something that may particularly interest operations management professionals in the field.

According to the Business Factors Index, production has moved ahead of other industries in terms of positive growth, with output climbing to 107.9 over the month.

In addition, levels of confidence among manufacturing companies showed improvement during the period in question and the index increased year-on-year from 84.9 in 2009 to 95.7 in June 2010.

Although there was a decline in economic momentum during the quarter to June compared with figures for March, Bibby''s UK chief executive Edward Rimmer said: "Promisingly, the Index indicates that there are some green shoots of recovery within the UK economy."

Recent data from the Confederation of British Industry revealed that the UK witnessed a sharp increase in manufacturing output during the three months to July 2010, rising to its highest rate in 15 years.

Sharp production plans may use operations management

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:52:00 GMT

Strategies such as inventory control techniques could be employed by electronics giant Sharp as it increases its manufacturing operations in the UK.

The company is planning to double its annual production capacity of solar cell modules at its plant in Wrexham, Wales.

According to the Japanese manufacturer, expanding its activities at the site to 500 megawatts will enable it to respond to a growing focus on environmental policies by governments around the world.

Production will double at the facility in order to meet rising demand for solar cells from December this year, with steady increases planned between then and February 2011.

Those considering obtaining a APICS qualification may be interested to learn that Sharp is placing an emphasis on "local production for local consumption" in order to reduce delivery times and enhance its cost competitiveness.

Latest data from the Office National Statistics showed a decline in the net rate of return among UK firms of two percentage points, with the manufacturing sector generating 6.4 per cent over the first quarter of 2010, highlighting the need for good operations management practices.

Manufacturing bills ''will expand with green legislation''

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:48:00 GMT

The government should assess its green policies to ensure that energy-intensive industries are not carrying the brunt of efforts to reduce the UK''s greenhouse gas emissions.

This is the view outlined in a new report, which suggests that manufacturers in sectors such as aluminium, ceramics, chemicals, steel and paper may bear more than their fair share of costs from efforts to tackle climate change.

Individuals concerned with sales and operations planning may be particularly interested in the warning issued by the Energy-Intensive Users Group (EIUG) in its new study that power bills could grow by as much as 141 per cent as a result of accumulating climate change rules.

According to the body, factory closures could result unless green legislation is reviewed and EIUG director Jeremy Nicholson stated: "As green tax structures stand today, energy intensive industries are carrying a heavy burden of policies to tackle climate change and reduce energy use."

Recent data from the Confederation of British Industry revealed that UK manufacturers witnessed a steep rise in output during the quarter to July 2010, with growth in both overseas and domestic orders during the period.

Business leaders welcome public sector austerity measures

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:55:00 GMT

The majority of firms believe that the government has taken the right action in tackling public sector expenditure and the UK''s deficit, a new survey has shown.

According to the poll by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), 64 per cent of respondents believed the balance of spending, tax rises and savings had been correctly set by the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration, although 67 per cent predicted their profits would be affected by cuts.

The organisation''s latest Monthly Business Survey may be of particular interest to those working in operations management as it has welcomed the austerity measures imposed by UK chancellor George Osborne in his recent emergency Budget.

Businesses questioned by the BCC stated that they would like to see the government prioritise spending in the areas of transport, access to finance and regional economic development.

"Limited spending will have to focus on areas that boost productivity," director-general of the body David Frost stated, adding that interest rates should remain low and red tape reduced in order to stimulate growth.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics suggested public sector net borrowing reached its highest point since records began during June 2010, totalling £15.2 billion.

UK firms ''falling behind US in human capital ROI''

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:22:00 GMT

Businesses based in the UK are lagging behind their US counterparts in terms of the levels of human capital return on investment (HC ROI) they generate, research has suggested.

A new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) revealed that companies in Europe are slower to generate strong profits per employee, claiming this is partly because the system across the Atlantic is more flexible, something that may interest those involved with continuous improvement practices.

According to the study, Trends in Human Capital, HC ROI in the US grew by 19.8 per cent from 2002 to 2006, while the same factor expanded by 8.3 per cent in Western Europe and 4.6 per cent in the UK.

Richard Phelps, PwC human resource services partner, stated: "While many companies invariably made job cuts to survive the recession, some employers introduced cost saving initiatives with similar results but with less pain."

In related news, a series of business boot camps have been run for students by PwC in a bid to provide participants with experience and training in the field.

UK oil and gas sector ''has reduced operating costs''

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:22:00 GMT

The UK''s oil and gas industry has managed to push down its operating costs over the past year by six per cent.

Expenditure in this area totalled £6.6 billion for the sector, reducing its outlay per unit to $12 (£7.80) per barrel.

This is according to figures released by Oil & Gas UK, which has revealed that fiscal stability in the field has been enhanced by continuous improvement policies, attracting new investment in offshore projects.

A report by the industry body also showed total money spent by companies in the sector reached £12.3 billion in 2009, something that may interest operations management specialists in the field.

"We know that currently companies are considering developments which could lead to £60 billion of investment in new production over the next decade," Oil & Gas UK economics director Mike Tholen, who wrote the report, explained.

The membership agency represents over 100 companies in the energy industry that are active in the UK continental shelf.

Accelerated Lean Skills Programme

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Accelerated Lean Skills Programme

Date of Event         Tuesday 7 September 2010
Duration                  3 days
Venue                      Hunting Lodge Hotel, High Street, Cottingham, Market Harborough,
                                  Leicestershire

Details
The Accelerated Lean Skills Programme (ALSP) is a practical, interactive and fast moving programme designed to give managers the essential underpinning knowledge required to plan and run successful Lean programmes.

The key to success in Lean is as much about learning how to engage others as it is about the tools and the ALSP is designed to cover all the essential topics in an exciting and informative programme.
The course provides the essential underpinning knowledge to enable you to plan and implement your first Lean Events.

Broad Overview

Day 1: Lean essentials
Day 2: Redesigning pathways
Day 3: Making Lean work

Following the programme, on submission of a short project based on the content of the programme, participants will receive a formal certificate.

Detailed information is available in the ALSP brochure
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Manufacturing output ''reaches 15-year high''

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The level of output from UK manufacturers soared to a rounded balance of +24 per cent during the three months to July 2010, its highest rate in 15 years.

This is according to new data published by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which showed that both overseas and domestic demand rose during the quarter, pushing up production levels.

In addition, business confidence in the sector improved, with a balance of 10 per cent of respondents more optimistic about the future than three months ago, boosted by better access to credit and finance and stabilising employment levels.

Those concerned with production and inventory control may be particularly interested to learn that enterprises operating in the field increased both their stocks of raw materials and finished goods during the period in question.

CBI''s chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty remarked: "Looking ahead, production is expected to rise further, but at a more moderate rate. In our view the risk of a double-dip recession remains low."

Last month, the UK was placed at number 17 in a list produced by Deloitte of the most dominant nations in the manufacturing sector.

Concerns over record public sector net borrowing

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The revelation that public sector borrowing rose to a record high in June this year is "pretty disappointing", one expert has asserted.

Senior economist for the Ernst & Young ITEM Club Andrew Goodwin explained that recent months have seen more promising data on spending released and he warned that the latest figures underline "what an enormous job the chancellor has on his hands to try to regain control".

The latest Office for National Statistics report on public sector net borrowing showed that it totalled £15.2 billion last month, reaching the highest point since records first started in 1984.

Mr Goodwin outlined the pressures that exist on the government and those in the public sector to reduce the Budget deficit, which stood at £13.3 billion in June 2010.

He suggested that the June total may just be a blip, adding: "I think the outlook is stabilising, but equally we are not seeing things start to improve either."

The economist''s comments may interest those in public sector operations management who will be facilitating some of the substantial spending cuts being imposed by the Government in a bid to reduce the UK''s national debt.

UK firms witness decline in net returns

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The net rate of return among businesses in both the UK services and manufacturing sectors declined during the first quarter of 2010 by two percentage points.

Compared with a figure of 11.3 per cent for the last three months of 2009, the period in question saw the total drop to 11.1 per cent across private non-financial corporations, highlighting the importance of effective operations management policies.

The data from the Office for National Statistics also revealed that there were broad variations between different sectors in the economy, with services companies recording a net rate of return of 14.4 per cent, while this number was 6.4 per cent for the manufacturing industry.

Excluding United Kingdom Continental Shelf firms, which returned 36.4 per cent in the first three months of this year, the net rate for enterprises was 10.2 per cent.

In a recent interview with the Telegraph, John Timpson, head of the Timpson chain of high street key cutters and cobblers, recently declared that firms should "look for continuous improvement" in order to remain ahead of their competitors.

Lord Sugar proposes UK subcontractor rules

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

Regulations should be put in place so that UK subcontractors have to be used by foreign energy suppliers operating in the wind turbine market.

This is according to Labour peer Lord Sugar, who stated during a recent House of Lords debate on low-carbon technology uptake that British firms should be employed by foreign suppliers in the green power sector.

He warned that British producers could miss out on the market if the government does not take action to protect the country''s interests, something that may be of note to those involved in manufacturing management.

The Apprentice star added: "No licences should be granted unless there is an undertaking that an agreed percentage of UK content and labour is used on the contract."

His comments come as figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed that the UK''s productivity increased year-on-year by 1.3 per cent per worker during the first quarter of 2010 and rose by 0.6 per cent compared with the previous three months.

Public sector ''may have trillions in debts''

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The level of debt within the UK''s public sector could be as high as £4.84 trillion, a new report has estimated.

Written by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the study indicated such liabilities could be considerably higher than government data, which places the country''s borrowings at £903 billion.

If this shortfall exists, it could mean additional work for operations management experts within the public sector, as the level of debt could be as high as £65,000 per person in the country.

Potential liabilities in addition to those already identified include pension obligations, stakes in UK banks, nuclear decommissioning costs and those linked to private finance initiatives, which have been compared by the ONS with the estimated value of state assets.

In order to address the nation''s high budget deficit, around 600,000 jobs are expected to be lost from the public sector by 2016, according to recent figures published by the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Discrete manufacturers ''reducing costs post-downturn''

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

A growing number of producers are focusing their efforts on boosting development and reducing costs following the global economic downturn.

This is the view expressed in a new report on discrete manufacturing, carried out by IDC Manufacturing Insights, which noted that this is particularly the case in western Europe and North America.

According to the study, the market is becoming increasingly complex, something that is viewed as a challenge by company leaders, with 52.8 per cent reporting their operations to be more complicated now than five years ago.

"Overall a lack of skills, business agility and access to accurate and timely information pose greatest barriers to achieving operational excellence," it concluded.

The research was sponsored by Infor and IBM and surveyed 722 senior executives in the industry, finding that leading concerns include driving down costs in order to ensure profitability of businesses, with innovation and new product development found to be particularly important in China and Japan.

Professionals concerned with improving manufacturing processes and demand planning may also be interested in recent figures showing the UK production industry witnessed a slowdown in its rate of expansion during June, as foreign demand for items eased.

Companies urged to focus on continuous improvement

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

Firms should not wait for an economic upturn, but should instead concentrate on ways in which they can reduce costs, cut waste and enhance efficiency.

This is the opinion expressed by John Timpson in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, in which he stated: "To keep ahead of the competition you must look for continuous improvement."

Chief executive of the Timpson chain of high street key cutters and cobblers, he explained that healthy balance sheets improve the long-term prospects of an enterprise, something that may interest those concerned with operations management.

The company head also noted that all organisations are facing the same difficult conditions and recommended that bosses remain positive but open about the conditions of the business.

His comments follow recent remarks made by Business News editor Michael Baxter, in which he advised companies to look to eastern markets such as China in order to take advantage of developing economies and boost exports in the wake of the recession.

Global services industry records June growth

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The global services sector expanded during June this year, with activity increasing during the second quarter "at a solid pace".

This is according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), which noted the index for the industry dipped slightly from 55.4 in May to 53.8 last month, although it still remained above the 50 mark that indicates expansion.

Compiled by JP Morgan and Markit, the statistics also revealed most national service economies witnessed increases during June, although the rate of growth slowed in Britain and the eurozone, something that may interest operations management professionals.

A survey of 3,500 executives was conducted and showed the expansion of incoming new business globally for the tenth month in a row during June, while service sector employment rose over the period in question.

Commenting on the report, JP Morgan director of global economics co-ordination David Hensley suggested that the data "provided further evidence that growth of activity and new orders are starting to taper off".

Meanwhile, in the UK, the seasonally-adjusted index of production increased by 2.6 per cent year on year in May 2010, while the manufacturing measure was up by 4.3 per cent over the same period, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Services sector figures ''indicate best of recovery over''

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The latest data for the UK''s services sector may be indicative of the country having "seen the best of the recovery" for the economy, one expert has asserted.

According to Capital Economics'' consumer and debt specialist Vicky Redwood, the most recent figures show a decline in the headline activity index has been taking place for three to four months, suggesting "this is more than a June blip".

She claimed that firms are becoming more worried about their future in part because of the emergency Budget and plans to raise VAT from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent from early January.

Her comments follow the release of the most recent Purchasing Managers Index for services - produced by Markit and the CIPS - which fell from 55.4 in May to 54.4 in June, as activity increased at its slowest rate for ten months.

Those in continuous improvement and operations management roles may also be interested to learn that the measurement is substantially below a three-year high point reached in February, while confidence among firms in the sector dropped at its sharpest rate since the start of the survey.

Calling all West Midlands Region members

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What can you get from your IOM membership? The answer is as much as you want – but we need to know what you want!

It has been a while since we met as a region and it would be great to get together to explore what members want from their regional membership.

Since becoming affiliated with CILT, we have many more opportunities available to us now and it would be great to take advantage of our joint experiences and make the best of what we are beginning to see as an upturn, as well as a changed set of Government initiatives and the improvements in technology since the downturn started and gave developers the opportunity to review their offerings.

We would like to get groups of individuals together who are interested in various topics which they can explore with like-minded individuals – and perhaps at different venues around the region.

Are you interested? If so, please contact us with ideas of venues, if you would prefer daytime or evening meetings, and of course, what you want to gain from your IOM membership.

Please respond by contacting the IOM directly or Nadine Evans on 01952 247984.

UK firms advised to drop misconceptions about trade with Asia

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

Companies in the UK should not view Asia as simply a "low-cost, low-quality" production line, but should instead explore the potential of the "lucrative and growing market".

This is the opinion expressed by the chief representative for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in China, Guy Dru Drury, who stated that there are "continued outdated perceptions" about the region that may hinder firms from accessing chances there.

Those in sales and operations planning may be particularly interested in his comments, which follow a study by HSBC.

According to the bank''s research, just 14 per cent of enterprises in the UK are fully aware of the opportunities for expansion offered by east Asia and the institution advised companies to factor this into their strategic thinking.

Mr Drury suggested the report is a "timely reminder to UK business that genuine opportunities still exist" for organisations with the capabilities to "internationalise their operations" and meet expanding demand in countries such as China.

UK production ''should look east''

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The manufacturing industry in Britain should look to the east, particularly in the wake of a dip in performance, an expert has suggested.

Investment and Business News editor Michael Baxter stated that the most recent fall in the Purchasing Managers'' Index (PMI) is not unique to the UK and warned "the US PMI is down and China''s has been falling for a while".

However, he suggested that producers in the country should "look towards some of the other economies in the far east" such as China in order to boost their export markets.

In comments that may particularly interest those in manufacturing management, Mr Baxter said companies should not "get too worried" about the drop in PMI and called for more to be done to boost trade outside the European Union.

Figures from Markit and CIPS showed a decline in the PMI last month from 58 to 57.5 as new export orders slowed, although any number above 50 is indicative of growth.

Range Rover celebrates lean manufacturing achievements

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

An extra 1,000 new jobs are expected to be generated at the Jaguar Land Rover Halewood plant on Merseyside.

The company has marked the 40th anniversary of its Range Rover marque with a party in London on July 1st at which its managing director Phil Popham stated that the facility "has a reputation for excellence and quality and is recognised throughout the industry as a leader in lean manufacturing".

He added that the brand has been successful since its launch in 1970 and the newest vehicle is "an important step for the future continued success and growth of the brand".

Those interested in manufacturing management may also be interested to learn that the north-west facility has been selected to produce the most fuel efficient model in the range.

During the London event, the new Range Rover Evoque coupe was unveiled and will be sold in 160 countries around the world.

The Confederation of British Industry recently reported that, despite a slight decline from May''s highs in June, the production industry in the UK appears to be recovering from the recession.

Africa gearing up for supply chain productivity and operational improvements

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Institute is delighted to announce the addition of IOM Africa to its growing regional network. Under the presidency of Dr Douglas Boateng FIOM FCILT and through the IOM Africa Region, operations and supply chain management professionals throughout Africa will benefit from the increased availability of world class and practical education, training and membership
programmes.

The IOM’s key qualifications framework moves professionals up through the IOM’s membership grades and corresponding post-nominal letters, which demonstrates
individuals’ professional credibility and commitment, wherever they are in their career. ‘IOM is the oldest focused professional body for manufacturing and services in Europe,’ says Dr Boateng. ‘I opted to partner IOM after a careful investigation of many professional bodies over a 24-month period, and believe it is the best available to transform operations and supply-chain-related human capital in Africa.’ Continuing, Dr Boateng says the establishment of IOM Africa was driven by pragmatic findings that emerged from its evaluation of other professional bodies: ‘IOM impressed on a number of essential features, including flexibility, practicality, focus and, more importantly, its successfully tried and tested human capital development formula,’ he explains.

From its perspective, IOM is excited to enter Africa with a seasoned supply chain professional with a proven track record, reach and competence. Leonie Edwards, Manager, IOM, notes: ‘The relationship with Dr Boateng reinforces our strategy to extend our professional reach in supply chain and operations, human capital development solution sets into manufacturing, service and public sectors in Africa and the emerging world.

Under Dr Boateng’s presidency, we look forward to assisting and supporting our current and future members in the region as they embark on major sustainable supply chain, operational and service delivery improvements within their respective organisations.’

Energy efficiency ''can generate significant financial gains''

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

Implementing energy efficiency strategies can place businesses at an advantage over their counterparts when new legislation comes in, it has been claimed.

Those employed in operations management and continuous improvement projects may be particularly interested in the comments made by Jim Haywood, Business in the Community environment director.

He explained that there is a "real incentive" to implement change in the form of the financial gains that green policies in the workplace can provide.

Addressing an online event entitled Retail Now, Mr Haywood added that companies could generate savings of £6,000 per year by turning off electrical equipment over the weekend, while other measures can provide savings equal to a five per cent sales boost.

The expert added: "Businesses who take these things seriously and manage their businesses well are going to be in a much better position to meet legislation like the CRC energy reduction commitment."

His remarks come after a report from the Committee on Climate Change called for a shift in attitudes to sustainability in the UK in order to ensure the country is able to meet its greenhouse gas emissions goals.

Scale of public sector job cuts revealed

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:06:00 GMT

As part of government efforts to enhance the efficiency of the UK''s public services, it has been revealed the sector is facing losses of around 600,000 jobs.

The scale of planned cuts was revealed by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) and they are likely to take place over the next six years, with 490,000 completed by 2015.

However, the government has insisted that despite the reduction in the public sector workforce, there will be more people in work overall.

David Cameron explained during prime minister''s questions that full tables had been drawn up reflecting projected employment in both private and public organisations.

Continuous improvement and operations management programmes are likely to become increasingly important during the coming months, as the impact of cuts introduced in the emergency Budget on June 22nd by chancellor George Osborne is felt.

Established in May 2010, the OBR has been charged with assessing the economy and public finances independently and is currently chaired by Sir Alan Budd.

UK ''dips in global manufacturing index''

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:06:00 GMT

The ability of the UK to compete internationally in terms of production has been called into question by a new report.

According to the latest global manufacturing index from business advisory specialist Deloitte, the country has been placed at number 17 in a list of the most dominant nations in the field.

Developing nations dominated the top of the table, with China, India and the Republic of Korea the highest rated countries for competitiveness.

However, in relation to these, western Europe, the UK, Japan and the US are expected to witness a decline over the coming five years, with Britain forecast to fall from 17th to 20th place in the list.

Ranking the most significant drivers of the production market, Deloitte placed talent-led innovation in pole position, while UK operations management professionals may be interested to note that Germany and the US are included in the top ten.

David Raistrick, the firm''s UK manufacturing leader, suggested this is evidence that "the drivers of competitiveness are not just cost-based."

In related news, a report from the Advanced Institute of Management Research is aiming to challenge common myths about the production industry in order to better promote its benefits.

Private lessons ''could enhance public sector operations management''

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:27:00 GMT

Lessons learned by private businesses during the recession could benefit public sector agencies now that they are facing substantial spending cuts.

With the government aiming to reduce the expenditure of most departments by a quarter, operations management is likely to become an increasingly important feature of the industry.

This is why the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has recommended to public sector bosses that they try to benefit from the efficiency savings that have already been implemented by their counterparts in commerce in the wake of the global downturn.

According to the organisation, it is important that employees are behind any changes that are instigated, while flexible working and engagement of staff can reduce job losses when cuts are required.

"With good communication and co-operation between public sector employers and unions, we hope to avoid the potential for industrial action," Richard Lambert, Director-General of the CBI, commented.

His remarks come after a poll for the body discovered engagement with workers was central to recovery from the recession.

Asking employees ''can enhance operations management''

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:07:00 GMT

Companies looking at ways to produce efficiencies and develop continuous improvement programmes should look to their workforces in order to do so.

This is the opinion of Angela Baron of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), who noted such an approach is a "central plank of TQM [Total Quality Management] which has been around since the seventies".

She pointed out that providing a facility for employees to offer suggestions for improvements and what elements can be removed from processes can help to draw out ideas, something that may particularly interest operations management professionals.

"It''s worth having a variety of ways in which people can put their views forward through group discussion, or through writing it on a piece of paper and putting it in a box," the adviser said.

Ms Baron''s remarks follow an announcement by the government that public sector workers will be consulted about ways in which planned efficiency savings can be generated and levels of waste can be reduced.

Report attempts to dispel manufacturing myths

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:55:00 GMT

A number of myths exist about the UK''s manufacturing that need to be challenged, a new report has claimed.

Compiled by the Advanced Institute of Management Research (AIM Research), the study highlights a series of falsehoods that exist about the industry, such as that it is "a homogenous sector", value only lies in the products themselves and it is a low-skilled profession.

According to the organisation, the publication evolved from a forum held by AIM Research and the Confederation of British Industry and it recommended that the UK develops a "better understanding of the benefits" production companies can bring.

This is particularly important, it added, in order for the country to compete with manufacturing industries in Asian economies and other parts of the world, as recovery from the global downturn takes place.

Deputy director of AIM Research Andy Neely explained: "Today, manufacturers are not just producers they are also inventors, innovators, supply chain managers and service providers."

Individuals interested in improving manufacturing processes may also be aware that the Confederation of British Industry reported a slight monthly decline in productivity in June this year.

Budget reveals severe cuts to public sector

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:12:00 GMT

Government departments that have not had their funding protected will be expected to reduce expenditure by up to 25 per cent a year, with substantial job losses predicted.

The measure was unveiled by chancellor George Osborne as part of efforts to cut the UK''s high deficit and will have a severe impact upon the public sector.

Continuous improvement and operations management policies are likely to become more important than ever, as only NHS spending and overseas aid have been ringfenced.

In terms of pay, a freeze is being imposed on all salaries for two years, with the exception of those earning less than £21,000, who will have any rises capped at £250.

Mr Osborne also announced plans to reduce public sector pensions costs from 2011, stating: "The truth is that the country was living beyond its means when the recession came. And if we don''t tackle pay and pensions, more jobs will be lost."

NHS savings ''may benefit midwifery''

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:06:00 GMT

Reducing the number of people working in the management of midwifery services "should help" the field, although this "remains to be seen".

This is the view of Association of Radical Midwives admin secretary Sarah Montagu, who explained the sector is "a different case" to others within the NHS, as many targets imposed elsewhere cannot be applied to services.

Professionals concerned with operations management within the public sector may also be interested in her remarks that it "would probably be a good idea" to reduce tiers of management.

However, Ms Montagu warned there are shortages of midwives and clinical staff as birth rates rise and asserted that the current Payment by Results scheme needs to be overhauled as hospitals are currently paid more for caesarean sections than natural births.

Her remarks follow an announcement by health secretary Andrew Lansley that the NHS will focus on delivering efficiency savings, reducing management spending and altering the ways in which targets are applied as part of continuous improvement plans.

Companies ''should implement OPL strategies''

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:27:00 GMT

Firms in the UK should employ operations management strategies such as optimised packaging line (OPL) techniques for improving manufacturing processes, it has been claimed.

This is according to Andy Hodgson of Siemens Industry Automation and Drive Technologies, writing for the Engineer, who pointed out that many businesses had struggled during the recession and should put measures in place in its wake to ensure they prosper in the recovery.

The business sales manager advocated investing in OPL and assessing the whole of their operations in order to identify total cost of ownership related to any investment.

"By taking a full view of the site, manufacturers can see where processes can be made more efficient and productive and therefore, save them money," he declared.

According to Mr Hodgson, the OPL standardisation strategy provides improved line efficiency, cuts training costs, frees up capital and reduces downtime.

His comments come after figures from the Confederation of British Industry suggested production is recovering from the downturn, although there was a slight dip in demand during June compared with highs recorded the previous month.

UK production sector ''on a path of recovery''

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:29:00 GMT

The manufacturing industry in Britain is continuing to recover from the downturn, although figures from June saw a slight dip from highs recorded in May.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the balance of companies claiming total orders had risen above normal levels was -23, compared with -18 per cent in May.

However, this is broadly in line with a long-term mean of -18 per cent and provides evidence that the "improving trend of recent months continues", with export orders remaining steady as a result of the improving global situation and the weak value of sterling.

"The manufacturing sector remains on a path of recovery, with conditions much improved on just a few months ago," CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty stated.

With conditions improving, firms may now wish to invest in operations management in order to further enhance efficiencies within their businesses, particularly as the CBI data revealed a net 15 per cent of respondents expecting to increase production over the next quarter.

The statistics reflect a recent report from the Office for National Statistics, which showed a slight monthly fall in production output during April 2010.

NI private sector ''remains fragile''

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Recovery within Northern Ireland''s private sector businesses remains fragile, as new figures show a fall in activity.

However, latest data from Ulster Bank showed the rate of decline is slowing, with levels measuring 47.5 in April this year, up from 47.1 the previous month.

The institution''s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) - produced by Markit - monitors public sector activity levels in Northern Ireland, with any number above 50 representing expansion and the figures emphasise the need for strategies improving manufacturing processes in the region.

Within the production industry, output improved during the month while manufacturing orders saw their strongest increase since April 2007.

Business sector activity levels have fallen for five months in a row and Ulster Bank chief economist for Northern Ireland Richard Ramsey noted that the region is the only one within the UK that is still witnessing falls in output and unemployment.

"At a sector level, the most marked divergence between NI and the UK continues to be within the service industry," he added.

In related news, figures from Bank of Scotland recently revealed the country''s services industry saw a rise in services sector growth during May.

Lancashire firm reports export success

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:17:00 GMT

A company based in the north-west of England has reported it is planning to export its products around the world.

InfoServe365 is headquartered in Blackburn, Lancashire and specialises in solutions designed to enhance manufacturing efficiency, including its new business tool AssetManager.

The firm recently revealed it is now taking its lean operations management products overseas in order to assist companies in identifying potential improvements to plant productivity.

It was founded five years ago by Michael Hill and Adrian West, two engineers from the region who believed there was a gap in the market for a new monitoring and reporting system to boost efficiency without requiring a significant outlay of capital.

The pair of specialists created parent firm Optima Control Solutions in 1995 and used the experience they gathered in the field of drive control technology to move into the collection and analysis of managed data.

"Both Adrian and I have spent a great deal of time in industry, we have a passion for its survival and indeed its growth and we enjoy doing what we do," Mr Hill explained.

InfoServe365 recently created and installed a bespoke system to improve the operational equipment efficiency of a laminating machine used by packaging specialist Camvac at its Thetford site in Norfolk.

Scotland''s manufacturing sector growth ''boosts employment''

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:59:00 GMT

The expansion of the Scottish manufacturing industry has increased public sector employment, new figures have revealed.

Data from Bank of Scotland suggests the economy is returning to growth and the services industry also witnessed a rise during May this year, with strong recruitment figures as a result.

The purchasing managers'' index (PMI) for the month stood at 53.1, ahead of a level of 51.6 set in April, with any figure above 50 indicative of expansion.

Additionally, average input costs rose in May 2010, highlighting the importance of continuous improvement programmes and efficiency schemes.

Commenting on the figures, Bank of Scotland chief economist Donald McRae said: "After a worrying two-month period of decline, service sector activity has returned to growth in May, reporting a promising rise in new business for the first time in three months."

Operations management experts in both the production and services industries may also be interested to learn that the Confederation of British Industry has forecast economic growth in the UK of 1.3 per cent in 2010, an upwards revision from a previous prediction of one per cent.

Results of TPM claimed to be worth the effort

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:08:00 GMT

Total productive maintenance (TPM) is a simple concept capable of delivering results that are "worth the effort", an expert has claimed.

The editor in chief of website Plant Services stated he had spoken to professionals in the manufacturing field who had been pleased with the impact of TPM strategies on their business.

According to Paul Studebaker, production and maintenance personnel can collaborate to produce operations management improvements that minimise costs and maximise efficiency simply by establishing a dialogue and altering working habits.

He said that TPM "is simple, but not easy, at least, not in a traditional manufacturing environment", but added that it could make the difference between survival and failure in the current competitive environment, enhancing job security and boosting productivity.

Those concerned with continuous improvement measures may be interested in employing TPM in order to reduce wastage, reduce costs, increase staff morale and improve the maintenance of plants and equipment to increase their longevity.

People call for public sector cuts over tax rises

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:06:00 GMT

Britons would prefer to see cutbacks and greater efficiencies delivered in public services rather than see their tax bills increase.

This is the finding of a new poll, which indicated that the most popular strategies to cut the country''s debt include reducing wage bills for top earning civil servants and reducing staffing numbers, in addition to freezing pay and recruitment in the sector.

Conducted by BPIX for the Mail on Sunday, the survey also discovered the optimum reduction in public expenditure cited was £130 billion, over double the proposed drop.

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government is planning to reduce annual spending by £60 billion in an exercise that could benefit from the skills of operations management specialists.

It is a response to the UK''s high budget deficit in the wake of the financial markets crisis and will take the form of a series of cuts to the public sector.

Last month, the Confederation of British Industry made a series of recommendations to the new government including advice regarding an overhaul of public services such as freezing pay for two years and using private and third sector organisations for delivery.

Surprise dip in UK manufacturing

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:11:00 GMT

Following a period of strengthening production in the UK, latest figures have indicated there was a slight dip last month.

First quarter data for the manufacturing sector has revealed April witnessed a month-on-month fall in output of 0.4 per cent.

This was in contrast to analysts'' predictions of a rise over the period and followed growth of 2.2 per cent during March.

However, those involved in manufacturing processes may be interested to learn that some experts remained relatively upbeat, despite the disappointing results.

IHS Global Insight analyst Howard Archer commented that the report "does not mean that the manufacturing sector''s recent fine run is coming to an end.

"Rather, it needs to be seen as a correction after a particularly strong jump in output in March."

In related news, a study from organisation EEF and accounting firm BDO recently indicated that UK manufacturers are more optimistic about their future prospects.

Operations management prizewinner cuts energy consumption by 50%

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:47:00 GMT

A European Union (EU) prize has been given to a pair of German companies for a system that reduced energy consumption by 50 per cent.

Zenergy Power and Bultmann won the Process title at the 2010 European Business Awards for the Environment, for the development and application of a new technology "that makes an outstanding contribution to sustainable development".

By employing magnetic billet heating based on superconducting technology, a project run by the two firms cut energy consumption rates by 50 per cent by enhancing the efficiency of "one of the most power-intensive processes" in metals manufacturing and boosting productivity.

Announcing the winners in the 2010 contest, EU environment commissioner Janez Potocnik commented that organisations presented with awards have been "demonstrating clearly their innovative abilities and the economic sense of applying eco-technologies and processes".

Zenergy Power is a superconductor technology specialist and Bultmann is a producer of bar and tube mill equipment.

Manufacturers ''more confident and planning for the future''

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:35:00 GMT

Britain''s manufacturing companies are increasingly confident that "we are not heading for doom and gloom" and "are planning for the future".

This is the view of an expert in the field, who claimed firms are responding the rising demand in a range of different sectors, from consumer goods to "industrial-size pharmaceuticals".

Director and co-founder of specialist consultancy Newton Andrew Hawes explained: "We are working in factories that are out of capacity and that''s not been the case for three years."

He said the focus of manufacturing management was no longer on reducing costs and stock levels, but on increasing capabilities, although businesses are still cautious about investment.

Mr Hawes'' comments are reflected in a survey by the manufacturers'' organisation EEF and BDO, which found new order balances and output rose by record levels of 34 per cent and 30 per cent respectively during the second quarter of this year.

Services sector continues to stabilise

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:36:00 GMT

The UK''s services sector saw its growth stabilise during May this year, a new report has indicated.

According to the latest purchasing managers'' index (PMI) for the industry, it held steady at 55.4 over the month, compared with 55.3 in April 2010.

Services growth has remained above the 50 mark that denotes expansion for 13 months and levels of new business have been increasing recently.

However, the data from Markit and the CIPS show the index was at its weakest level for nine months in May, with companies reducing hiring in order to cut costs.

"Worries are likely to be exacerbated by expected fiscal tightening in the coming months, though austerity measures could help to dampen inflationary pressures," Markit senior economist Paul Smith predicted.

As the future for the services sector remains uncertain, individuals may wish to consider taking a CPIM exam or an APICS qualification, particularly as rating agency Fitch recently issued a warning about the "formidable fiscal challenge" facing the UK in reducing its budget deficit.

Confidence ''improving in UK production sector''

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:20:00 GMT

The manufacturing industry in the UK is becoming increasingly optimistic about its prospects for the future, new research shows.

A study by published by accounting firm BDO indicates trading conditions improved for producers over the three months prior to a poll being carried out, with output and orders balances reaching record highs since the survey started in 1995.

The second quarter Manufacturing Outlook, compiled with organisation EEF, suggests demand is increasing both within the UK and in overseas markets, pushing up trade and creating new jobs.

Commenting on the results, BDO head of manufacturing Tom Lawton states: "These are a good set of results, especially as the manufacturing sector is still getting to grips with the uncertainty of the new coalition government."

He believes companies in the industry want the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration to tackle the budget deficit, enhance competition, support mid-market operators, promote investment in emerging technologies and consider the needs of traditional companies.

His remarks may interest those seeking operations training courses, as could recent figures from CIPS/Markit showing the manufacturing purchasing managers'' index remained stable at a record high of 58.0 in May this year.

Manufacturing management shows "slow growth"

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:42:00 GMT

Jobseekers looking to break into the manufacturing management industry may be pleased to hear the sector is enjoying some growth.

The Economic Times reports that organisations based in Britain contributed to the PMI headline activity index which recently rose to 55.3 during April.

Employers in France have enjoyed the biggest success with the quickest growth in almost four years during May.

All countries in the eurozone have helped boost the sector in the Markit Eurozone Services Purchasing Managers'' headline business activity index, the publication continues.

Figures rose to 55.6 overall in April after a consecutive nine months of similar activity which "separates growth from contraction and slightly higher than a preliminary reading".

Those looking for success in the manufacturing industry could do well to work together with colleagues and other businesses, according to one expert.

Derek Gillespie from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council claimed focusing on new technology and research for the future is necessary for success.

Jobs in manufacturing management could benefit from CCS technology

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:13:00 GMT

A new study aims to investigate the capabilities of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, which could help people working in manufacturing management.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) will spearhead the campaign in a bid to help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in industrial sites as well as in power stations and plants.

"Mineralisation potentially provides a permanent storage method, the CO2 could be converted into a useful end product and it could provide an opportunity to use waste materials," said chief executive of ETI Dr David Clarke.

The innovation may enable CO2 to be contained underground instead of being released into the atmosphere.

Dr Clarke added it might benefit transport, engineering and heat industries - particularly in areas where alternative storage opportunities are not available.

News of this investment follows an announcement that ETI has arranged a plan to implement electric vehicles and power supplies for use in the UK.

Investment could secure manufacturing management jobs at GM Canada

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 16:05:00 GMT

Improving manufacturing processes at a General Motors (GM) Canada plant could be achieved since some $245 million (£167 million) investment has been secured.

Facilities for producing fuel-efficient cars with six-speed gearboxes will be implemented at the St Catherines Powertrain plant in Ontario and 400 jobs have been protected.

Kevin Williams, president and managing director of GM Canada, said: "Customer demand for our new vehicles is driving improved financial results and the rapid capacity expansion underway."

News of this cash boost follows an announcement that the company also received $235 million to improve "next generation" technology and work on this should begin in 2013.

Thanks to both figures, a total of 800 jobs in the industry have been saved - which could include roles in operation management or production and inventory control.

Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Cruz - one of GM''s models - has benefited from an innovation which makes oil and filters easy to change and dispose of.

Communication ''can enhance operational performance''

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:58:00 GMT

A fundamental aspect of good organisational performance is communication, an expert has declared.

This is the view of Institute of Leadership and Management senior policy and research manager David Pardev, who claimed defined structures must be in place to ensure information is effectively shared down the line.

"It is important for leaders to be able to trust their managers to communicate effectively with their teams and to pass on important organisational information," he explained.

Mr Pardev''s comments may be of interest to operations management experts implementing continuous improvement programmes, as he asserted company leaders should not be required to over-communicate or micromanage organisations.

The expert''s comments come after a study by Ashridge Business School indicated not enough time is being spent by many at the top levels communicating with staff.

Additionally, the research discovered 51 per cent of respondents did not believe top bosses provided workers with clear information and guidance.

Key to manufacturing success is "working together"

Fri, 28 May 2010 16:48:00 GMT

The best way for the UK to ensure the success of its manufacturing sector is to ensure that companies form partnerships, it has been suggested.

An expert from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) explained: "Working together is key."

Speaking at an event arranged by Cranfield University in the south of England, Derek Gillespie added: "We need to focus on our current strengths and the supporting research that will underpin the emergent technologies of the future."

His comments were echoed by head of the institution''s manufacturing department Professor Rajkumar, who highlighted the potential role the industry can play in the UK''s economic recovery by identifying and capitalising on particular strengths that exist in the country.

Collaborations with universities could assist with operations management, as well as providing an opportunity for testing and research of new technologies.

The manufacturing sector was credited recently with pushing up gross domestic product growth in the UK by 0.3 per cent during the first three months of this year.

Innovations ''deliver Burberry inventory savings''

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:45:00 GMT

Clothing brand Burberry has announced that it has implemented a series of inventory control techniques to deliver cost savings across its global network.

The company has revealed it has made a series of improvements to its supply chain under an international cost efficiency programme that reduced spending by £50 million in the 2009-10 financial year.

"Tighter assortments, improved planning and the global buy initiative all helped reduce year-end inventory by 36 per cent to £167 million," it stated, reporting a 22 per cent increase in operating profit to £219.9 million.

"Enhanced replenishment and assortment processes contributed to gross margin improvement."

This was in spite of retail space growing by nine per cent during the 12 months and the luxury goods firm is planning further investment in its supply chain over the next 12 months, as it continues to expand its operations.

Burberry, founded in Basingstoke in 1856, is implementing a continuous improvement scheme to enhance its womenswear, menswear, non-apparel and childrenswear units.

Manufacturing gains push up GDP growth

Wed, 26 May 2010 13:08:00 GMT

The UK''s economy expanded by 0.3 per cent during the first quarter of 2010, driven up by increases in manufacturing.

Figures for the three months to March have been revised upwards by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from gross domestic product growth of 0.2 per cent.

The data indicates the economy is recovering from the recession and follows a 0.4 per cent gain in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Over the first quarter of the year, manufacturing increased by 1.2 per cent, its highest jump for four years.

Commenting on the latest figures, Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets'' Adam Chester told the Guardian: "The key underlying message here is that we are seemingly seeing some rebalancing away from consumer spending towards industrial production."

Those considering taking an APICS qualification may also be interested to learn that the Confederation of British Industry has credited strong export order books with boosting production in the UK.

Opel implements operations management programme

Tue, 25 May 2010 17:30:00 GMT

Carmaker Opel has revealed it has agreed on a new Plan for the Future, which includes a continuous improvement programme.

The organisation will implement operations management measures in order to deliver a range of cost savings, with agreements being put in place at sites across Europe.

Representatives of workers and managers have approved the framework agreement, which is intended to provide the firm with a "sustainable future".

It covers the development and launch of new models - including a new small vehicle - in addition to a plan to become an incorporated entity.

Job cuts will take place as part of the cost reduction arrangements and restructuring, while a series of investment and production commitments are made by the firm in return.

"In the end, everyone involved had the best interests of the company in mind," Opel chief executive Nick Reilly said.

"Now we have a common base for profitable growth."

The German automobile group, part of global producer General Motors, recently revealed orders for its new five-door Astra exceeded 150,000 five months after its launch.

Private sector policies could preserve public sector jobs

Mon, 24 May 2010 16:26:00 GMT

Introducing similar policies to those employed by private companies during the recession could protect some jobs in the public sector.

This is the opinion of a new study by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Harvey Nash, which declared the government should use the experience of industry to its advantage.

Ministers have warned that the public sector could face significant jobs cuts, however a poll by the organisation found many business leaders believe better operations management and engagement of workers could safeguard positions.

The body''s deputy director-general John Cridland commented: "Drawing on the experience of the private sector in engaging employees during the recession to deliver much-needed change could help the public sector minimise the pain of spending cuts."

A total of 91 per cent of the respondents to the survey reported they communicated the effects of the recession to their staff members, with 54 per cent stating workers had been flexible in their attitude to changes to working patterns.

The CBI has also advised in a report entitled Time for action: Reforming public services and balancing the budget that widespread reform of the public sector and a two-year wage freeze is required in the UK to help restore economic health.

Business leaders call for public sector overhaul

Fri, 21 May 2010 15:17:00 GMT

The public sector in the UK needs an immediate overhaul and there should be a two-year pay freeze, it has been advised.

According to recommendations made by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), more needs to be done to tackle government spending, something that may require the services of operations management specialists.

In a new report entitled Time for action: Reforming public services and balancing the budget, the organisation suggested public services should be "re-engineered" to protect frontline services while reducing costs.

"Experience suggests that the best way of bringing down a substantial deficit without damaging growth is through spending restraint rather than raising taxes," CBI director-general Richard Lambert said.

Additional policies for continuous improvement advocated by the organisation include using the private and third sector for delivery of services, reshaping health and social care, cutting waste, improving workforce management and combining purchasing power.

Other bodies such as the Recruitment and Employment Confederation have also urged the new Lib Dem-Conservative government to concentrate on sustainable reform of the public sector.

Call issued for more efficient transport demand management

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:31:00 GMT

Transport operators need to improve the efficiency of their demand management policies in order to cope with rising levels of demand.

This is the assertion of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which has released analysis claiming financial constraints and bottlenecks are hampering the industry.

In the Transportation & Logistics 2030 report, the organisation and its partner the Supply Chain Management Institute of the European Business School stated significant challenges face companies in the industry over the next two decades.

Based on the Delphi survey in more than 29 countries, it compiled the views of experts on the subject and posited provision of transport infrastructure will continue to be dominated by industrialised countries.

According to PwC global transportation and logistics leader and partner Klaus-Dieter Ruske, financing problems occur at all levels and both public and private sectors must find ways of addressing these.

Rising UK production could place further pressure on operations management specialists, as the Office for National Statistics'' index of production increased by two per cent year-on-year during March.

Overseas demand ''boosts UK manufacturing''

Wed, 19 May 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Growing demand from other countries for goods produced in the UK has boosted the country''s manufacturing sector.

This is the assertion of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which suggested that strong export order books are helping the industry to recover from the recession.

New figures from the business organisation indicate foreign demand for British manufactured items has held up production, as domestic demand is improving at a slower rate than international markets.

This led to a balance of plus three per cent in the number of companies reporting a rise in orders compared with a fall in the latest CBI monthly Industrial Trends Survey, the first positive result in more than two years.

Manufacturing output is expected to grow over the next quarter and CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty remarked: "The weak pound has made UK exports more attractive and manufacturers are benefiting from the pick-up in world trade."

Operations management professionals considering taking a CPIM exam may also like to note the Office for National Statistics manufacturing index for March climbed by 3.3 per cent year-on-year.

Call made for sustainable reform of public sector

Tue, 18 May 2010 12:46:00 GMT

The new Lib Dem-Conservative government should ensure it focuses on "sustainable reform" when it introduces cuts in the public sector budget, one organisation has declared.

According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), reductions in public spending should not be indiscriminate.

Ministers have been urged by the body to employ good operations management aimed at continuous improvement of the sector rather than simply pushing down staffing numbers and agency spending.

The government aims to reduce its expenditure by £6 billion over the coming year and the REC has launched its Public Sector Resourcing campaign for new skills, well-considered cuts and flexible staffing arrangements.

Its director of external relations Tom Hadley warned: "The need to reduce public expenditure is a given, but knee-jerk cuts would result in an unravelling of front line services."

Recent disappointing unemployment data caused the REC to call on the government to focus on job creation and labour market flexibility in order to boost the national workforce.

Change in attitude key to improving manufacturing processes, expert says

Mon, 17 May 2010 17:45:00 GMT

An expert has claimed that one of the best ways to go about improving manufacturing processes could be a change of attitudes in the business world.

Ruth Lea, economic advisor to the Arbuthnot Banking Group, writing for the Telegraph, said that the importance of this sector, which counts for 10 per cent of total employment in Britain, must be acknowledged.

Furthermore, she asserted, better vocational pathways toward a job in this industry should be created in educational institutions.

"The lack of craft skills in school-leavers is a constant complaint of business in general and manufacturers in particular," Ms Lea remarked.

She also encouraged macroeconomic policy makers to aim to avoid over-valuation of the pound, as well as removing or reducing current climate change surcharges on electrical use by industries.

Recent figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed a climb in the manufacturing index by 3.3 per cent year-on-year through March.

Importance of operations management in pharmaceuticals highlighted

Mon, 17 May 2010 16:09:00 GMT

The need for the pharmaceutical sector to enhance the efficiency of its research and development activities has been highlighted in a new report.

According to the study by GBI Research, IT solutions and externalisation of processes have the potential to enhance return on investment within the industry.

The business intelligence specialist notes approaches aimed at improving productivity such as consolidation, restructuring, outsourcing research and better lifecycle management of drugs have not had a substantial impact on ROI.

Entitled Pharmaceutical Research and Development (R&D) - Increasing Efficiency through Information Technology and Externalization, the study provides information on continuous improvement programmes in the sector and advocates wider use of such measures in order to boost efficiency.

The research notes that R&D ROI has been in decline since 1996, while rising expenditure has not been reflected in the number of new drugs approved in the US, making good operations management more important than ever.

Figures from the Department for Business, Information and Skills indicate the UK''s pharmaceutical industry is the country''s biggest investor in R&D by sector, responsible for an estimated £3.3 billion of expenditure in 2009.

Assessment Authors, Markers and Moderators Required

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The IOM will now be offering two assessment routes - the Centre Assessment Route, in which the Centre devises the method of assessment, and the Institute Assessment Route, where assessment is set by the Institute.

As a result of introducing the Institute Assessment Route, we are currently looking for Assessment Authors, Markers, and Moderators for all units for the Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma.

For this route we will be holding two assessment series per year, most likely in March and September.

Below is the list of units for each level:

Certificate:
Unit C1 - Business for Operations Managers
Unit C2 - Demand and Supply Chain Management
Unit C3 - Improvement Techniques for Operations Management

Diploma:
D1 - Operations Management Strategy
D2 - Operations Resource Management
D3 - Business Excellence for Operations Management
D5 - Supply Chain & Inventory Management
D6 - Enterprise Planning for Operations Management
D7 - Manufacturing Planning
D8 - Added Value for Manufacturing
D9 - Operations Management Project

Advanced Diploma:
Project (only marking & moderating expertise required)

These positions are not full time, nor would the personnel become employees of the Institute. The work is likely to suit professionals – probably self-employed – who are able to work flexibly.

If you are interested in supporting the IOM in this capacity, please contact Maureen McAstocker, Assessment Co-ordinator on 01536 740164 or via email; maureen.mcastocker@iomnet.org.uk

Lean management in manufacturing advocated

Fri, 14 May 2010 14:23:00 GMT

A new approach to management in the manufacturing industry has been recommended by a new report.

Based on research carried out by an expert from the University of Leicester School of Management, it advocates lean operations management practices in order to deliver continuous improvement.

According to the study, "quality management means lean management" and as such measures boost levels of productivity.

Author Professor Stephen Wood and his colleague Lilian de Menezes of the Cass Business School in London covered 22 years with the study, highlighting the benefits they found to be generated by policies such as intensive training and development, supply chain partnering, Total Quality Management and empowerment.

"We found that the pioneers of the high lean approach continued to outperform even those that subsequently adopted it," Professor Wood explained, adding that employee engagement "achieves its aim of continuous improvement".

Those interested in gaining an APICS qualification may also be interested to learn the UK''s manufacturing index rose 3.3 per cent year-on-year in March.

Government public sector cuts ''will boost outsourcing''

Thu, 13 May 2010 14:31:00 GMT

Those working in the public sector and facing spending cuts as a result of plans to reduce the UK''s budget deficit should outsource to the private sector, it has been suggested.

According to Interim Partners, a planned reduction in expenditure by the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition administration following the May 6th General Election will lead to a rise in outsourcing.

The news may particularly interest those working in operations management within local and national government and people involved in a programme of continuous improvement, as a poll by the organisation found 29.7 per cent of interim executives believe the government should prioritise outsourcing more Whitehall functions to the private sector.

Other areas of focus proposed by respondents included greater investment in IT to reduce staffing levels (21 per cent) and imposing tougher or more targets (20.6 per cent).

Interim Partners managing director Doug Baird advised: "However deeply the next Government decides to cut public sector spending, savings need to be balanced against service quality."

UK manufacturing index rises in March

Wed, 12 May 2010 17:00:00 GMT

The latest official figures reveal a climb in the manufacturing index by 3.3 per cent year-on-year during March.

It contributed to a two per cent climb over the 12 months to March 2010 of two per cent in seasonally adjusted industrial output in Britain.

According to the Office for National Statistics'' data, nine out a total of 13 sub-sectors in manufacturing witnessed growth during the period in question, with the highest rise of 16.9 per cent recorded by the transport equipment industries.

The strong performance of the transport equipment sector was boosted by a 52.3 per cent gain in motor vehicles production.

In addition, production and inventory control professionals may also be interested in a climb of 4.6 per cent within basic metals and metal products manufacturing, with the cutlery, tools and general hardware sector performing particularly well.

Further growth may be seen in output as a new report has revealed year-on-year home sales of manufactured products rose by 5.7 per cent in April, expanding from a five per cent rise in March.

UK ''can innovate in manufacturing''

Tue, 11 May 2010 16:53:00 GMT

Britain''s manufacturing businesses can innovate by "thinking of things that no-one else does and building those", one expert believes.

This is the opinion of business author Sahar Hashemi, who suggests the UK can compete against cheaper countries by developing unique areas of production.

The enterprise guru''s comments may be of particular interest to those concerned with improving manufacturing processes and operations management.

Ms Hashemi also highlighted the importance of investment in small to medium enterprises, which she said was "crucial" to the future of the economy and its recovery as they "contribute around 41 per cent to our national income".

Ms Hashemi''s comments follow the latest figures from the manufacturing Purchasing Managers'' Index for April 2010, which show export growth reaching a record peak and the index climbing to its highest level since September 1994.

It stood at 58 in April, with any figure above 50 representing growth, rising from 57.3 in March.

Communication between firms and suppliers ''boosts strategic advantage''

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:27:00 GMT

Improving communication between an organisation and its suppliers can provide it with a greater strategic advantage, a new report claims.

The study by researchers at the Bristol Business School at the University of West England is the fifth in the Office of Government Commerce-commissioned annual I-Series documents.

It highlights the centrality of price, quality and delivery to all relationships between bodies and their suppliers, the increased importance of other factors such as compatibility and technical knowledge, as well as the decline in certain other issues including geographical proximity.

Entitled I-Relate, it is intended to provide operations management professionals involved in such relationships with a best practice guide to boost information flow, covering sectors such as manufacturing, health, retail and local government.

Director of procurement at Oracle UK Andrew Douglas remarked: "Suppliers take note, this research signals the increasing stringency with which procurement departments are approaching the process of awarding contracts."

Meanwhile, the latest Purchasing Managers'' Index for the UK''s manufacturing sector rose to its highest level since October 1994 this April, with the export market boosting new orders.

Supermarkets helping to improve manufacturing processes

Fri, 07 May 2010 10:31:00 GMT

The popularity of green technology among UK supermarkets is helping to boost sales of environmentally-friendly products and bring manufacturing costs down.

That is according to Climate Change Capital Private Equity (CPE), a fund that invests in low-carbon initiatives, which claimed that pressure for the big chains to reduce their emissions is going some way to improving manufacturing processes.

Speaking to the Guardian, the fund said that one of its clients, LED producer Nualight, has recently received more money from the organisation after signing contracts with Tesco and the Co-operative.

Alex Hanrath, an associate director at CPE, said: "There is generally strong (and real) interest in doing this from the retailers."

Ultra Green founder and group executive chairman Tony Blakely recently claimed that manufacturers of green technology in the UK should be given greater government support, adding that more needs to be done to ensure that production of devices linked to sustainable energy remains in Britain.

Service industries can improve operations management

Thu, 06 May 2010 12:59:00 GMT

When it comes to low-carbon initiatives, it is not just the technology and manufacturing industries that can make a difference, one expert has said.

Speaking at an industry gathering at the House of Lords this week, Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT Retail, claimed that by altering operations management service sector companies can also help the environment.

According to Edie.net, Mr Patterson claimed that too much focus is placed on improving manufacturing processes when the services industries also have a key role to play in combating the effects of climate change.

"Let''s make sure that we talk about manufacturing but we also seize the opportunity around services. There are as many opportunities around services as there are in manufacturing," he said.

Recent Office for National Statistics figures showing preliminary estimates for the UK''s gross domestic product in the first quarter revealed that the economy grew by 0.2 per cent in the period, being held back by a poor performance in the services sector.

Car manufacturers ''marketing green cars as cheaper to run''

Tue, 04 May 2010 17:29:00 GMT

Car manufacturers are increasingly looking to produce environmentally-friendly vehicles - not for the good of the planet but for price efficiency.

According to Will Powell of Cleangreencars.co.uk, companies have worked out that the recession prompted motorists to look at green cars as vehicles which were cheap to run.

Now manufacturers are apparently marketing ecologically-conscious motors as such, rather than focusing on their planet-friendly credentials.

Mr Powell pointed out the recession took its toll on car businesses, so it makes sense they are hoping to recoup their losses through taking advantages of the lower costs of ecological vehicles.

However, these motors are often more expensive to buy because of the different technology employed in their manufacturing, he added.

Mr Powell''s comments come as a survey by Carmony.co.uk revealed that 84 per cent of car customers said price was their deciding factor, while there was an increase in those who named themselves as indifferent about the environmental impact of a vehicle.

EU commissioner advocates resource efficiency

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:54:00 GMT

Operations management professionals may be interested in a recent speech made by the European Commissioner for Environment regarding the importance of resource efficiency in tackling climate change.

Janez Potocnik has declared such practices can deliver a greener economy in addition to reducing costs as part of a programme of continuous improvement within businesses.

Speaking at a conference on the environment, he highlighted the benefits of resource efficiency in reducing the impact of the 500 million people in Europe on the environmet.

Addressing delegates in the Hague, Mr Potocnik stated: "A resource efficient outlook would mean looking at new practices and new business models, which could make the best use of and recover value from the waste we can''t avoid producing".

He also called for measures to go beyond reducing energy consumption and eco-innovation in order to deliver substantial cuts in the level of resources used within the European Union.

Recent comments made by Michael Webb, client services manager at the Green Consultancy, who advocated reducing carbon footprints through efficiency policies, something which production and inventory control could assist with.

Sluggish services sector constrains UK growth

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:10:00 GMT

The expansion of the UK economy has been held back during the first quarter of the year by the poor performance of the distribution, hotels and restaurants sector.

In its gross domestic product (GDP) preliminary estimates for the first three months of 2010, the Office for National Statistics claimed the economy grew by 0.2 per cent in total compared with the previous quarter, but was 0.3 per cent lower than the same period of 2009.

These figures reflected growth production output of 0.7 per cent, while services activity was up by just 0.2 per cent over the three months.

Output in the distribution, hotels and restaurants sector fell by 0.7 per cent, down from growth of 1.9 per cent in the previous quarter, but two per cent higher year-on-year.

Operations management professionals may be required to boost performance in services businesses as the sector continues to feel the impact of the global downturn.

Meanwhile, the rise in GDP output in the quarter to March was boosted by the strong performance of the business services and finance industry, which expanded by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter.

Earlier this month, a study by Lloyds TSB indicated optimism among services firms in the UK had risen to a balance of 51 per cent.

Manufacturers see energy prices stabilise

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:05:00 GMT

Relatively stable prices for electricity, gas and oil are being seen by producers in the UK at present following significant fluctuations over recent months.

This is the conclusion of accountants and business advisers BDO LLP, which suggests peaks and troughs have placed additional pressure on manufacturers already affected by the global economic downturn.

However, the organisation warns that the current situation may be the "calm before the storm" and head of manufacturing Tom Lawton states the "stakes are particularly high at this stage", calling for greater clarity of guidance from the government about low-carbon initiatives.

Operations management experts are also advised BDO''s latest Quarterly Manufacturing Energy Tracker also notes the manufacturing sector is being subjected to a growing wave of legislation - including the Carbon Reduction Commitment and the European Union Energy Trading Scheme - as the UK moves towards a more sustainable economy.

Founder and group executive chairman of Ultra Green Tony Blakely recently called at a roundtable industry discussion for UK manufacturers of green technology to be provided with greater government support to boost production of sustainable devices.

Call for action on green manufacturing

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:04:00 GMT

Manufacturers of green technology in the UK should be given greater government support, it has been claimed.

This is the view of Ultra Green founder and group executive chairman Tony Blakely, who has suggested more needs to be done to ensure that production of devices linked to sustainable energy remains in Britain.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion by industry specialists and politicians, he warned power shortages could take place in the UK unless green manufacturing is promoted more stridently.

The expert explained that there was a real risk of power scarcity in the future, but insisted that "we have a unique and high value product and there is a massive market in Europe, a huge manufacturing opportunity for Britain".

Those involved in improving manufacturing processes and demand planning could be interested in Mr Blakely''s forecast that further investment in wind tower production could generate up to 100,00 new jobs in the UK.

Hosted by Ultra Green, the Green Collar Economy Forum examined ways in which growing demand for renewable energy could be used to boost the manufacturing industry.

Upturn in UK manufacturing continues

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:15:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing industry is continuing to demonstrate signs of recovery from the recession, new figures indicate.

According to the latest data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), exports witnessed a further rise over the last quarter with firms reporting a balance of +20 in new orders, the highest level since July 1995.

In addition, the first growth was seen during the three months to April in domestic orders for two-and-a-half years, as demand at home and overseas for goods produced in the UK increases.

Overall, the quarterly Industrial Trends Survey of 439 businesses showed a balance of +12 per cent in rising orders, with 34 per cent of respondents reporting a jump in volume during the period in question.

However, the CBI has warned profit margins are being squeezed by rising inflation and costs, although strong growth is predicted in orders over the current quarter by companies and manufacturing production is forecast to increase.

"With demand expected to strengthen further and stocks running low, UK firms are planning to step up production in the next quarter," CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty remarked.

The CBI figures support a recent report from the Office for National Statistics showing the UK''s index of manufacturing expanded by 1.4 per cent year-on-year in February 2010, with output up over the month in eight out ten sub-sectors.

Network Rail improves productivity

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:30:00 GMT

A series of operational improvements across the UK''s rail network has led to a reduction in maintenance staff of 500 workers.

This is according to infrastructure body Network Rail, which has announced increases in productivity during the past two years have led to the cuts.

All 500 employees leaving the company''s maintenance division are doing so under a voluntary redundancy programme after technological investment and newer asset bases reduced costs.

The latest reduction follows a further 235 workers who chose to take redundancy from Network Rail in January this year as a programme of continuous improvement eliminated outdated working practices and problems with overmanning.

An additional 200 or more staff are also expected to leave the operator over the coming months as the operations management scheme continues to take effect, creating a network that requires lower levels of maintenance.

"More efficient maintenance means more investment in improving stations, opening new lines and adding capacity," Network Rail director of maintenance Steve Featherstone said.

The organisation unveiled its Delivery Plan for 2009 to 2014 in March 2009, which outlines a £10 billion programme of railway investment, including a series of major infrastructure projects.

Scottish expert predicts significant public sector cuts

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:51:00 GMT

An expert has forecast a 20 per cent reduction in public spending in Scotland will be required if there is no improvement in the economy.

According to Professor David Bell, cuts of 12 per cent minimum will be required across the sector, which will necessitate a programme of continuous improvement, the Herald Scotland reports.

The adviser to the Finance Committee at Holyrood''s comments to the BBC''s Politics Show follow a warning issued by Audit Scotland to MSPs that reform of all departments if needed to reduce the impact of cuts.

According to the newspaper, the body explained that ring-fencing specific areas will mean that important opportunities for reform could be missed, with future public spending reduction likely to prove "very challenging".

The public sector is facing significant operations management challenges as a result of the UK''s high Budget deficit and all three major political parties have promised to reduce expenditure in order to bring it down if they win the forthcoming General Election on May 6th.

Natures Way adopts operations management system

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:28:00 GMT

A new manufacturing operations management (MOM) system is being deployed at a firm''s UK plants.

Natures Way Foods is implementing the CDC Factory system at facilities in Runcton and Selsey in order to provide a real-time reporting structure and metrics to increase plant performance.

As part of improving its manufacturing processes, the company will use the operations management solution from CDC Software, having already implemented its Ross ERP product.

Providing easy to understand and relevant production information, the system allows factory workers to make adjustments and measure improvements in order to deliver efficiencies.

Natures Way Foods head of operations Richard Parr commented: "Our continued growth demands required us to unlock greater capacity from our existing equipment and people."

The fresh produce manufacturing company is based in Chichester and prepares a range of fruit items and bagged salads for sale to retail and food service businesses across the country.

Professionals interested in taking a CPIM exam may be interested in an increase in the UK''s index of manufacturing of 1.4 per cent during February 2010, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Flight disruptions affecting UK businesses

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:41:00 GMT

Disruption to air travel caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland is having an impact on a range of different sectors.

For example, producers of perishable goods usually exported by air are struggling with the impact of the plumes of ash disrupting planes, while manufacturers may find it hard to obtain materials and parts as delays continue.

According to the BBC, Standard Chartered economist Razia Khan pointed out that Kenyan suppliers of cut flowers to Europe could be badly hit by the problems.

The news source noted that air freight carries an estimated 35-40 per cent of total goods moved around the world.

The volcano has led to the grounding of all non-emergency UK flights for the first time ever and although some services have managed to take off and land, the majority of routes remain affected.

Large regions of Europe have been impacted by the clouds of ash travelling south from Eyjafjalljokull in the south of Iceland, which is continuing to erupt.

As a result, companies may wish to improve their operations management through a programme of continuous improvement or by providing employees with access to courses such as the APICS qualification.

Parties look to public sector to deliver efficiencies

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:55:00 GMT

All three of the UK''s major political parties have emphasised the need to reduce public spending through continuous improvement in order to reduce the budget deficit.

In the wake of the financial crisis and the recession, the country has been left with high levels of public debt and the manifestos of the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats all spell out their intentions to reduce waste.

This is likely to involve operations management strategies, with the Conservative plans including delivering £12 billion worth of savings.

Experts have suggested the move could result in as many as 40,000 job losses in the public sector, with proposals to reduce spending on consultants, cut staff expenses and review IT contracts.

The Labour Party declared in its manifesto it will "strip out all waste, improve efficiency and get the most out of every pound spent", building a more personal system of public services.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have outlined plans to reduce the public deficit by £15 billion, including assessing all government departments to identify where savings can be made

The UK goes to the polls for the General Election on May 6th.

UK supply chain management experts compete

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Competitors in the first supply chain management competition to be held in the UK have been pitted against one another.

The Fresh Connection contest run by consultants Scala has been launched on April 12th and will take place over six weeks, with six rounds run over the internet, showcasing operations management practices.

Challengers participating in the event include leading organisations such as BAE Systems, Cadbury, Wincanton and the Ministry of Defence, as well as international teams from around the globe.

A UK final to select the winning team will be held at Wroxall Abbey in July, with participants charged with reversing the fortunes of a fictional manufacturer of fruit juice.

"Not only is The Fresh Connection a cost effective training tool for companies to teach staff how to maximise profitability, it provides a fantastic incentive for the winning team," Scala managing director John Perry has said.

Initially founded in the Netherlands in 2008, the competition is running in a number of countries this year, with plans for a world final later in 2010.

Growth in UK producer prices

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:08:00 GMT

The prices commanded by UK manufacturers rose by five per cent year-on-year in March.

According to the latest output price index for home sales of goods produced in the country, the March total stood above a 4.2 per cent annual rise in February.

Particular sectors contributed more to a 0.9 per cent increase in producer prices between February and March, including petroleum and chemical products.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates less than 0.1 per cent has been added to the overall output index for March by alterations to excise duties.

Excluding food, beverages, petroleum and tobacco, the annual increase in output prices was 3.6 per cent to March and 0.7 per cent over the month.

ONS figures revealed a 1.4 per cent increase in the manufacturing index in February, with output up across eight of ten sub-sectors.

Improving conditions for manufacturers in the UK could cause firms to invest in training such as an APICS qualification for operations management professionals to further enhance their business and reduce costs.

Optimism growing among services companies

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:56:00 GMT

Businesses operating in the UK''s services sector are becoming more confident about their prospects, a new study has found.

Research by Lloyds TSB indicated a rise of five per cent in optimism among such firms to balance of 51 per cent, as the sector recovers from the recession.

Those working in operations management within the services industry may be interested to learn the Corporate Markets Business Barometer indicated that overall confidence in their economic prospects has grown among UK companies to the highest rate since January 2008, although many respondents remained cautious.

According to the poll, optimism is rising and 54 per cent of enterprises predict an increase in business activity during 2010, compared with just five per cent expecting it to slow.

This resulted in a balance of +49, compared with +46 in February, with smaller firms most optimistic about their outlook for this year.

Services specialists looking for operations training courses are also advised the latest Purchasing Managers'' Index stood at 56.5 in March, indicating the sector is witnessing signs of activity increasing steadily.

Manufacturing index expands in February

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:11:00 GMT

The UK''s index of manufacturing rose during February 2010 by 1.4 per cent on a seasonally-adjusted basis year-on-year.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the overall index of production dipped by 0.1 per cent during the month.

However, the manufacturing industry witnessed a strong climb compared with February 2009 and output rose in eight out ten sub-sectors, with the largest increases recorded in transport equipment (16.9 per cent) and food, drink and tobacco (2.8 per cent).

An annual change of 51.6 per cent was witnessed in the manufacture of motor vehicles in the UK, something which may particularly interest operations management professionals in the industry.

Commenting on the strong February data, RLAM economist Ian Kernohan pointed to other positive figures released recently from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the purchasing managers'' index and remarked: "The UK manufacturing sector looks to be participating in a general upturn in global trade."

Tories plan public sector efficiency savings

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 16:54:00 GMT

Operations management is likely to play a key role in plans to deliver savings by the Conservative Party if they win the General Election.

Tory leader David Cameron has outlined a £12 billion plan for proposed cuts across the public sector in order to reduce the UK''s deficit in the wake of the financial crisis.

According to the plans from Conservative adviser Sir Peter Gershon, the savings initiative will include cuts to the wages bill through jobs losses, a recruitment freeze and wage reductions in order to fund a proposal to prevent National Insurance increases.

Other strategies include renegotiating procurement deals and reducing spending on areas such as consultants, administration and IT projects as part of a series of continuous improvement measures that are intended to cut public sector expenditure.

"I don''t think it''s particularly challenging to ask government to save £1 out of every £100 it spends," Mr Cameron told the BBC.

However, the Labour Party has questioned the Tory figures and insists National Insurance must be raised in order to balance the budget.

Sony announces green operations management targets

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:08:00 GMT

A series of new goals aimed at achieving a zero environmental footprint by 2050 have been unveiled by Sony.

The global electronics firm has launched its Road to Zero strategy and a series of mid-term targets to 2015 that will help it to achieve this end.

Under the ambitious plans, operations management will be impacted as the company looks to achieve carbon neutrality, zero waste and reduce its usage of finite materials in the production process.

Sir Howard Stringer, Sony President and Chief Executive, declared: "From the development of new materials and energy-efficient technologies, to the introduction of better processes in manufacturing and production, we will work aggressively to meet the ambitious targets."

He added the firm also wants to set an example to other businesses, with 2015 goals including a ten per cent cut in product mass, a drop of 30 per cent in energy consumption and a 50 per cent reduction in waste generation.

In January, Panasonic committed to reduce the level of greenhouse gases for which it is responsible by 50 per cent compared with 2006 levels by 2018 through a programme of continuous improvement.

UK services sector activity improving

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:11:00 GMT

Britain''s services industry is starting to recover from the impact of the recession and is witnessing steady growth in activity.

This is according to the latest Purchasing Managers'' Index (PMI), which shows the pace of increase slowed slightly over the month but remained above the 50 mark that is indicative of expanding activity.

It was recorded at 56.5 in March, slight below a rise to 58.4 in February.

Additionally, the first increase in employment was recorded during March since April 2008 and Markit senior economist Paul Smith said: "The services sector continues to play a strong role in the recovery of the U.K. economy."

Business expectations in the sector have grown and firms are predicting that it will emerge from the downturn during 2010.

Those concerned with continuous improvement in services organisations are also advised the government recently announced a new programme of support designed to encourage innovation in the professional and business services industries.

Manufacturing sector experiences strong March growth

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:37:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing industry expanded in March this year to 57.2, up from 56.5 the previous month.

According to the latest purchasing managers'' index (PMI), the factory output total increased at its fastest rate in more than 15 years to 61.9, with any figure above 50 indicating growth.

Markit senior economist Rob Dobson commented on the "solid" manufacturing data from the firm and the CIPS: "The rebound is coming from a broad base by sector and company size, raising hopes that this will prove sustainable."

February''s CPI remained stable at the same figure recorded in January, while the March total significantly exceeded a forecast from analysts of 56.8 for the month.

The latest PMI will be welcomed by those concerned with improving manufacturing processes, as well the news that new government awards known as Cluster Marks have been launched to honour leading clusters of producers in the UK, with the first prizes recently handed out.

New body aims to enhance NHS operations management

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:42:00 GMT

In order to assist continuous improvement within the NHS and social care agencies, the Department of Health has announced the formation of a new body.

The government is creating a new organisation that will provide guidance on ensuring that the health sector workforce operates more efficiently and patient care is more people-centred.

Dubbed the Centre for Workforce Intelligence, the body will be headed by Mouchel director of learning and wellbeing Peter Sharp and will facilitate a move towards care in homes and within communities.

Its formation follows a 2008 report on the future of the NHS workforce and the facility will provide best practice examples regarding workforce and demand planning, access to research and expert advice to NHS planners and develop "high quality data, analysis and modelling".

Commenting on the body, health minister Ann Keen said: "The new Centre for Workforce Intelligence will provide an authoritative resource on workforce planning for national and local organisations."

Recent Department of Health figures revealed the number of people seeking jobs in the social care sector has risen to record levels.

Business minister sees manufacturing efficiencies

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:45:00 GMT

The UK''s business minister has been visiting a Vauxhall car plant to inspect a number of manufacturing efficiencies that have been implemented at the facility.

Ian Lucas toured the Ellesmere Port site and toured the production line for the new Astra model, with manufacturing on the car due to commence in September.

The minister pointed out that the plant has become "one of the most competitive and productive" in the UK through a range of continuous improvement measures.

He added: "There has been good news for car manufacturing recently and the government is doing all it can to help the industry transition to meet future demand for low carbon vehicles."

Under the government''s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles strategy, schemes will receive support aimed at making the UK a world leader in terms of low carbon vehicle technology.

Ministers recently approved a loan totalling €300 million (£270 million) for GM Europe to secure the future of its UK operations.

Manufacturing ''moves towards value-added models''

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:06:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing industry has gradually shifted towards "value-added business models" and away from "simply optimising utilisation and driving down costs", a new report has suggested.

According to research carried out by Cranfield School of Management, operations management processes are now emphasising "quality, delivery, innovation and service".

The study, conducted in conjunction with Barclays Corporate and Findlay Media, examined winners of Best Factory Awards over two decades and discovered a dramatic change in production over the past 20 years.

Organisations found to be the best in manufacturing were identified as using inventory control techniques, investing in new technology, developing sales and operation planning infrastructures and adopting lean production practices.

"What has become clear year after year is that manufacturing is not standing still, it''s continually changing, adapting and growing," Dr Marek Szwejczewski of Cranfield School of Management remarked.

New awards honouring manufacturing clusters, which promote best practice among companies in specific regions, were recently presented in London by business minister Ian Lucas.

Best practice shared between UK manufacturers

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 14:13:00 GMT

A new award has been launched that honours the best manufacturing clusters in the UK.

Such networks bring together companies and organisations in specific regions to share knowledge and best practice in order to drive growth and continuous improvement in the sector.

The Cluster Marks have been presented by business minister Ian Lucas at a ceremony at Lancaster House in London in recognition of the contribution of such activities to economic growth and innovation.

Intended to raise the profile of clusters in the UK production sector, an independent judging panel was appointed to select the winners, which came from a range of industries, including seagood, biomedical science and aerospace.

Mr Lucas declared: "In order to succeed globally in a low carbon future, the sector must keep evolving and innovating. This is where collaboration can make a huge difference."

Those planning to complete operations training courses are advised the UK''s index of production fell in January by 1.5 per cent year-on-year, making such initiatives more important than ever.

Health service to contribute £4.4bn in savings

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:07:00 GMT

The Department of Health and the NHS have been charged by the government with delivering £4.35 billion worth of a total £11 billion per year in planned cost savings by 2012-13.

Aimed at reducing the UK''s deficit substantially in the wake of the financial markets crisis, the plans were announced by chancellor Alistair Darling in his annual Budget on March 24th.

Almost half of this target will be met by the health service, which is expected to apply operations management solutions to save significant sums.

Ministers have identified a series of areas in which expenditure can be reduced, including pushing down procurement costs, adopting new IT policies, driving down energy usage, using NHS estates more efficiently and tackling absences through staff sickness.

Health secretary Andy Burnham remarked: "To go from good to great, the NHS must become more preventative, more people-centred and more productive."

The efficiency savings will contribute towards protecting key public services and are to be delivered in line with the government''s Operational Efficiency Programme, which will also be applied to other departments to generate cost reductions.

Government plans to support services sector innovation

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:23:00 GMT

A new programme of support for innovation and growth in the UK''s professional and business services industries has been unveiled by ministers.

The plans are outlined in a draft report from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and are intended to boost development within the sector, which is forecast strong levels of growth between now and 2020.

As new markets are established in emerging economies, the potential of exports is expected to grow and industry leaders are being consulted on ways of ensuring firms choose to remain in the UK.

The also government wants to ensure services are developed that ensure the country moves towards a low-carbon and digital economy, something of particular interest to those concerned with operations management and continuous improvement policies.

Lord Davies, trade, investment and small business minister, said: "The sector is a real asset to the UK as we transform to a more networked and smarter low carbon economy."

A poll of 180 firms conducted in January and February by the CBI discovered the service sector saw a stabilisation of business volumes during the previous three months.

Engaged workforce ''is good for business''

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:16:00 GMT

Company bosses have been advised that an engaged workforce could help to drive continuous improvements within their firms.

The government has collaborated with a number of representatives from across the business sector to develop guidance highlighting the advantages of employee engagement.

Supermarket chain Sainsbury''s was among the contributors, along with United Utilities, the Civil Service and the CBI.

Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, said the recent recession highlighted the fact that an engaged workforce can help a company come through difficult times "in better shape".

Justin King, chief executive of Sainsbury''s, added: "Our colleagues are key to the success of our business."

This coincides with a new study from the National Training Awards, which found that 43 per cent of employees consider a passion for their job as a strong performance motivator.

Meanwhile, 32 per cent of respondents said they find money a good motivation to perform strongly at work.

NHS staff poll reveals continuous improvement

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:42:00 GMT

A survey of people employed by the NHS has discovered a record number of improvements in satisfaction levels during 2009.

According to the Care Quality Commission poll, the results mark the best ever year for the annual research with 74 per cent of staff satisfied with "the quality of work and patient care they are able to deliver", a year-on-year increase from 71 per cent.

Meanwhile, job satisfaction was rated at 3.5 out of five - its highest ever level - and appraisal rates climbed from 64 per cent to 69 per cent, something that may interest operations management professionals working in the public sector.

Staff engagement, the number of employees with personal development plans and the level of respondents witnessing errors all fell during 2009, while physical violence dropped one percentage point to a record low of 11 per cent.

"The results also show positive signs that an increasing strong culture of reporting and learning is being embedded in the NHS," health minister Ann Keen remarked.

Meanwhile, Department of Health data has shown of the 285,000 admitted patients treated during January 2010, 92.6 per cent completed their referral to treatment pathway within 18 weeks, as did 97.7 per cent of the 814,000 non-admitted patients.

Production output dips in January

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:13:00 GMT

The importance of effective operations management is highlighted by new figures revealing that the UK''s index of production dipped year-on-year in January by 1.5 per cent.

Between December and January, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) data show total production output was 0.4 per cent lower, although mining and quarrying and energy supply output rose.

However, total manufacturing output increased 0.2 per cent during January 2010 compared with the same month of 2009, the first year-on-year increase since March 2008.

During the recession, many companies in the sector have focused on production and inventory control, with some indications now that the sector is stabilising, although a 0.9 per cent drop between December and January was driven by poor performance in the electrical and optical equipment, chemical and manmade fibres and non-metallic mineral products industries.

Commenting on the ONS figures, Barclays Corporate head of UK manufacturing, transport and logistics Graeme Allinson said: "With the possibility of figures still being a little turbulent from month to month, nonetheless positivity in the manufacturing sector is mounting."

Government strategy ''improving economic growth''

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:11:00 GMT

The business secretary has marked the first anniversary of the New Industry, New Jobs strategy.

According to Lord Mandelson, the scheme has helped the UK lead the way in terms of new industrial development by instigating a new approach to government investment designed to boost economic growth.

"We will need new industrial strengths and we will need to reinforce our position as global leaders in innovative manufacturing and services," he stated.

Those involved in operations management and continuous improvement policies may be interested in his assertion that "a new wave of private sector investment" is needed over the next ten years in order to enhance the nation''s place in international manufacturing and services innovation.

He highlighted the importance in particular of enhancing skills, knowledge and green approaches in order to drive forward the economy.

In a recent review of the UK''s production sector for the Conservative Party, entrepreneur and inventor James Dyson claimed more innovative approaches to the hi-tech industry are required to ensure that the country leads the world in this field.

Call for overhaul of UK manufacturing''s image

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:15:00 GMT

The image of the UK''s production sector needs to be revamped in order to modernise it and media stereotypes need to be challenged, it has been suggested.

According to a new report by thinktank Policy Exchange, industry is often perceived as a "bad news" story and depicted by London-based mass media as a part of the economy that is "dying, old fashioned, badly paid and unpleasant to work in".

The Innovation and Industry: A Manifesto for Manufacturing study advocates a new image for production, noting that the UK''s is the sixth largest production power in the world with output rising steadily until the global downturn.

Published in the wake of the recent purchase of Cadbury by US food giant Kraft, the report calls on the government not to intervene in bids for UK businesses by foreign entities, but instead to defend them in the interests of an open economy.

Operations management professionals may also be interested in recent comments made recently by head of programmes at the Manufacturing Institute Adam Buckley that manufacturing is "critical" to ensuring the British economy recovers from the effects of the financial crisis and the recession.

Councils could use funding to boost economic recovery

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:30:00 GMT

Funding totaling £50 million is being allocated by the government to local authorities to boost economic recovery in local areas in the wake of the recession.

Those working in public sector operations management may be interested to learn that the cash, announced by communities secretary John Denham, will be awarded to those local councils that promote growth in a successful way.

According to the minister, the funding is available via the Local Authority Business Growth Incentives (LABGI) scheme in all parts of the country, in order to assist those struggling in the current economic climate.

"Strong, vibrant, decisive local government is an essential part of our plans to promote growth and cut unemployment while rebuilding the public finances," Mr Denham said.

For example, more than £400,000 has been granted to Bristol to deliver Real Help Now Government initiatives, fund a jobs bus and establish an apprenticeships programme with the university.

Local authorities will also benefit from a recent £83 million investment by the government in the continuous improvement of low-cost home provision, which will see the development of around 5,700 properties put back on track.

GM Europe supplied with £270m government loan

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:24:00 GMT

A loan totalling €300 million (£270 million) has been approved by the government for GM Europe.

Intended to secure the future of the carmaker''s operations in Britain and further afield, the financial assistance will be delivered under the UK Automotive Assistance Programme.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills'' loan is in addition to help for the manufacturer from the US and other governments in Europe, something that may interest those working in operations management.

Business secretary Lord Mandelson explained the funding guarantee is part of a commitment by ministers to "stand foursquare behind Vauxhall" and its workforce.

"We need Vauxhall to thrive as part of Britain''s automotive manufacturing base and following our negotiations with GM Europe I am confident it will do so," he declared.

Meanwhile, Japanese carmaker Toyota has been forced into improving manufacturing processes and reviewing its operations management after 180,000 vehicles were recalled in the UK over concerns relating to faulty accelerator pedals.

Work starts on Teeside advanced manufacturing facility

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:04:00 GMT

The expansion of an industrial biotechnology demonstrator, that will help in advancing and improving manufacturing processes, has begun in Wilton, Teeside.

The government has invested £12 million in the hope that the facility will bring continuous improvement to the development of novel and more sustainable advanced manufacturing and process technologies.

Business minister Ian Lucas attended the ceremony for the expansion that should enable the UK to compete in a market sector that is forecast to experience rapid growth in the next 15 years.

Mr Lucas indicated the government''s awareness of the role UK manufacturing would play in the nation''s economic growth.

"Here in the north east the regional strengths in industrial biotechnology, plastic electronics and advanced manufacturing will help the UK achieve its goal of economic growth and a low carbon economy", Mr Lucas added.

On Friday (March 12th), Lord Mandelson was in Manchester to discuss the government policy on regional economic investment.

Dyson calls for greater innovation in manufacturing

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:23:00 GMT

More innovative approaches are needed to production in the UK''s hi-tech industry in order to make the country a world leader in its field, an expert declares.

In a review of the UK''s manufacturing sector requested by Conservative Party leader David Cameron, engineer and entrepreneur James Dyson states a new economic model is required to fund ways of improving manufacturing processes.

The tycoon explains more needs to be done to encourage young people to study science and engineering, raise the status of such subjects through competitions and other ventures, alter the way in which knowledge is transferred in the UK and provide better funding for start-ups and hi-tech businesses.

His Ingenious Britain study was welcomed by shadow business secretary Ken Clarke, who stated that the party will "undoubtedly follow this broad agenda" if it comes to power at this year''s general election.

Operations management professionals may also be interested in recent government figures revealing that spending on research and development by the top 1,000 companies in the UK topped £26 billion in 2008, 9.2 per cent higher than the previous year.

Manufacturing "critical" for economic growth

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:13:00 GMT

The manufacturing sector in Britain is "critical" to ensuring that the economy recovers from the downturn, one expert has declared.

According to head of programmes at the Manufacturing Institute Adam Buckley, the latest purchasing managers'' index (PMI) is "encouraging" and highlights the important role played by production, "particularly in improving the balance of trade through export".

He praised government efforts to provide support to manufacturers and stated he hoped this approach would be continued by whichever party wins the forthcoming general election.

However, Mr Buckley also noted that firms in the construction and automotive sectors "are still struggling", something that may prompt those involved in operations management to seek new ways of improving manufacturing processes.

Foreign exports from Britain have been boosted by the relative weakness of sterling compared with other currencies and the most recently released PMI revealed that the UK''s manufacturing industry witnessed its strongest growth in 15 years this February.

Public sector news: £83m grant for low-cost homes

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:54:00 GMT

Continuous improvement in the public sector received a welcome boost today (March 8th) with £83 million in funding unlocked for low-cost homes.

According to housing minister John Healey, some 5,700 properties will be put back on the development track after being halted by the economic downturn.

The cash will enable families to benefit from the HomeBuy scheme and get on the property ladder, while housebuilders will be able to safeguard 1,700 jobs across construction sites, Mr Healey added.

Priority will be given to houses with cleaner and greener standards, meeting at least Level 3 of the sustainable homes code.

However, the supply chain through which such residences are created may not be able to get going again just yet.

Developers that received funding today (March 8th) said it could be up to a year before workers are back on site.

Mr Healey is also the Labour MP for Wentworth and previously worked as financial secretary to the Treasury.

Service sector ''sees stabilisation''

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:51:00 GMT

The service sector in the UK saw business volumes start to stabilise during the past three months.

A poll of 180 companies by the CBI showed that there was an improvement in the consumer services category - covering hotels, travel and leisure, bars and restaurants - where the balance for value of business rose to +10 per cent, its highest level since November 2007.

The CBI Service Sector Survey was carried out between January 27th and February 10th and discovered the business and professional services industries, such as legal, marketing and accountancy organisations, saw little change over the quarter.

Prices in consumer services rose during the period in question, largely due to the VAT hike at the start of the year, while profitability dipped slightly in the business and professional services sub-sector.

Ian McCafferty, chief economic adviser for the CBI, remarked: "Overall, these figures are consistent with our view that the economy is recovering slowly, but that we will have to wait a while before growth picks up."

Demand planning specialists may also be interested in the latest Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index, which indicated optimism among businesses increased by three points in January to 73.

Investment in manufacturing innovation grows

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:10:00 GMT

UK firms increased their investment in new ways of enhancing productivity, products and services by 9.2 per cent in 2008 compared with the previous year.

This is according to new figures from the government, which suggest that the country''s leading 1,000 businesses spent more than £26 billion in research and development (R&D) over the year.

Investment in innovation and continuous improvement exceeded average growth internationally of around seven per cent globally.

Britain''s R&D spending was driven by sectors such as banking, software and computer services, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and aerospace and defence.

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson pointed to initiatives such as the UK Innovation Investment Fund, R&D tax credits and reducing the rate of corporation tax on income from patents in 2013 as evidence of "the government''s commitment to support companies with high-growth potential".

A recent fact-finding mission was undertaken by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to Germany in order to learn from the country''s public support for manufacturing and operations management practices.

Steps outlined to protect local frontline services

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:51:00 GMT

The government has published a list of ten steps for local authorities that are intended to assist them in protecting frontline services.

Outlined in a new report, the guidance takes tightening public finances into account and may be of particular interest to those involved in operations management.

Suggestions include cutting waste and duplication within organisations by sharing back office roles in areas such as IT and human resources, having a chief executive managing more than one body and learning from best practice.

Welcoming the steps, recommended by an expert taskforce, communities secretary John Denham stated: "Councils have some tough choices in the next few years as things become tighter. But that is no reason to lower their sights on service quality people rightly value."

He also warned councils that the public would not be tolerant of local authorities that failed to run through the ten stages before cutting frontline services.

Meanwhile, each local council with a responsibility for adult social care is being allocated around £20,000 to fund the update or development of its extra care housing plan in order to foster continuous improvement in services for older people.

Manufacturing sector ''seeing markers of recovery''

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:15:00 GMT

The "markers of recovery" are now in evidence within the UK''s manufacturing industry, an expert claims.

According to Barclays head of manufacturing, transport and logistics Graeme Allinson, the latest Purchasing Managers'' Index (PMI) is "a good start to 2010".

He pointed to particularly strong output and export levels as evidence that "manufacturers will be optimistically looking towards consistent positive growth this year".

Operations management professionals may also be interested in Mr Allinson''s comments that "unprecedented levels of uncertainty" within the wider economy will continue to impact upon the rate of recovery and government support is needed to ensure its future success.

The PMI, published by Markit and the CIPS, reveals that production activity continued to grow in February following a leap in January, with the index currently standing at 56.6, its highest level since October 1994.

With any figure above 50 representing growth, the industry is demonstrating signs that it is recovering from the global downturn and export orders in February rose to a peak not seen since January 1996.

EU scheme ''could save manufacturers large sums''

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:56:00 GMT

Manufacturers interested in operations management could make use of a new European Union (EU) scheme to reduce their import costs.

According to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), which is promoting the initiative, companies could save substantial sums through the EU Duty Suspensions & Tariff Quotas Scheme.

Under the system, eligible manufacturers can import materials required to make items that cannot be sourced within the EU from overseas duty-free.

"This scheme can help businesses save much-needed cash during these tough times, offering them the opportunity to grow and expand their company," trade, investment and small business minister Lord Davies said, urging companies to contact BIS to determine whether they are eligible.

Businesses based in the UK are currently saving an estimated €30 million (£27.2 million) annually through the scheme, a figure that is rising as awareness grows among manufacturers of the opportunities it represents.

Those involved in manufacturing management are advised to speak to the BIS Trade Policy Unit about duty-free importation of raw materials, components and semi-finished products unavailable within the EU.

Localised production ''could improve manufacturing processes''

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:21:00 GMT

Reducing ton mileage by localising production and distribution warehouses can help to improve manufacturing processes.

This is according to Alan Francis, transport spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales.

He said nowadays the process is centralised, leading to some products making needless trips up and down the country.

However, a common facility in each city or town would be useful in getting significant amounts of freight off the road and increasing efficiency.

"The government has put forward grants for the building of rail terminals for loading and unloading of containers, but this is pretty small scale. We need to do something on a far larger scale," Mr Francis stated.

His comments follow a recent IGD report showing that 124 million HGV miles have been removed from the nation''s transport network thanks to the Efficient Consumer Response UK Sustainable Distribution initiative.

This target was reached a year earlier than forecast.

Companies sign up for supply chain challenge

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:13:00 GMT

A supply chain competition called The Fresh Connection will involve companies such as Heinz and Kimberly Clark and is set to be a great training experience for those involved.

Logistics and supply chain consulting firm SCALA has set up the online initiative, which starts on April 12th and challenges teams of four to save a fictitious business from closure and instead put it on the path to success.

Seven rounds will take place across seven weeks and require each team to make and manage various decisions relating to operations management, procurement and sales.

It aims to provide useful learning strategies on the importance of the collaboration and integration of different disciplines to create effective and efficient supply chains.

SCALA managing director John Perry said this type of learning opportunity was particularly relevant in the current climate.

"The Fresh Connection is not only competitive, but becomes a fantastic training and development tool," he added.

Other companies to have signed up so far include Kraft Foods, which operates brands such as Oreo, Philadelphia and Maxwell House.

Public sector aims for continuous improvement with ''new housing strategy''

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:46:00 GMT

A new strategy launched today (February 24th) by the Department of Health will hopefully foster continuous improvement in the range of services provided for older people.

Each local authority with Adult Social Care responsibility is to be given around £20,000 for the update or development of its extra care housing plan, because "innovative" residences able to meet older peoples'' needs and aspirations are vital for the future of the care sector, the government believes.

"They are at the heart of the technological change that will define our ageing society, enable more people to live well and live independently in their own home for longer," adds care services minister Phil Hope.

He suggests councils act decisively and efficiently in order to supply a greater range of improved housing choices for older demographics.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills recently added more resources to the range currently available to carers in the UK and emphasised the benefits of continued learning in later life.

Continuous improvement in packaging sector ''welcomed''

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:54:00 GMT

Manufacturing management in the field of bioplastics is crucial for the sector to see the full benefits of innovation.

This is according to Peter Woodall, spokesperson for the Packaging and Films Association. He commented after the invention of a new sugar-based compostable plastic was announced last week, having been developed at Imperial College London by a team of scientists from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Although developments like this are potentially great for the sector, compliance with regulatory requirements and a full understanding of how they are fit for purpose is very important, he said.

"The objective is always to ensure the utmost resource efficiency," Mr Woodall explained. "What is important is that the whole life cycle of materials is taken into account."

He added that while new products are useful for the manufacturing industry, conventional plastics are already good at demonstrating environmental best practice and enabling consumers to reduce, reuse and recycle.

UK manufacturers advised to create growth through innovation

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:56:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing sector must adopt a more innovative approach to improving manufacturing processes if it is to achieve sustained growth, according to one industry expert.

David Raistrick, UK manufacturing leader for professional services firm Deloitte, said the sector had seen irreversible change over the past 15 years, with traditional industries such as steel and textiles no longer as important to the economy.

During that time, manufacturing''s share of the UK''s gross domestic product has fallen from 20 per cent to 13 per cent, but Mr Raistrick insisted the sector can regain its position.

In order to do that it must focus on improving manufacturing processes and on hi-tech industries which take advantage of the highly-skilled workforce available to companies with UK operations.

"These skills, together with an innovative approach and focus in these emerging areas, will help ensure a prosperous long-term future for British manufacturing," he added.

His views were expressed after a CBI report revealed 25 per cent of manufacturers expect to increase output over the next three months - a figure which prompted the body to state that the sector is showing signs of slowly recovering from the recession.

Further growth forecast for UK production

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:16:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing sector will experience further growth in production levels over the coming quarter, it has been predicted.

According to a new report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), businesses in the industry are at their most optimistic in nearly two years.

However, operations management and inventory control techniques will remain important as the CBI warns future prospects remain "muted" for UK manufacturing as the result of sluggish levels of demand.

A poll of 548 manufacturers showed that one-quarter (25 per cent) forecast an increase in output in the next three months, compared with 18 per cent predicting a fall, with many reporting a continuing improvement in export order books.

"Manufacturing production is slowly recovering as demand for UK-made goods overseas is improving, boosted by the relative weakness of sterling," CBI economic adviser Ian McCafferty commented.

In related news, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed a 64.8 per cent jump in the production of cars in the UK during January this year, with "modest growth" predicted for the sector this year.

Manufacturers ''more optimistic about 2010''

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:44:00 GMT

Many UK manufacturers are predicting that the outlook for 2010 is much brighter than that for 2009.

This is according to a Manufacturing Digital article, which predicts that this year will see conditions improve for the sector as the economy starts to recover from the recession.

Writing for the publication, Ian Armitage pointed to recent European data from Markit suggesting that production rose for five consecutive months to December.

The news source conducted its own research and found that manufacturing bosses are more optimistic than they were last year, particularly those operating in the green and renewable energy sectors.

Meanwhile, good operations management and a focus on sustainability means that firms are reducing their costs and their impact on the environment, while also becoming safer.

"The lack of available funds is still causing companies to look into reducing fixed costs and increasing productivity with the same or smaller staffs," Mr Armitage notes.

Employing demand planning policies and inventory control techniques can assist manufacturers looking at ways of generating continuous improvement within their business and taking advantage of improving economic conditions.

Public sector cutbacks ''will mean job losses''

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:16:00 GMT

Organisations in the public sector are being forced by the downturn to make substantial cutbacks, which are likely to lead to jobs being axed.

This is the conclusion of a new report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and KPMG, which concludes that redundancies could double over the current quarter.

Operations management courses and policies could assist bodies in identifying ways of reducing expenditure and staving off some job losses after the latest Labour Market Outlook survey of more than 500 employers predicted that the public sector is likely to bear the brunt of cuts.

Conducted by Ipsos Mori, the poll found that some private sector employers are reporting that they are starting to recover from the recession, but the public sector has slipped sharply from last quarter with the largest number of cuts predicted in public administration and defence.

KPMG head of public sector Alan Downey remarked: "Many public sector bodies have already started to feel the pain and are drawing up clear and radical plans to reduce costs."

Communities secretary John Denham declared recently that third sector organisations such as charities should play a key role in efforts by local authorities to improve the efficiency of their operations.

Toyota recall ''forces operations management review''

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:54:00 GMT

Japanese carmaker Toyota is believed to be considering axing 750 jobs at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire and is being forced to overhaul its operations management procedures.

Around 30 per cent of all the company''s models sold in Britain are manufactured at the site and Tony Walker, the factory''s deputy managing director, told the Financial Times that the consequences of the recall of 180,000 vehicles in the UK on demand will be studied to determine whether or not production schedules need to be adjusted.

"We have to make ourselves cost effective and productive for the long term," he stated.

Concerns about faulty accelerator pedals have prompted the recalls and Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK is now looking at introducing further cuts at Burnaston as UK orders fall.

A worksharing scheme reducing hours and pay by ten per cent was implemented in 2009 and additional measures may now follow to ensure the plant''s future survival.

Toyota has reported that it currently has capacity to repair around 6,000 vehicles per day, with 206 centres around the UK opening for longer each day to complete the half-hour fixes.

HIIE unveils plans to enhance operations management

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:53:00 GMT

A series of new measures are being introduced by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in Scotland in order to enhance its service delivery.

The agency is carrying out a reorganisation of its workforce and operations management in order to provide better support for the region''s community and economic development.

It is exploring ways of reducing staff numbers through a voluntary severance scheme and payments costs in order to "target greater resources towards a number of priority areas of work" and improve effectiveness and efficiency.

HIE chairman William Roe explained that the transfer last year of responsibility for business start-ups and firms operating in local markets to councils through the Business Gateway model has led to the reorganisation strategy.

"Now that we are able to fully concentrate on supporting the region''s ambitions to grow, we have developed a clearer idea of how best we can perform this role," he declared.

Those seeking an APICS qualification may be interested to learn that communities secretary John Denham recently urged local authorities to improve efficiency by working more closely with charities and the voluntary sector.

Manufacturing sector "starting to claw back"

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:03:00 GMT

The latest data indicated that Britain''s manufacturing industry is "starting to claw back a little bit of that lost ground", one expert has declared.

According to Capital Economics'' chief European economist Jonathan Loynes, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are "better than expected".

However, he cautioned that the sector has been through a tough period during the "last 18 months or so" and added that the hope is that the economy will rebalance, with a greater emphasis on industry and exports in the future.

The ONS statistics for December''s manufacturing output showed a 0.9 per cent increase over the month, although it remained down 3.6 per cent year-on-year, highlighting the importance of operations management and continuous improvement efforts.

Production rose in 11 out of 13 sub-sectors of the industry, falling in just two, following a 0.1 per cent increase in gross domestic product during the fourth quarter of 2009, returning the UK economy to growth.

Prevention services ''could reduce annual care bill''

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:32:00 GMT

The level of public money spent on care and support services in the UK could be reduced through the implementation of innovative new technologies, it has been claimed.

Care services minister Phil Hope explained that assistive devices such as sensors and detectors could ensure that older people do not have to be taken into residential care.

Such operations management strategies may be employed by the Department of Health to improve and reduce the costs of services, as Mr Hope revealed during a visit to a "wise home" in Harrogate.

Simply introducing Telecare could save the country an estimated £2 billion a year and the minister stated that the government is prepared a blueprint for a new "simple and affordable" national care system where "perosnalised services will be a central pillar".

Innovations that could be employed across the service include sensors that switch on lights when people get out of bed, devices that detect flooding and temperature monitoring to ensure homes do not become to hot or cold.

Those concerned with continuous improvement within the public sector may also like to note that the police service is aiming to deliver savings of at least £545 million by carrying out reforms.

Small manufacturers ''may lead UK out of recession''

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:57:00 GMT

The sector that could be responsible for leading the UK''s recovery from the economic downturn may by small manufacturers, it has been forecast.

According to an article published in the Independent, a return to gross domestic product growth in the last three months of 2009 could boost production, particularly among "small, agile" companies.

The news source noted that the latest purchasing managers'' index pointed to strong growth in manufacturing, with activity rising for eight months in a row and calls growing for a "rebalancing" of the UK''s economy.

An examination of a firm using operations management to boost its profits was included in the feature, with the Versatile Flooring Company in Luton introducing new and advanced production techniques to reduce energy usage and rejection rates.

Individuals considering taking a CPIM exam may be interested to note that the UK''s manufacturing index rose at its fastest rate in 15 years this January to 56.7, with any figure above 50 indicating growth in activity.

Services sector ''facing a challenge''

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:23:00 GMT

The latest data for the services sector indicates that it is suffering "but that could be due to external factors", an expert claims.

According to British Chambers of Commerce chief economist David Kern the recent purchasing managers'' index (PMI) shows that results are good for manufacturing "but less so than services".

This highlights the importance of services firms employing operations management in order to enhance efficiencies, although Mr Kern added that recovery can be sustained.

He suggested "it is early days and it will be a challenge" and stimulus measures should remain in place until 2011 to help small businesses to increase their confidence levels, something that may interest those considering operations training courses.

The PMI for the services sector dipped in January this year to 54.5, with the freezing weather and the increase in VAT undermining expansion.

However, the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index has shown that optimism among firms rose in January by three points to 73, almost double the figure of 39 recorded for the same month of 2009.

Police service to improve operations management

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:23:00 GMT

The police service in Britain is aiming to carry out reforms and "improve value for money" as part of new plans.

Continuous improvement and other operations management techniques could play an important role in efforts to save at least £545 million.

Senior police officials have outlined details of proposed measures to overhaul the service, with recommendations coming from representatives from the Association of Police Authorities, the Association of Chief Police Officers, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the Home Office.

Policing minister David Hanson remarked: "Our police forces are doing a great job of cutting crime and boosting public confidence, but we must make sure we get full value for every penny of taxpayers'' cash."

Suggestions in the document include altering shift patterns to reduce overtime payments, streamlining back-office support services, boosting the efficiency of processes and enhancing procurement policies to maximise delivery to the public.

Meanwhile, communities secretary John Denham recently urged councils to include the third sector in efforts to improve the efficiency of their operations as they can provide unique skills and benefits.

Accelerator Pedal Safety Recall Prius Braking Issues

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The following briefing details the key facts concerning the safety recall of Toyota vehicles and Toyota’s official comment on reports concerning braking issues with Prius.

Further information will be provided by the Toyota GB Press Office as and when it becomes available.

Toyota advises customers who have any concerns to contact Toyota GB Customer Relations on 0800 1388 744 for assistance.

Click here to read the full article.

Firms ''should enhance resource efficiency''

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:00:00 GMT

Ensuring that businesses are sustainable can assist them in reducing costs and their impact on the environment, one expert has suggested, something that operations management could assist with.

Commenting on a new Beyond Carbon study from the Aldersgate Group, director of design and resource minimisation at waste reduction body WRAP Richard Swannell noted that a resource efficient economy can provide benefits on "environmental, economic and social" benefits.

"We cannot afford to ignore the increasing pressure we are putting on our water and food supplies, as well as on other important natural resources," he declared, pointing to the "intelligent and sensible solutions" included in the report.

A programme of continuous improvement may assist companies in the services sector to meet sustainability goals and help to combat climate change.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the study, environment secretary Hilary Benn suggested that more efficient enterprises are likely to enjoy greater success as natural resources become both scarcer and more expensive.

Analysts welcome positive manufacturing data

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:16:00 GMT

Experts have given a warm welcome for the latest manufacturing data, which exceeded predictions in January.

Remarking on a rise in activity to 56.7 last month, EEF chief economist Lee Hopley suggested that exports will push the economy forward and cautioned producers to concentrate on controlling costs, as inflation rates could rise.

Operations management will, therefore, continue to play a major role in the manufacturing sector, which may be of particular interest to those seeking an APICS qualification.

Meanwhile, RLAM economist Ian Kernohan predicted that the latest figures could lead to an upward revising of the gross domestic product figures for the last quarter of 2009.

"Clearly strengthening export demand is a key factor, but the pick-up in activity is also likely to reflect the fact that the stock cycle is turning," Ernst & Young ITEM Club senior economic adviser Andrew Goodwin commented.

The UK''s manufacturing index rose at its fastest rate in 15 years during January from 54.6 per cent in December, with anything over 50 indicating expansion.

Manufacturing index records strong growth

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:54:00 GMT

The UK''s manufacturing index reached 56.7 during January, rising at its fastest rate in 15 years.

The measure of activity in the sector climbed from an upwardly revised 54.6 per cent the previous month, indicating that it is starting to recover from the recession.

With exports boosted by the weak price of sterling, the Markit Economic and CIPS index exceeded analysts'' expectations and producers are starting to hire again, with activity in the employment index growing for the first time in nearly two years.

Any figure over 50 relates to growth in the sector and Markit senior economist Rob Dobson said: "The survey raises hopes that the sluggish recovery from recession signalled by gross domestic product data in the final quarter of last year will have gained momentum as we move into 2010."

Operations management techniques have been employed by many producers during the economic downturn in order to maximise profits and minimise costs, with the Confederation of British Industry recently stating that the UK manufacturing sector''s balance of production stood at +11 per cent over the three months to January.

Third sector ''should play role in council efficiency efforts''

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:10:00 GMT

Attempts by councils to improve efficiency and enhance their operations management should not neglect the third sector.

This is the view of communities secretary John Denham, who noted that charities and voluntary organisations offer unique skills and benefits to local authorities.

He explained that such bodies can assist in providing jobs for the unemployed, assisting with service delivery and helping with public service reform.

Speaking to the New Local Government Network, Mr Denham suggested: "[Voluntary and third sector providers] must have the chance to show how they could deliver the outcomes local people want by new ways of working and new ways of delivering services."

The minister added that the focus of delivery should not be only on the lowest possible cost but also on quality and he plans to meet with council representatives and the third sector to debate the issue of continuous improvement.

Mr Denham has also warned that taxpayers will be "intolerant" of those local authorities imposing cuts to front line services without improving efficiency wherever possible.

Carmakers urged to focus on efficiency

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:48:00 GMT

The motor manufacturing industry should remain cautious in 2010 and should employ measures that boost efficiency and innovation, it has been claimed.

According to KPMG, production volumes are expected to rise this year, but this is unlikely in western European markets and the US, where government-backed vehicle scrappage schemes are coming to an end.

In a response to latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the accountancy firm stated that those firms that will enjoy success this year are those which "continue to plan cautiously, develop innovative and efficient manufacturing and look to embed best practices and discipline as the norm across operations, financial and cash management".

The SMMT data showed a 58.5 per cent rise in car output during December 2009, the biggest leap since May 1976 and the first rise in 17 months, with production down by 30.9 per cent over the year.

Operations management policies may assist carmaker Nissan, which has revealed that it is creating a temporary third production shift and 400 new fixed-term jobs at its plant in Sunderland in response to high levels of demand for its Qashqai model.

Operations management could assist in government ICT efficiency drive

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:32:00 GMT

The government has unveiled plans to save around £3.2 billion of public money during 2013-14 by reducing expenditure on information technology.

Operations management techniques may well be employed by the public sector to enhance ICT infrastructure and ensure that it is more energy-efficient.

Under the new ICT Strategy, published by the Cabinet Office, a new cloud network will be established to allow bodies to operate from a single network and reduce the number of government data centres in operation.

"We are innovating and revolutionising our ICT systems to ensure that they are as effective and efficient as possible for those working in the public sector," Cabinet Office minister Angela Smith claimed.

The strategy is part of the Smarter Government programme, which targets ways of reducing the public deficit by 2014 by delivering efficiency savings throughout the public sector.

Those interested in operations training courses are also advised that continuous improvement and new efficiencies are being sought through a review of Urban Development Corporations in London, Thurrock and West Northamptonshire.

Manufacturing output rises 0.4% in Q4

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:35:00 GMT

The manufacturing sector witnessed quarterly growth in output at the end of 2009 of 0.4 per cent.

Contributing the most significant amount to a 0.1 per cent rise in total production activity over the three months to December 2009, the industry helped to push the UK economy out of recession.

Total gross domestic product rose in the fourth quarter of 2009 by 0.1 per cent, marking the first expansion in the economy following six quarters in a row of contraction.

Manufacturing dipped in the quarter to September by 0.2 per cent, contributing to an overall drop in production of 0.9 per cent.

Services output was also up over the fourth quarter of the year by 0.1 per cent after a 0.2 per cent fall the previous period.

Those interested in inventory control techniques may also be interested in recent figures from the Confederation of British Industry revealing that the balance of production in the UK manufacturing sector was +11 per cent during the quarter to January 2010.

Hotter Comfort Concept turns to operations management over move

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:08:00 GMT

Rather than move its manufacturing base to another country, Lancashire-based firm Hotter Comfort Concept has declared that it has enhanced its operations.

The shoe company has emphasised its commitment to UK production in the wake of the takeover of Cadbury''s by US food giant Kraft.

According to Hotter, it has invested £6 million in the past six years to streamline its manufacturing facilities and has implemented operations management to maximise profits.

Stewart Houlgrave, managing director, remarked that the company was founded by his parents and "through business decisions and operations [we have] created some of the most advanced shoe manufacturing technology in the UK".

Having celebrated 50 years in the sector, the firm has weathered the recession and is making around 1.3 million pairs of shoes each year.

Concerns have been raised about the future of Cadbury''s production operations if the Kraft purchase goes ahead, particularly in the West Midlands where it is based.

Operations management assists Debenhams in reducing costs

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:33:00 GMT

Debenhams has employed an enhancement programme that has reduced its cost per unit by over ten per cent compared with 2006-07 rates.

The firm has also introduced new vehicles and trailers to reduce the number of kilometres travelled by 792,000km and its overall carbon dioxide emissions by 517 tonnes since 2006.

Under the two year scheme, streamlining, internal process reviews, continuous improvement and operational developments to expand the business and deliver year-on-year cost reductions.

"One of the other key changes in recent years has been the evolution of an advanced warehouse solution," Debenhams head of logistics Paul Leggett explained, adding that this has enabled a focus on swifter movement of high-priority product lines through the supply chain.

The operations management improvements were revealed as Debenhams signed a new warehouse and distribution contract with DHL Supply Chain that expands an existing 12-year relationship between the firms until 2012.

Individuals planning to take an APICS qualification may also be interested to note that global electronics giant Panasonic has pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2018 by enhancing its operations management processes.

UK firms ''settle bills in better time''

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:17:00 GMT

Companies operating in the UK have improved their performance with regards to late payments, it has been found.

According to research conducted by information services firm Experian, the average time taken to settle bills by firms fell during 2009 compared with the previous year.

Companies took an average of 23.54 days to pay bills in December 2008, with this figure dropping my more than two-and-a-half days by December 2009 to 20.88 days.

Late payments improved most significantly among large organisations with more than 500 employees, with debts settled within 28.97 days last month, down from 36.1 days in January 2009.

"Companies are more aware now than ever that their credit score is affected by their payment behaviour," Experian Business Information head of commercial credit Joe Myers commented.

Enterprises in the service industry could use operations management to enhance their businesses processes and ensure that they are able to pay suppliers promptly.

Another report from Experian has suggested that the financial health of UK enterprises improved in 2009, with the rate of insolvencies increasing at a slower rate and the fiscal strength score rising from 79.46 in January to 81.37 by December.

UK manufacturing production rates rise

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:53:00 GMT

The rate of production in the UK''s manufacturing sector increased for the first time in two years, new data reveals.

A new report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) suggests output increased, with 31 per cent of 461 producers polled reporting a rise in output over the quarter to January.

According to the latest Industrial Trends Survey from the organisation, the balance for the period in question was +11 per cent, with export orders boosted by the current weakness of the pound.

"After nearly two full years of falling output, manufacturers are seeing a return to modest growth, thanks in part to improved overseas demand and much slower stock reductions," CBI chief economic adviser Ian McCafferty commented.

However, he also warned that the outlook for the sector remains uncertain, something that improving manufacturing processes through an APICS qualification could assist with.

Data published earlier this month by the Office for National Statistics indicated that industrial production output climbed by 0.4 per cent between October and November 2009, following a dip of 0.1 per cent the previous month.

Milner New Chairman At Institute Of Operations Management

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Catherine Milner MIOM, Associate Consultant at Inventory Matters Ltd, has been appointed as the new Chairman of The Institute of Operations Management (IOM). She succeeds John Theophilus FIOM. IOM is the principal UK professional society for operations management in manufacturing, service industries and the public sector. The Institute is a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and International Associate for the international association for operations management APICS.

Milner, a chartered engineer, comes to the office after involvement with IOM since the mid-1980s and has worked in the UK and Europe for a number of organisations in aerospace, telecommunications and petrochemicals. She credits IOM with having aided her career. She says ‘The Institute is a great way of increasing knowledge and networking with like minded people engaged with similar working challenges. IOM undoubtedly assists in creating more professional standards and encouraging best practice.’

Catherine Milner lists three themes for her tenure as Chairman. She hopes to raise IOM’s profile as a recognised industry expert. Secondly, she wants to build up the Directors Forum, in order to increase corporate membership and to encourage leadership towards excellence in operations management. And, thirdly, she wants to maximise the impact of the great offerings from the Institute – the Knowledge Bank, qualifications, events and networking opportunities.

Milner says ‘I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be IOM Chairman for this year. There are great people in the IOM – on the Steering Committee, in the regional groups, and at Head Office. I am honoured to have a role amongst them all.’

Notes for Editors

For further information for a photo of Catherine Milner please call Leonie Edwards on 01536 740143

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is the principal UK professional society for operations management in the manufacturing arena, service industries and the public sector. IOM recently became a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) bringing UK supply chain professionals together to increase knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and professional excellence. The IOM was established in 1963, originally as two chapters of the then American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). From 1975 it functioned as an independent organisation called the British Production and Inventory Control Society (BPICS). It changed its name to The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in 1996 and joined with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK) in 2007. In 2009 IOM became the International Associate for APICS in Great Britain. For more information about IOM visit iomnet.org.uk or for information about CILT, visit ciltuk.org.uk

The Institute of Operations Management offers a range of Lean training, from one-day workshops through to more in-depth courses, for both IOM members and the general public. For specific information on training, visit iomnet.org.uk/events/default.aspx

For press information, contact: Leonie Edwards. Tel: +44 (0)1536 740143. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk

New efficiencies ''to drive regeneration plans''

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:24:00 GMT

Regeneration projects in London, Thurrock and West Northamptonshire will benefit from plans to enhance operations management, it has been claimed.

This is according to communities ministers Shahid Malik and Ian Austin, who declared that a review of Urban Development Corporations (UDC) in these areas will result in stronger delivery arrangements and enhanced local planning responsibility.

Under the new agreements, greater partnership working between government and local authorities will be seen, with efficiencies delivered in collaborative procurement, IT and back office operations.

Continuous improvement is the focus of measures such as incorporating Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation into regeneration body the Homes and Community Agency, more partnership working by the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation and more focused strategic delivery by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation.

"Not only will the changes improve efficiency they will help us drive forward key regeneration projects such as the Olympic Park, the London Gateway port at Shellhaven and the redevelopment of Purfleet," Mr Malik stated.

The Welsh Assembly recently announced that a series of projects are being launched under the second phase of Invest-to-Save schemes in order to deliver public sector cost savings.

IOM Regions – on the up

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

IOM Scotland is truly up and running in 2010 with a scheduled events programme that kicks off with a Lean Six Sigma and Works Visit at FMC Corporation UK, Dunfermline on 10th February – please note, there are only 5 places left, so please call Membership Services on 01536 740105 to secure your place.

In April, IOM Scotland will be visiting the Airport planning & Air Traffic Control Tower at Edinburgh Airport; May and June will see visits to learn about bottling operations and brewery operations respectively, both in the Edinburgh area. In July there will be a visit to Oracle ERP in Linlithgow. During September, IOM Scotland will put on a visit to see the Army Disasters Relief Operations in the Edinburgh/Fife area. Further details on all these events will be added to the web site and details emailed to all IOM Scotland members when available.

The six-strong Committee comprises of Dr Neil Towers FIOM as Chairman; Ken White FIOM, Vice Chairman; Dr Philippa Collins MIOM, Secretary; Graeme McLaren MIOM, Treasurer; Patsy Perry, Student Representative; and David Eadie as Industrial Representative. Thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication in making IOM Scotland a success and great model for other IOM Regions to follow.

IOM West Midlands is following suit with an excellent schedule of learning events being planned on business strategy, marketing strategy, project management and process improvement for member organisations.

Nadine Evans MIOM is chairing the region and is planning to start out locally (Shropshire area) to create real networking opportunities for people interested in operations and the working environment, and to explore current issues, techniques and technology.

Initial plans are for the West Midlands Region to hold regular monthly meetings with topics set by the local members.

Again, details will be published to the IOM web site and emailed to members in the West Midlands Region when available.

APICS Examinations

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The IOM held its first exam series for APICS in December. We have just received word that 82% of candidates passed first time – congratulations to all! This figure compares very favourably with international pass rates at 69% across the board.

The March examination is coming up rapidly with registration required by 29th January 2010. If you are planning to take APICS examinations, please email apics@iomnet.org.uk to request a Exam Registration Form today.

Call for articles and feedback

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

‘Operations Management’ is your membership journal and I’d really like to know what you think of it – are we publishing what you want to see? What topics are most important to you right now? Letters to the Editor have gradually faded away but I’d like to encourage you to pick up your pen (or laptop!) and talk to me directly! I look forward to hearing your thoughts…

In addition, I’m sure the majority of you have some interesting case studies or examples of best practice in operations to tell – and I am currently seeking new articles and contributions for the journal. Guidelines for authors are available here, so please take this opportunity to share your successes with your peers.

More information

Inventory control techniques enhanced by Harro Foods

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:44:00 GMT

A Japanese food wholesaler in the UK has boosted its operations management practices by implementing a new warehouse management system.

The Empirica solution from Chess Logistics Technology has been employed by Harro Foods to enhance stock management and traceability across its activities, Materials Handling World magazine reports.

Providing the Wimbledon-based company with up-to-date information about its stock, it has reportedly streamlined internal processes and improved customer service.

Branwyn Darlington, Harro Foods general manager for logistics, told the news source that a "proper" computerised system was needed to cope with issues such as stock turns and best-before dates.

"Now we have a solution that supports our business and the way we want to work," he added.

Founded in 1987, Harro Foods imports and distributes products from Japan to speciality retailers and food services professionals across the UK from its head office and warehouse facility in south-west London.

Panasonic pledges to cut carbon emissions

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:56:00 GMT

A leading electronics company will improve its operations management processes over the coming years as part of a pledge to cut its carbon emissions.

Panasonic has committed to a 50 per cent reduction (120 million tonnes) in the level of greenhouse gases produced compared with 2006 levels by 2018 by maximising its use of resources.

Operations training courses may be required by the technology giant in order to meet its ambitious green targets and reduce its impact on the environment by its 100th anniversary year.

In a statement, the group said that in addition to minimising emissions from its business operations, it also plans to "introduce to the market its technologies, ideas and measures derived from such efforts", implementing techniques such as "recycling-oriented manufacturing" and "green work-style".

Commenting on the move by Panasonic, a spokesperson for therenewableenergycentre.co.uk described it as "a very positive step forward" that will help businesses, manufacturers and consumers "move towards a greener way of life".

Production output growth recorded for November

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:23:00 GMT

The UK saw its production output rise during November 2009 following a 0.1 per cent monthly fall in October.

Industrial production rose over the period in question by 0.4 per cent, exceeding analysts'' expectations, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals.

According to the data, manufacturing production held steady between October and November, something which may be of interest to those involved in operations management and improving manufacturing processes.

Particularly sharp increases were seen over the month in the oil and gas production and mining and quarrying sectors.

The ONS figures also show that over the year to November 2009, overall output was down by six per cent, while manufacturing was 5.4 per cent lower than in 2008.

Commenting on the report, Caxton FX senior analyst Duncan Higgins said that it may be indicative that "the UK economy has finally returned to growth", with the current weakness of sterling continuing to drive up exports.

Darlington College Start Dates

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The next Diploma in Operations Management Module D8: starts week commencing 28th June 2010.

Enrolment is currently taking place:

For further information please contact the Programme Leader: Brian Corker, Darlington college.
Tel: 01325- 503272 / E-mail: BCorker@darlington.ac.uk

Poor service sector performance ''hampering economic recovery''

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:49:00 GMT

Britain''s recovery from the recession is being hampered in part by poor performance in the service sector, new figures indicate.

Data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) shows that the sector performed worse than the manufacturing industry over the last three months of the year, with negative balances recorded for employment, homes sales and orders, cash flow and plant and machinery investment.

BCC''s chief economist David Kern notes that the UK is "struggling to enter the recovery phase" as a result of critical measures performing badly and adds that all domestic indicators for the fourth quarter were "disappointingly feeble, especially in the service sector".

Operations management could help service sector companies struggling in the current economic downturn, as the BCC calls for greater access to credit for businesses struggling with cash flow.

The Economic Survey for the three months to December 2009 suggested that progress was weaker than it was during the previous quarter.

Meanwhile, the latest Purchasing Manager''s Index for the service sector witnessed a rise in activity from 56.6 n November to 56.8 in December.

Warning over potential NHS IT spending cuts

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:39:00 GMT

Attempts to cut the cost of the NHS IT programme through operations management and other measures must not be carried out at the expense of its potential benefits.

This is the view of Intellect associate director Sureyya Cansoy, who claimed: "In these tough times it is important to look at finding efficiencies, but not to undermine the important role that technologies can play."

She explained that IT can be used in "transforming" service delivery and the ways in which government operates in the UK.

A poll of healthcare workers by website E-Health Insider revealed that NHS IT will come under pressure during 2010, with changes to the National Programme for IT expected in the wake of the general election and tighter budgets in the sector predicted.

In his pre-Budget statement to MPs in December, chancellor Alistair Darling stated that IT projects will be subject to cuts as part of attempts to reduce public spending, something which operations training courses could assist with.

New centres may enhance manufacturing operations management

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:48:00 GMT

The allocation of £70 million by the government to boost innovation in the manufacturing centre will see the initial creation of three research centres.

Located at Loughborough, Brunel and Southampton universities, the facilities are intended to boost future growth in the sector and could have an impact on operations management.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills funding has been provided for the development of state-of-the-art centres and the first trio of research institutions will focus on the development of internet and telecommunications photonics, liquid metals and regenerative medicine.

Business secretary Lord Mandelson declared that "a highly skilled, innovative manufacturing sector is vital to Britain''s future economic growth", something which operations training courses could help with.

His comments were echoed by Professor David Delpy, chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which will manage the new facilities, who claimed that they have "the potential to create new industries and new jobs for the UK".

The most recent Purchasing Managers'' Index for the manufacturing sector rose from 51.7 in November to 54.1 in December 2009, indicating that production activity in the UK is increasing.

Welsh Assembly invests in public sector operations management

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:26:00 GMT

The Welsh Assembly government has unveiled plans to make public services "more effective and efficient" through a series of projects intended to deliver cost savings.

Under the second phase of Invest-to-Save schemes, the country will support a series of operations management initiatives designed to deliver continuous improvement in a number of authorities.

Announced by minister for business and budget Jane Hutt, the second trache of funding will go to successful public service bodies, including local authorities, the National Botanical Garden for Wales and the University Wales Institute, Cardiff.

"Investments will support in transforming the way [organisations] work and respond to the challenge of delivering quality services and outcomes for citizens during a period of tightening budgets," Ms Hutt declared.

A total of eight projects have been selected and include plans to streamline business processes, boost ICT usage and increase collaboration with other agencies.

UK communities secretary John Denham recently called for greater accountability with regards to public sector expenditure by quangos, councils and other bodies in order to enhance efficiencies.

Manufacturer boosts profits through operations management

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:04:00 GMT

Aerospace and automotive engineering firm GKN has reduced its overheads during the past two years by around £150 million and has witnessed a recent rise in pre-tax profits as a result.

The Times reports that the company has enhanced its revenues through a programme of measures and is now focusing its efforts on "gearing to rising sales on the other side of recession".

In addition to operations management, GKN has witnessed a boost in its automotive division as a result of the government''s vehicle scrappage scheme, in addition to its strong position in both the civil and military aerospace sectors.

The firm has upgraded its financial forecasts, according to the news source, predicting annual pre-tax profits for the year to December 2009 of £70 to 80 million, ahead of analysts'' expectations.

A recent EEF survey discovered that more than half of UK manufacturers have taken steps to reduce carbon emissions and enhance the energy efficiency of their operations in order to tackle climate change.

"Reassuring" manufacturing figures welcomed

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:12:00 GMT

Latest data indicating that the UK''s manufacturing sector is growing has been welcomed as "reassuring" by a financial specialist.

Head of the Travelex UK trading desk Mark Bolsom explained that the latest report is a "sign that our manufacturing industry is recovering" and "signals a positive end to a volatile year".

However, he warned that "despite these positive figures, the UK economy remains incredibly vulnerable" as a result of the growing public budget deficit, something that may be of interest to those involved in improving manufacturing processes.

The latest Purchasing Manager''s Index (PMI) rose from 51.7 in November to 54.1 in December 2009, ahead of expectations, with any number above 50 relating to an increase in activity.

Referring to the highest rating recorded since November 2007, Mr Bolsom highlighted the importance of UK exports to future economic growth.

Meanwhile, the PMI for the services sector increased between November and December from 56.6 to 56.8.

Manufacturing bases ''returning to UK''

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:03:00 GMT

Many producers are shifting production back to the UK if a new report is to be believed.

The figures from the Engineering Employers'' Federation (EEF) and accountant BDO could have major repercussions for operations management in the country.

According to the study, the move by manufacturers to relocate their operations to the UK is a response to growing concerns about rising transportation costs and the quality of goods made overseas.

The number of respondents agreeing that the country is a competitive manufacturing location rose from 43 per cent two years ago to almost 70 per cent today.

A total of 15 per cent of UK companies moved back to factories at home in the last two years, the survey of 300 manufacturers found, although many of those polled felt dissatisfied with the current tax and regulatory system.

The recent 2009 Environment Survey from the EEF revealed that more than half of British producers have taken steps to reduce their carbon emissions and enhance their green credentials.

Call for greater accountability in public spending

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:14:00 GMT

Operations training courses may be required by public sector bodies as a minister issues calls for greater scrutiny of spending.

Communities secretary John Denham has advocated more accountability for expenditure by councils, quangos and other public bodies on areas such as transport, health, police and fire services.

The Department for Communities and Local Government minister declared that billions of pounds of public spending will be made more transparent through the enhancement of data made available.

He suggested that the new system of Local Spending Reports will deliver additional efficiencies, adding that the move "will open the door to enterprise and innovation by encouraging individuals, business and third sector to come up with new solutions to old problems".

Local Spending Reports are intended to enhance operations management in the sector be allowing both citizens and councils to examine decisions closely. The first-ever such document was published by communities minister Sadiq Khan in April 2009.

New task force ''to drive public sector efficiencies''

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:53:00 GMT

Operations management in the public sector is set to benefit from the creation of a new task force.

Intended to "drive value-for-money efficiencies and protect frontline services" in councils, it will be headed by Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese and mayor of Lewisham Steve Bullock.

The establishment of the body was announced by communities secretary John Denham, who claimed that it will examine where savings can be made within local government.

"Woe betide the local authority which cuts frontline services when it hasn''t made every possible efficiency savings," he declared.

Membership of the task force will comprise local government and union representatives and they will examine the potential for management restructuring, sharing services, reducing senior pay and cutting duplication of work.

It is a response to reforms of the public sector outlined in both the pre-Budget report and the Putting the Frontline First policy document as part of government efforts to deliver billions of pounds'' worth of operational efficiencies, including a pledge to curb senior pay.

Manufacturers ''reducing carbon emissions''

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:36:00 GMT

British manufacturers are cutting their carbon emissions and boosting green performance, with over half having taken action to do so.

This is according to new figures showing incentives and rewards rather than regulations encourage producers to alter their operations management procedures to address climate change.

A report by EEF explained that major drivers for green policies included customer requirement and adhering to environmental management systems.

The 2009 Environment Survey also revealed just one in ten respondents had seen sustainability issues fall in priority as a result of the recession, while one in three measure their carbon output although they are not required to do so.

"Policy must focus on encouraging companies to take a proactive approach to produce results and reward early action," EEF climate and environment policy head Gareth Stace said.

Manufacturing management professionals may also be interested to note that Reuters recently reported the US manufacturing industry is embracing lean concepts in order to compete more effectively with producers in countries such as China.

LEAN BUT NOT HUNGRY – IOM WARNS ON DANGERS OF RE-STOCKING

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Efficient management should resist the temptation to increase inventory now that there are signs that customer demand may be inching up. The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) has warned that the benefits generated by reducing stock holdings during the past year should not be squandered by restocking to pre-recession levels. If demand has bottomed out and is now on the up again then more inventory may be needed – but not too much! Instead, businesses could use the advantageous trading conditions to improve supply and understand customer demand better.

Leonie Edwards, Manager – IOM, says that now that inventory is lean opportunities must be taken to maintain that situation and to take advantage of the benefits deriving from the imposed reductions in stock levels. She says ‘Businesses coming out of the recent hard times have inevitably learned new means of efficient operations at relatively low stock levels. Stock is waste – if you know when a customer wants your product then there is the opportunity to deliver without having to carry the added cost of that stock investment yourself. Accurate forecast of demand can yield substantial benefits, lowering costs and improving efficiency.’

IOM says that lower stockholdings produce benefits for both suppliers and customers. Edwards says ‘A mutually advantageous partnership between supplier and customer, rationalising stock levels held by both, should mean that the customer is never without adequate supplies but that waste is taken out of the supply chain. Reduced delivery quantities benefit both supplier and customer by improving cash flow, reducing warehouse requirements, and sharpening efficiency. Industry should take advantage of the massive improvements in supply chain speed and efficiency achieved in recent years – efficiency gains which themselves have made a significant contribution to the lean business philosophy.’

IOM says that suppliers and customers must now, as always, determine the compromise between the availability of product when the customer wants it, and the cost of achieving the supply. At the present moment in the economic cycle it makes sense to carefully examine more resourceful ways of meeting demand rather than laying in costly stocks ‘just in case’.

Notes for Editors

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is the principal UK professional society for operations management in the manufacturing arena, service industries and the public sector. IOM recently became a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) bringing UK supply chain professionals together to increase knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and professional excellence. The IOM was established in 1963, originally as two chapters of the then American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). From 1975 it functioned as an independent organisation called the British Production and Inventory Control Society (BPICS). It changed its name to The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in 1996 and joined with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK) in 2007. In 2009 IOM became the International Associate for APICS in Great Britain. For more information about IOM visit iomnet.org.uk or for information about CILT, visit ciltuk.org.uk

The Institute of Operations Management offers a range of Lean training, from one-day workshops through to more in-depth courses, for both IOM members and the general public. For specific information on training, visit www.iomnet.org.uk/events/default.aspx

For press information, contact: Leonie Edwards. Tel: +44 (0)1536 740143. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk

APICS Examinations

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The first APICS examination series being run by IOM in December has proved a great success.
IOM has provided an exam centre in Manchester (in addition to the existing London centre) which has attracted 22 candidates.

APICS CPIM examinations will be offered every 2 months, whilst CSCP examination slots are available 3 times each year.

Click here for APICS exam dates and venues.

New IOM Chairman announced!

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Catherine Milner MIOM has been appointed as the new IOM Chairman. Catherine succeeds John Theophilus FIOM, who did a fantastic job of steering the Institute through the early days as a membership body within CILT. We are very pleased to say John will continue to play an active role within his local Region – IOM South West.

Catherine Milner is a long-term IOM [BPICS] member who first discovered IOM when she undertook the APICS CPIM certification whilst living and working in Belgium. A Chartered Engineer with much experience and expertise within operations, Catherine is looking forward to engaging with the IOM membership and Steering Group to energise the Institute and raise its profile. Those of you that were active in the IOM in the 90s may well remember Catherine from events and conference committees.

An interview with Catherine Milner will feature in the December issue of Operations Management and provide insights into Catherine’s plans for her term as Chair.

On behalf of the Institute, I am delighted to welcome Catherine and I am confident that she will bring her personal style, flair and energy to highlighting the importance, and increasing the awareness of our Institute.

LEAN SKILLS – FAT RESULTS

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The never ending quest for operational efficiency together with the economic recession mean that Lean management techniques, maximising efficiency and minimising waste, have become the essential ingredient in any industrial or operational strategy. The Accelerated Lean Skills Programme (ALSP), a new three day training course from The Institute of Operations Management (IOM), has proved an instant success with delegates. The first event was held in Oxford in October and will be repeated next April – early booking is advised.

ALSP is a practical, interactive and fast moving programme designed to give managers the essential underpinning knowledge required to plan and run Lean programmes. The event provides a path to the comprehension of the Lean philosophy, guidance on the construction of Lean programmes and testing their credibility, practical application of Lean techniques, and assessment of their operational impact.

Leonie Edwards, Manager, IOM said ‘The Lean philosophy constitutes a process of ‘structured common sense’ and delegates attending the first ALSP event seem to have become instant and evangelistic supporters of the concept. We have been delighted by the response with feedback welcoming the provision of real opportunities to improve working practices, reduce waste and improve productivity and profitability.’

The next ALSP will be held in Oxford from 21-23 April 2010. The residential rate for IOM members is £750 and £875 for non-members. Non-residential rates are £350 for IOM members and £475 for non-members. Further details of course content and registration from Membership Services, The Institute of Operations Management, 01536 740105, email: members@iomnet.org.uk

ENDS

Notes for Editors

‘Lean’ is defined as a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination. In recent years Lean techniques have been increasingly adopted by manufacturers, retailers and supply chain managers.

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is the principal UK professional society for operations management in the manufacturing arena, service industries and the public sector. IOM recently became a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) bringing UK supply chain professionals together to increase knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and professional excellence. The IOM was established in 1963, originally as two chapters of the then American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). From 1975 it functioned as an independent organisation called the British Production and Inventory Control Society (BPICS). It changed its name to The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in 1996 and joined with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK) in 2007. In 2009 IOM became the International Associate for APICS in Great Britain. For more information about IOM visit iomnet.org.uk or for information about CILT, visit ciltuk.org.uk

For press information, contact: Leonie Edwards. Tel: +44 (0)1536 740143. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk

IOM Certificate and Diploma Courses starting in September

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There are a number of IOM centres that can provide the IOM Certificate (Level 3) and the IOM Diploma (Level 5).

Darlington College
Contact: Mark Alcock, IOM courses co-ordinator
Tel: 01325 503272
Email: malcock@darlington.ac.uk

Government Announces Arrangements To Publish Rover Report

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Department for Business have announced that the independent Inspectors’ report into the collapse of the MG Rover Group will be published on September 11.

This follows the statement from the Serious Fraud Office that it has completed its inquiries and that, having sought legal advice, it does not intend to initiate a criminal investigation.

Preparations are being made immediately for the Report to be published. However, for legal reasons, an established process must be adhered to.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “It was important to have clarity on whether or not this was a case that the SFO should be investigating. The workers who lost their jobs and the creditors who were owed nearly £1.3 billion by the collapse deserved no less.

“They have waited a long time to see the findings of the Report and the way is now clear for us to publish. Today we are setting out the timetable and arrangements.”

Prior to publication the Secretary of State will, as is usual in Companies Act inspections, make a copy of the report available to those witnesses who, it is considered, need time to prepare themselves for publication. A minimum of four weeks from now until publication is judged necessary to ensure sufficient time for witnesses to be contacted over this holiday period and arrangements to be made.

Witnesses who are offered this opportunity and accept it will also need to agree to the terms and conditions laid down by Companies Investigations Branch prior to the report being made available to them or their legal advisers. The report will be made available to those witnesses four days before publication.

Independent Inspectors investigated the affairs of MGRG, its parent company Phoenix Venture Holdings (PVH) and MGR Capital Limited and 32 related companies between the purchase of MGRG from BMW in May 2000 and the date of it entering administration in April 2005.

They were appointed in 2005 under Section 432 of the Companies Act by then Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson and had wide powers to require documents and the attendance of witnesses, including directors, officers and agents of the company.

The Inspectors delivered their report to the Department for Business on June 11, 2009. Following legal advice it was not published immediately in order to ensure any potential prosecution was not prejudiced.

BRC signs product standard deal for USA

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Partnership will create a global manufacturing standard for consumer goods

A British Retail Consortium (BRC) product standard is a step closer to cracking America. A major contract to create a global manufacturing standard for consumer products has been signed between the BRC and North America’s leading retail trade association.

This agreement, signed by the BRC and Retail Industry-Leaders Association (RILA), advances the retail industry’s commitment to ensuring the safe and consistent quality of its products through independent certification of producers’ operations against the BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products. The contract also covers the training and awareness programmes that will help suppliers in their efforts to achieve certification against the Standard.

Certification is an effective and cost efficient way for retailers to establish confidence in products and reduces the burden of multiple audits for suppliers. Previously individual retailers set and enforced their own standards. Now major US retail names are likely to begin to require suppliers to show they are BRC certificated.

Dr. Geoff Spriegel, Director of British Retail Consortium Global Standards, said: “This partnership is an essential part of developing the BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products into the worldwide standard of choice. We are absolutely delighted to be working with RILA on this project. This commitment by leading US retailers is a major boost for the scheme”.

Casey Chroust, RILA Executive Vice President for Retail Operations, said: “RILA members have always been committed to selling safe products. This partnership advances that goal by establishing a meaningful standard for retail suppliers that ultimately assures customers that they can purchase with confidence”

The contract will kick off with the development of a global communications strategy designed to increase awareness of the Standard in North America, Europe and the Far East. Meetings are planned between the two organisations and others in early September to agree a three- year development plan that includes a series of visits to producing countries such as China to engage with retailers, suppliers and government officials.

Issue 3 of the BRC Global Standard for Consumer Products will be published in January 2010 supported by an Interpretation Guideline and a number of Best Practice Guidelines covering Toys, Electricals, Furniture, Health & Beauty, Textiles and Jewellery. The Standard lays down the requirements that the producer must meet in order to gain certification.

New scheme to benefit small and medium-sized manufacturing companies

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new scheme that will benefit small and medium-sized manufacturing companies in Britain is being launched next month.

The initiative is part of efforts by the Carbon Trust to assist enterprises in reducing their energy bills by as much as £40 million by enabling them to replace old equipment with energy-efficient technology.

Expert advice and financial support will be given to businesses applying for the Big Business Refit programme, which could potentially help thousands of firms.

The project follows a steep rise in applications for Carbon Trust interest-free business loans as a result of the recession.

Tom Delay, the agency's chief executive, explained: "With credit all but dried up elsewhere, the Big Business Refit breaks the deadlock by helping SMEs to buy the equipment that will both slash their costs and often transform their businesses."

In related news, data from the Confederation of British Industry recently indicated that the UK's production index has risen to its most promising level since June last year.

£4 million support for small British companies engaged in international research

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

• Eighteen British SMEs to receive funding
• Technology Strategy Board to invest nearly £4 million
• UK companies to develop new technologies and products with partners from across Europe

Eighteen small and medium sized British companies are to benefit from investment of nearly £4 million from the Technology Strategy Board to enable them to carry out cutting-edge research and development projects with partners from across Europe.

The British companies will link with partners from 17 different European countries to undertake research and development in a diverse range of technology areas, from biotechnology and healthcare through to transport, energy and electronics.

Explaining the background to the funding, Graham Mobbs, European Operations Manager at the Technology Strategy Board, said: “The Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to small and medium sized companies. It seeks to overcome one of the major barriers to high-quality transnational research and development led by SMEs – the lack of guaranteed public-sector funding.”

One of the projects to be funded through the Eurostars programme is Maritime Carbon Capture and Storage (Maritime CCS), in which the UK partner is Process Systems Enterprise Ltd. The Technology Strategy Board will invest over £300,000 in this project, which aims to develop and screen alternative designs for carbon capture and storage (CCS) on board ships in transit, investigating the chemical capture of CO2 and its temporary storage until discharge at a port.

A second project, Fryer Odour Reduction Programme, aims to develop technology to treat contaminated air discharged by the industrial food sector that causes a nuisance and currently requires expensive and energy-consuming treatment such as incineration. The British company, TechniAir Ltd, is partnering with two Swedish companies to carry out the development work and the Technology Strategy Board is to invest £26,000 in the project.

TILACSys or Through-Ice Location and Communication System is a third Eurostars project, and will see Wireless Fibre Systems Ltd partner a Norwegian company. The project, which is to receive nearly £450,000 of Technology Strategy Board investment, will develop a wireless system capable of locating and communicating with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, or AUVs. TILACSys will enable a surface vessel, helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle to communicate with the AUV through the ice. The system will greatly de-risk under-ice AUV operations, with major benefits to polar operations in the Environmental, Oil & Gas and Security sectors.

Strategy For Low Carbon Businesses to Benefit British Jobs

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Low Carbon Industrial Strategy, launched today, sets out the action the Government is taking to ensure that British businesses and workers are equipped to maximise the economic opportunities and minimise the costs of the transition to a low carbon economy.

The strategy follows from Building Britain’s Future: New Industry, New Jobs, and sets out how the Government aims to ensure that the transition to low carbon is a source of quality jobs and business savings in Britain: from our rapidly developing civil nuclear industry and renewable energy sector, to energy saving in our smallest SMEs.

The strategy identifies a range of low carbon sectors with potential for job creation and growth. These include: wave and tidal power; civil nuclear power; offshore wind; and ultra-low carbon vehicles. It also sets out the Government’s strategy for removing barriers that are blocking the development of Britain’s full potential in these areas.

The strategy recognises that local and regional strengths offer a good foundation to realise future economic benefits for Britain. The first Low Carbon Economic Area in the South West of England will create a business and skills focus on marine energy demonstration, servicing and manufacture.

The strategy also sets out the first investments from the £405 million for low carbon industries and advanced green manufacturing announced at Budget 2009. Key investments include:

• Up to £60 million to capitalise on Britain’s wave and tidal sector strengths, including investment in Wave Hub – the development of a significant demonstration and testing facility off the Cornish coast – and other funding to make the South West Britain’s first Low Carbon Economic Area.

• Up to £15 million capital investment in order to establish a Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre consisting of a consortium of manufacturers from the UK nuclear supply chain and universities.

• A £4 million expansion of the Manufacturing Advisory Service, to provide more specialist advice to manufacturers on competing for low carbon opportunities, including support for suppliers for the civil nuclear industry.

• Up to £10 million for the accelerated deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

• Up to £120 million to support the development of a British based offshore wind industry.

The strategy also recognises that there are challenges for the workforce particularly for those in high carbon industries. The Government will create a new Forum for a Just Transition to advise on how to address the issues, with representatives from Central Government, national, local and regional bodies, Trade Unions, business organisations, and third sector bodies.

Announcing the strategy Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said:

'There is no high carbon future. But if the transition to low carbon is inevitable, what is not inevitable is that we use the transition as a chance to develop new jobs, new industries here in Britain. This strategy builds on the New Industry New Jobs approach, outlining the strategic role the government will play alongside the private sector, to make the most of the potential benefits for innovation, growth and job creation in the UK.

'Low carbon and environmental goods and services are already worth £3 trillion to the global economy, and in the UK employ nearly 900,000 directly and through the supply chain. With the sector set to grow by over 4% per annum over the next six years we must do all we can to support British businesses and workers in benefitting. Today we are announcing the first investments under the £405M funding allocated in the budget. We must ensure that we equip businesses and the workforce with the capabilities and skills to take advantage of the potential benefits as the world moves towards a low carbon future.'

Bullish UK manufacturers well prepared for growth in the next 18 months

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Senior executives at the UK and US’s large and mid-sized[1] manufacturing companies are bullish about their future, but US firms have cut deeper into their headcount and R&D than their UK counterparts, who are set to take better advantage of the recovery.

Over a fifth of UK respondents (22%) aim to acquire competitors outright over the next 18 months, according to the new 'Manufacturers: Ready for the Recovery?' study by global business performance consultancy McKinney Rogers and researchers Ipsos MORI.

UK respondents are more likely to take market share from competitors (60% UK compared with 34% for the US), to develop new markets (54% UK compared with 32% for the US) and acquire new customers (54% compared with 28% for the US). Conversely, the US is more likely to consider acquiring businesses in the coming months, with 82% of US respondents agreeing to some extent to considering this, compared with 60% in the UK.

The report, which interviewed senior leadership team members in 100 different large and mid-sized manufacturing firms, half in the UK and the same in the US, reveals that many are expecting their business to be in a much stronger position after the recession (80% UK, 82% US), but have made different moves to combat the recession and have different intentions to succeed in the recovery.

Other highlights include:
• Both UK and US executives believe their companies are well placed to emerge from the recession (90% UK agree, 92% US)
• Few firms made redundancies as an initial reaction to the recession (24% UK, 16% US). The US was more likely to take the further step of redundancies (38% US, 24% UK)
• UK redundancies were most common in operational functions (78% UK, 71% US). US respondents said their redundancies had focussed on core parts of the business (86% US) more frequently than the UK (48% UK)
• Many firms expect there will be exciting acquisition opportunities in the sector during the next 18 months (72% UK, 88% US). Many will be actively considering acquisitions (60% UK, 82%US)

Damian McKinney, CEO of McKinney Rogers, said:

'We found many businesses in both Britain and the US expecting that their markets will have been dramatically changed by the recession. Their challenge is to make sure their plans are effectively implemented so they capitalise on the opportunities they have identified.

'The relative smaller size of the UK’s manufacturing firms compared to the giants of China, the US and elsewhere has made them more able to adapt quickly to the changing environment. Many UK manufacturers have generally taken strong, sensible measures and are surviving and even thriving.

'That said, achieving such growth is challenging and one of the biggest will be to ensure their strategic plans are effectively and quickly implemented to capitalise on the opportunities they have identified.

'Although these senior executives are bullish about their prospects, our research identified many areas that will cause them problems when they come to implement their plans. Concerns at disagreements in the senior team, skills of operational managers and communications to the ‘front line’ suggest the senior team have a long way to go before they really are ready for the recovery.'

LCP Research Finds Companies Are Starting to Collaborate With Their Suppliers

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Collaboration key to survival as the economic downturn forces companies to make significant changes to their supply chain...

Research by LCP Consulting, a leading specialist in customer-driven supply chain management has found that the majority of companies (two out of three) are starting to collaborate with their key suppliers as they are being forced to make significant changes to their supply chains as the economic downturn has worsened.

The LCP research, which was conducted across senior decision makers with a responsibility for supply chain management, also found almost half (45 per cent) are focusing on the risks in their supply chain. Furthermore, just over a third of companies (36 per cent) felt that the complex nature of their supply chains had increased these risks. Those surveyed also identified reduced consumer spending, the falling strength of the pound and their board’s decision to drive changes to conserve cash as contributing factors to increasing pressure on their supply chains.

Alan Braithwaite, Chairman of LCP Consulting commented:
'Our research demonstrates that companies are starting to move towards collaborating with their key suppliers to find common solutions. If carried out effectively, building and nurturing these key relationships along the supply chain will help them get more for less; whereas if companies just negotiated on price they will miss out on the benefits, and their suppliers will leave them high and dry when times get tough.

For many companies this is a new skill and mindset, but the future will be about co-operating and competing through shared supply, manufacturing capacity, and distribution and logistics.'

Collaboration in action
LCP highlights that this move towards collaboration is even happening amongst established brands. For instance, when Edscha, a German manufacturer and supplier to BMW filed for insolvency it presented BMW with a huge problem. The luxury car maker was about to introduce its new Z4 convertible and Edscha supplied its roof. It was impossible for BMW to find an alternative supplier in less than six months, so it collaborated with the company to help it become more financially stable.

Move to greening the supply chain continues
The LCP research also found that although almost two out of three companies had seen the economic downturn significantly affect their business in a negative way, the same number are still looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint. However, over half felt that a strict regulatory environment (with penalties) is still the only way that organisations will start taking its carbon footprint seriously.

Alan Braithwaite, concluded:
'Whilst companies are citing a strict regulatory environment as the only way organisations will start addressing their carbon footprint seriously, there are changes to the rules which are becoming established in the form of public accountability through CSR standards and government initiatives. These new rules are being set, but it is now time that companies learn how to respond to them.

Supply chain management has a major role to play in both corporate and government adjustments to deliver a sustainable future. Our experience shows that 20-30% gains in efficiency (costs and emissions) can be achieved through the applications of end-to-end supply chain thinking.'

As companies put a top priority on cutting their supply chain costs, LCP Consulting says that their actions should focus on ‘five maxims’ so they ride the downturn and prosper in the recovery. For a copy of LCP’s ‘five maxims’ contact info@lcpconsulting.com or visit the LCP website at (www.lcpconsulting.com)

ONS Stats - Pointing the Way to Recovery

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Following the release of today's ONS Index of Production statistics, Graeme Allinson, Head of Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at Barclays Commercial Bank, said:

'Manufacturing seems to be reaching the bottom of the recessionary curve with a marginal 0.5 per cent decline in output between April and May and a slowing rate of 1.8 per cent in the three months to May. These figures indicate a continued slowdown in the rate of decline, and point the way towards eventual recovery.

'The PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) data for June shows a slower but nonetheless continued rate of improvement in manufacturing output. This reinforces the hope that the destocking which held the sector back in the first quarter will now give way to a re-invigorated supply chain and a pick-up in overall production levels.

'Globally, Sterling remains competitive and will act as a supporting stimulus as manufacturing once again finds its feet. The increase in both production levels and demand in India and China are a good indication of international recovery, and this can only be good for UK manufacturers.'

Knowledge Centre and Webshop Open Day

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thursday 17 September 2009

Venue: The Ray Horsley Room and Knowledge Centre, Earlstrees Court, Earlstrees Road, Corby, Northants, NN17

This is a unique opportunity and an open invitation to visit The Knowledge Centre at The Institute's main offices. Learn about all the information resources that are designed to help you in your work and study. This event is designed for busy lecturers, students and practitioners who will be able to gain an insight into how The Knowledge Centre and the Webshop can save you money and time. There will be short informal presentations over the course of the day to show you how to use the online resources and you will also have the opportunity to purchase books at discounted prices on the day.

This event is FREE OF CHARGE. Light refreshments are available throughout the day.

Lunch is available at an additional cost please indicate when booking if you require lunch.

Presentations for the day will focus on:

Accessing the online library catalogue
Find out about the Business Intelligence Service? Supporting you in your research and studies
World Newspapers Today - A database of over 800 newspapers
Corporate Business Review -a database that contains information on over 3.5 million companies in the UK

Speakers:

Peter Huggins - Knowledge Centre Manager
Lynn Mentiply - Webshop and Knowledge Centre SeniorExecutive

For further information and booking form please click here

Bookings to be made via Membership Services tel: 01536 740104 or email membership@iomnet.org.uk quoting Event Code C191

International operations and supply chain APICS qualifications now from the IOM

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

APICS Chief Executive Officer Abe Eshkenazi and IOM/CILT Chief Executive Steve Agg signing the partnership agreement.

The partnership makes available in Great Britain two key internationally recognised certification programmes. Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) is a programme designed to test candidates’ in-depth knowledge of a variety of subjects specific to production and inventory management. Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) extends beyond internal operations to encompass all steps throughout the supply chain.

Leonie Edwards, Manager of IOM, said ‘We are proud and delighted to be the sole non-profit organisation to represent APICS in Great Britain. The partnership will enable the IOM to provide more comprehensive resources to operations and supply chain professionals throughout Great Britain and to bring an international perspective to our work.’

APICS Chief Executive Officer Abe Eshkenazi said ‘This collaboration creates opportunities for knowledge sharing that will benefit the profession worldwide.’

INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN QUALIFICATIONS NOW FROM THE INSTITUTE

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new partnership between two prestigious UK and US organisations will result in the increased availability of education, certification and membership programmes for professional personnel in operations and supply chain management throughout Great Britain.

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM), the largest operations management institute in the United Kingdom, has entered into a new alliance with APICS The Association for Operations Management, from the United States. The alliance will expand APICS’ presence in the UK and will result in APICS internationally recognised certification examinations, related products and membership services, including local meetings, conferences and other networking opportunities to be available in the UK.

APICS certification will now be accessible to members of the IOM and of its sister organisation The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK).

The partnership makes available in Great Britain two key internationally recognised certification programmes. Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) is a programme designed to test candidates’ in-depth knowledge of a variety of subjects specific to production and inventory management. Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) extends beyond internal operations to encompass all steps throughout the supply chain.

Leonie Edwards, Manager of IOM, said ‘We are proud and delighted to be the sole non-profit organisation to represent APICS in Great Britain. The partnership will enable the IOM to provide more comprehensive resources to operations and supply chain professionals throughout Great Britain and to bring an international perspective to our work.’

APICS Chief Executive Officer Abe Eshkenazi said ‘This collaboration creates opportunities for knowledge sharing that will benefit the profession worldwide.’

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The attached image is available as a hi-resolution image. Please contact us to request a copy. Caption: (Left to right) Abe Eshkenazi, APICS CEO, and Steve Agg, IOM/CILT CE, signing the International Associate Agreement between The Institute of Operations Management in the UK and APICS The Association for Operations Management in the US.

The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) is the principal UK professional society for operations management in the manufacturing arena, service industries and the public sector. IOM recently became a membership body within The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) bringing UK supply chain professionals together to increase knowledge sharing, learning opportunities and professional excellence. The IOM was established in 1963, originally as two chapters of the then American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). From 1975 it functioned as an independent organisation called the British Production and Inventory Control Society (BPICS). It changed its name to The Institute of Operations Management (IOM) in 1996 and joined with The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK)) in 2007. For more information about IOM visit iomnet.org.uk or for information about CILT, visit ciltuk.org.uk

APICS The Association for Operations Management is the global leader and premier source of the body of knowledge in operations management, including production, inventory, supply chain, materials management, purchasing and logistics. Since 1957, individuals and companies have relied on APICS for its superior training, internationally recognised certifications, comprehensive resources, and worldwide network of accomplished industry professionals. APICS is based in Chicago. For more information about APICS visit apics.org

For press information, contact: Leonie Edwards. Tel: +44 (0)1536 740143. Email: leonie.edwards@iomnet.org.uk

Webshop Extra - now online!

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Webshop Extra: your new, improved online bookshop

We are always looking for ways to improve the service that the IOM Book Shop provides and to
extend the range of books it can offer. As a result, we are pleased to introduce Webshop Extra.
Webshop Extra is a bookshop within a bookshop: a new department that offers over 800,000 titles for all ages and interests. Books are available on diverse topics, ranging from science to sport, history to food, fiction to travel.

Love a good read?

Do you enjoy a good read? Love getting stuck into a good book? Do you read industry-related books to help you get ahead at work, to help with your studies or for day-to-day reference? Imagine how many more you could read if you were able to make significant savings on them. The IOM Book Shop has long enabled members to save money through special membership discounts negotiated with key publishers, bringing you real cost savings: discounts on every title for every member. On Webshop Extra, you can browse, search and order from an extensive list of books, including specialist publications that will meet all your study and information needs.

Introducing Webshop Extra

If you are looking for a gift for a friend or loved one, a school text for a son or daughter, a good
holiday read or your favourite celebrity’s autobiography, Webshop Extra can provide it. If you do not usually buy books online, do not worry: using Webshop Extra is as simple as walking into your local bookstore. A link within the IOM Book Shop will take you straight to Webshop Extra, where you can browse the titles available from the comfort of your PC or laptop. What is more, you do not have to waste time and effort carrying the books home with you; Webshop Extra delivers the books straight to your door in two to five days. The Book Shop team is always on the lookout for more and better discounts to ensure we can bring you the titles you want at the right prices. The Book Shop’s friendly staff are, of course, available to answer your queries or take your orders direct.

You can start enjoying your whole new book shopping experience at Webshop Extra today.

Simply go to: http://shop.ciltuk.org.uk/

Email your queries or orders to: books@iomnet.org.uk or call: Tel: +44 (0)1536 740105

R and D Budget snub could cost UK dearly

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Darling’s failure to boost innovation incentives could send R&D contracts – and UK jobs – overseas

Alastair Darling’s so-called ‘Budget for jobs’, saw the announcement of several packages aimed at kick-starting a healthier recovery, including a £2million boost to JobCentre Plus services and plans to generate 400,000 jobs within ‘green industries’ over the next five years.

But David Marshall, Director of R&D tax specialist Alma Consulting Group, believes the Chancellor has missed the point: “Growth, and the subsequent jobs that this creates, is essentially driven by the development of intellectual property and innovation, which in turn is driven by research and development. It’s an expensive investment, which is why so many businesses outsource their R&D overseas. One way we can encourage innovation in the UK– where it can generate jobs – is by making existing working incentives, like the R&D Tax Credit scheme, more financially appealing to businesses.

“So why is it, after headway was made in the 2008 Budget, have R&D Tax Credits been snubbed this time around? Particularly at a time when an essential part of the road to economic recovery derives from innovative companies?

“Darling promises a ‘green revolution’ and expansion for core sectors like pharmaceuticals, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, health care and IT, yet these are the sectors that are highly driven by R&D. It doesn’t make sense to try and boost one without boosting the other.

“Whilst R&D tax benefits have improved over the last few years, the scheme still pales in significance to the tax reliefs available to businesses in France. The danger is this: if the less competitive R&D Tax Credit rates we have in the UK leads businesses to outsource their R&D overseas, the opportunity to create vital UK jobs could be lost, and that’s a problem the Chancellor won’t be able to ignore.”

The UK is one of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries, all of whom offer some type of R&D investment incentive. The UK target from the scheme is to encourage UK innovation achieving 2.5% of GDP investment in R&D by 2014. In 2008, R&D tax credit enhancement increased from 150% to 175% for SMEs, and from 125% to 130% for large companies.

‘No-Nonsense Guide’ To Help Businesses Find Finance

Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new online guide to help Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) access funding for growth and innovation has been launched by the Government.

Investing in innovation is crucial to businesses looking to bring new and improved products and services to the market and boost their profitability. During the downturn this is especially important but will become even more vital for businesses that want to grow and become more competitive as the upturn comes.

The new guide, ‘The No-Nonsense Guide to Finance for High Growth and Innovative Businesses’, will act as a one stop resource for companies which want to know where and how they can access sources of funding available to support innovation. It is available free of charge on the Business Link website www.businesslink.gov.uk/no-nonsense

The guide bridges the information gap between providers of funding and SMEs to ensure they can find out about and access the full range of funding options available to support innovation. It includes details on funding from both the private and public sectors. This includes organisations like the Carbon Trust, which financially support firms working on technologies to cut carbon output, through to Regional Development Agencies which roll out a range of funding schemes including Innovation Vouchers, or their equivalent, worth up to £10,000 to help small businesses purchase innovation support from sources of research expertise, including universities.

The guide offers advice to firms on:

How to assess your funding needs
Where and how to get the right advice
The funding options and processes
How to pitch to and deal with investors
Case studies from businesses

Barclays Commercial Bank comment on the ONS Index of Production statistics:

Commenting on today's ONS manufacturing figures, Ray O'Donoghue, Head of UK Manufacturing at Barclays said:

"The 2.9% drop in manufacturing output month on month is broadly in-line with figures coming out across Europe. As a picture of strain on UK manufacturing becomes clearer these figures, along with the EEF’s report that all sectors of manufacturing have suffered falls in output and orders, make for a stark indication of the full impact of the current market. However, there remains some buoyancy even in the midst of this landscape; exchange rates to the euro-zone and the US have remained fairly constant in recent months enabling UK export to be a highly competitive offering.

Despite much pressure and difficulty in calculating budgets for the year ahead, UK industry is doing everything in its power to manage costs. Manufacturers, having survived painful times in the past, are using their experience and looking ahead. The forward thinking among them are aiming to secure financing early to secure longer term lines. When it comes to managing costs; temporary shut-downs, shorter working weeks and taking all measures possible to outlast the recession are acts of resilience that will help the sector turn the corner out of the current market.”

Half price selected publications for Members

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Review confirms value of networks for sharing knowledge and accelerating innovation
Coverage of business and technology areas by individual networks to be revised; existing communities will continue to be served
Call for more businesses to join knowledge transfer networks to speed up innovation

Following a major review, the Technology Strategy Board is to refocus the work of their Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs), which bring together people from business, universities and research organisations to stimulate innovation through knowledge exchange.

The changes will see a revision of the coverage of business and technology sectors, creating a more targeted, comprehensive and accessible range of network resources to help accelerate innovation.

The comprehensive review, which obtained views from 2,100 KTN users and R&D intensive businesses, strongly confirmed the value of the networks. 75% of business respondents rated KTN services as effective or highly effective. Over 50% have developed, or are developing, new R&D or commercial relationships with people met through a KTN and 25% have made changes to their innovation activities as a result of their engagement.

The most highly rated functions of KTNs, according to the survey, are monitoring and reporting on technologies, applications and markets; providing high quality networking opportunities; and identifying and prioritising key innovation-related issues and challenges.

The review did however identify some areas where networks overlapped, and some where there is poor provision and a good opportunity to develop new networks.

David Way, Director of Knowledge Exchange and Special Projects at the Technology Strategy Board, said: “We were very pleased to have the value and importance of Knowledge Transfer Networks confirmed by this review. However it also identified some areas of overlap and some areas where there are gaps. This is why we are refocusing the portfolio to build on the successes, at the same time aligning the KTNs more closely with the innovation priorities which we have identified in our strategic plan. We will also increase the support the KTNs give to international activities, recognising the increasingly global nature of innovation and business in general”

David Way added: “While the number of formal networks will reduce from the current 25 to around 15, all existing knowledge exchange communities, which have over 45,000 members, will continue to be supported within the new structure. We are also planning to establish new KTNs in some areas, for example financial services and energy generation and supply.”

The Technology Strategy Board would also like to see a great increase in the number of individuals and businesses who use and are part of a KTN. “The feedback from existing business members of KTNs is very positive” David Way said. “We now want to roll these benefits out through UK business as widely as possible. I would encourage every technology-enabled business to find out more about how KTNs can help them to innovate.”

The review also highlighted the strong benefits brought to the KTN programme through links with a wide range of partners. KTNs engage with trade associations, technology providers, research councils, Regional Development Agencies and the Devolved Administrations to deliver benefits to businesses of all sizes. The Technology Strategy Board will use its own links to strengthen these bonds where possible.

Notes:

1. The review of KTNs was informed by a study carried out on behalf of the Technology Strategy Board by Technopolis Group between May and August 2008.

2. The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led executive non-departmental public body, established by the government. Its role is to promote and support research into, and development and exploitation of, technology and innovation for the benefit of UK business, in order to increase economic growth and improve the quality of life. It is sponsored by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). For further information please visit www.innovateuk.org

3. Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) are national networks in specific fields of technology or business application, which bring together people from businesses, universities, research, finance, the public sector and technology organisations to stimulate innovation through knowledge exchange. Funded primarily by the Technology Strategy Board, their activities play an increasingly important role in the development of the Government's technology strategy, and help to feed and drive the Collaborative Research & Development Programme and other innovation interventions. For further information please see www.ktnetworks.co.uk

Demand for supply chain managers 'to soar in 2009'

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Supply chain managers will be among the most in demand people in 2009 as companies target efficiency savings to head off the recession, according to an industry professional.

Wayne Brophy believes demand for supply chain professionals, once the preserve of large multi-site manufacturing organisations, is growing because even smaller companies are realising it as one of the most effective ways of increasing profit in a recession.

Wayne, managing director of Cast UK, a professional recruitment consultancy for the procurement, supply chain and logistics sector, is predicting that supply chain professionals will become one of the biggest targets of the global HR market.

He said: “In the boom times there are a lot of companies that don’t make supply chain efficiencies a key priority because they are busy making money. But in a recession having an efficient, well-managed and structured supply chain is one of the most effective ways of increasing and protecting profitability.

“Over the last 12-months we have seen companies putting far more emphasis on managing the supply chain, with many creating dedicated positions for supply chain directors and managers where they did not have them before.

“Based on our observations and data, supply chain roles will be a big growth area in 2009 as the UK heads deeper into recession. Businesses are asking themselves how they can increase profits when nobody is increasing their spending. Reducing supply costs puts money straight onto the bottom line and is an obvious answer.”

Cast UK works nationally specialising in recruitment for procurement, supply chain and logistics disciplines working with some of the UK’s biggest companies.

Professionalism pays

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New, independent economic impact analysis reveals that individuals with professional qualifications and membership of organisations, such as IOM and CILT, stand to gain £152,000 in additional earnings over the course of their career.

Commissioned by eight of the UK's leading professional bodies - including CILT, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and the Chartered Institute for Personnel & Development (CIPD) – the study is based on analysis of data for six consecutive quarters of the Labour Force Survey. Key findings include:

Boost in earnings: the estimated lifetime economic benefit associated with holding professional qualifications has been valued at £81,000. The study also shows how membership of a professional body can result in additional earnings of up to £71,000 in today's money terms
Revenue driver: based on today's taxation levels the estimated additional lifetime tax revenue contributed by an individual with professional qualifications and membership currently stands at £53,000
Employer value: individuals with professional qualifications and membership enjoy a 9 per cent increase in the probability of being employed because of the transferable skills on offer, according to the study. This figure, coupled with the 37 per cent wage premium received by professionally qualified staff demonstrates the high value employers place on the skills developed by professional bodies

The report shows that professional training and development is a key lever of support for the Government's Skills Strategy. Together, the eight Institutes deliver over 50,000 qualifications per year and, in line with Government plans to "ensure employers have the right skills to support the success of their business", the majority of ‘students' undertake qualifications while remaining in employment.

Speaking at the launch of the report at the Houses of Parliament today, Steve Agg, Chief Executive of CILT (UK) said: ‘‘Professional bodies are here to provide learning and development opportunities for everyone and, with our understanding of the needs of our respective professions we are a unique resource which government should embrace in working to skill the nation's workforce'.
The report also highlights how professional qualifications are ‘open access', ensuring that individuals are able to build transferable skills no matter what their previous qualification level has been. By demonstrating that professional qualifications are undertaken across a range of age groups, and are split evenly by gender, the study shatters the myth that professionalism is elitist.

Against this backdrop, the eight professional bodies are collectively calling for the creation of a Professional Skills Council. The aim is to create greater value for the UK Commission for Education & Skills by raising demand for professional and higher-level skills across the 25 Sector Skills Councils and identifying gaps and shortages of professional skills across a range of industries.

Click here to view the full report…

Technology Strategy Board to drive Britain’s green motoring revolution

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

100 ultra low carbon demonstration vehicles to be on roads by end of 2009
£10m demonstration will show benefits of new and emerging low carbon technology in real-world situations.
Electrification of road transport, decarbonisation of road vehicles and academic-led research into new low carbon vehicle technology to receive £20 million funding boost

The Technology Strategy Board has unveiled details of a £10 million investment plan, co-funded by the Department for Transport, which aims to see up to 100 innovative ultra low carbon demonstration vehicles on Britain’s roads by the end of next year. This is one of the initiatives announced by the Government to encourage a mass market in electric and hybrid cars.
The ultra low carbon vehicle demonstration competition will see the 100 innovative cars on the road in several locations around the UK and, through real-world situations, will show the benefits to be gained by using new and emerging low carbon vehicle technology.

Commenting on the eve of the UK National Low Carbon Vehicle Event at Millbrook, Bedford in October, hosted by Cenex (the UK’s Centre of Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies), the Technology Strategy Board’s Chief Executive, Iain Gray, said:

“Low carbon vehicle technology is exciting, practical and, most importantly, real. Such vehicles are already on our roads and as the technology continues to improve rapidly, they will only become more effective and more widely used.

“Low carbon vehicles offer the combined advantages of reducing our reliance on oil and reducing emissions. The challenge now is to speed up development of this technology while delivering the benefits to UK business - which is why the Technology Strategy Board is delighted to announce a further £30m of investment in the research, development and demonstration of electric and low carbon vehicles.”

The demonstrator and research & development competitions are the latest initiatives from the Technology Strategy Board’s Low Carbon Vehicle Innovation Platform. The three further research and development activities will cover:

- Electrification of road transport (up to £10 million)
- Technologies to decarbonise road vehicles (approx £7 million)
- University-led research into lower-carbon vehicle technology (£3 million), funded by the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The Technology Strategy Board will also work closely with the Energy Technologies Institute, which will hold a stakeholder workshop in December to develop a second wave of low carbon vehicle demonstration activity. This builds on the Technology Strategy Board’s early pilots and will focus on understanding the requirements of the charging infrastructure.

UK businesses hold steady despite economic turbulence

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Equifax Business Failures Report reveals levelling out in firms going bust from Quarter 1 to Quarter 3 2008

Leading business information provider, Equifax, has released its latest Business Failures Report. Not surprisingly, there are increases in the number of businesses going bust in some sectors, but the overall picture for the year to date suggests that other sectors are faring better. The worst hit was the Manufacturing sector, which saw a 13.8% increase in the number of businesses failing in Quarter 3, compared to Quarter 1. However, the Services and Wholesale sectors both saw failures drop by 4.2% and 2.6% respectively in Quarter 3, compared to the beginning of the year.

“Whilst there is clearly immense pressure on businesses with increased costs all-round, it appears that some sectors have been taking the right precautions to manage cashflow and avoid the risk of bad debt and this is enabling them to stay solvent”, confirmed Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director, Equifax.

The Construction and Transport & Communications industries continued to struggle in the difficult financial climate with failures up 11.7% and 11.9% in Quarter 3, compared to the first Quarter of 2008. “Although there are increases in these sectors, the trend through this year is pretty steady”, continued Neil Munroe. “And significantly, failures in the Retail sector only increased by 2.8% in Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 1.

“Indeed, the overall increase across all sectors for Quarter 3 is just 3.2% compared to the beginning of the year, but the 0.5% cut in interest rates will be a welcome lifeline for businesses in all sectors as the conditions remain tough.”

Looking at the regional picture, the North East appears to be suffering the most with a 23.4% increase in failures in Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 1. However, the region saw an only 1.9% rise in Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 2. Wales saw an increase of 14.7% in the third Quarter compared to the beginning of 2008. However, between Quarter 2 and 3 business failures in the Principality only increased by 2.9%, suggesting a slowdown in failures towards the end of the year.

The West Midlands and the South East saw Quarter 3 failures go up by 10% and 10.6% respectively, compared to Quarter 1, while Yorkshire & Humberside only saw a 7% increase.

However, on the Eastern side of the country things appeared to be slightly more stable. The East Midlands and East England saw failures drop by 1.3% and 4% respectively in Quarter 3 when compared to Quarter 1. The prospects in Scotland also look positive with just a 0.3% rise when comparing the start of the year with the third quarter.

Other regions faring well in Quarter 3, compared to Quarter 1 include London (+2.2%), the South West (4.6%) and the North West (5.7%), all experiencing fairly small increases.

Munroe concludes, “Although business failures continue to rise and there are a number of external factors that can hit even the most well prepared business, there are indications that firms in some sectors are taking the right precautions to protect themselves from some of the risks in tough trading conditions. Businesses need to continue to use rigorous credit checks, alongside ongoing monitoring of the financial status of their customers and suppliers. By operating best practice and harnessing the power of the latest risk management solutions, firms can minimise the threat of bad debt and secure the future of their business.”

Equifax 2008 UK Business Failures Report – Quarterly Trends Comparison

The following tables show the trends in business failures for each Quarter of 2008

SECTORS

Increase or decrease in failures through 2008

	Quarter 2 compared to Quarter 1	Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 2	Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 1
Construction	-2.7%	+14.8%	+11.7%
Manufacturing	-2%	+16.1%	+13.8%
Wholesale	+1.5%	-4%	-2.6%
Services	-5.3%	+1.2%	-4.2%
Retail	-4.6%	+7.7%	+2.8%
Transport & Communications	-.08%	+12.8%	+11.9%
TOTAL PER QUARTER	-3.6%	+7.1%	+3.2%

REGIONS
Increase or decrease in failures through 2008

	Quarter 2 compared to Quarter 1	Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 2	Quarter 3 compared to Quarter 1
East Midlands	-0.5%	0.8%	-1.3%
East England	+2.8%	-17.9%	-4%
London	-3.4%	+5.9%	+2.2%
North East	+21.1%	+1.9%	+23.4%
North West	-1%	+6.8%	+5.7%
Scotland	+6.3%	5.6%	+0.3%
South East	+5.3%	+4.5%	+10.6%
South West	-4.6%	+9.7%	+4.6%
Wales	+11.5%	+2.9%	+14.7%
West Midlands	-5.3%	+16.2%	+10%
Yorkshire & Humberside	-8.7%	+17.3%	+7%

Employers nurture their talent to save costs

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As the economic downturn bites, a new report from Cranfield School of Management, commissioned by learndirect Business, reveals organisations that invest in their staff are best placed to save money (44%); improve staff motivation (33%); and increase employee retention (52%).

The Nurturing Talent report, which is the first piece of work to examine the impact of external recruitment versus developing internal talent, also found employers who make strategic rather than operational staff development decisions, best placed to achieve these benefits. For example, successful organisations are typified by those that use formal training policies to nurture talent (45%). While less successful organisations were more likely to train staff on an ad hoc basis (46%).

However, although the report highlights training and development can have significant benefits such as increased staff motivation and retention, only a third (34%) of employers have a formal training strategy.

The report, which was compiled using responses from 1,189 training and recruitment decision makers, reveals over three quarters of employers (78%) see skills development as more beneficial to their organisation compared to recruiting staff externally.

Dr Emma Parry, Senior Research Fellow, Cranfield School of Management, who authored the report, said: “With training budgets arguably amongst the first to go in a recession, this research demonstrates that growing your own is an effective way for organisations to obtain the skills they need while saving money.

“For employers, the nurturing talent concept means managing and developing employees to achieve business goals. This could include training; employee coaching; staff mentoring; and job enrichment to stretch employees with new tasks.”

Sarah Jones, Chief Executive of Ufi, the organisation responsible for learndirect and learndirect Business, said: “Nurturing staff is a vital strategy for employers, whatever the economic situation although, in tougher times it can become a challenge as other business demands take priority. However, as this research highlights, organisations do not just stop hiring during an economic downturn - they simply work harder to ensure their available resources are allocated more effectively.

“Organisations must focus on nurturing talent if they are to survive, grow and succeed. As a CEO, I know the continuous development and growth of people is inextricably linked to business performance. At Ufi we have a structured process of evaluation and assessment to help ensure employees realise their full potential. Each member of staff has a structured development plan, which is aligned to specific business and individual needs.

“As we’ve seen, the business case for developing staff is compelling. Effective training can reduce staff turnover and absenteeism, improve motivation, increase productivity, help boost and improve customer satisfaction. By focusing resources on nurturing existing talent, organisations can ensure they reap significant rewards.”

To ensure employers can gain access to high quality flexible training opportunities, learndirect Business has developed a dedicated network of highly responsive training centres through which organisations can access online and work-based learning covering a wide range of business issues.

Third-party logistics providers play key role

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Third-party logistics providers play key role in integration, sustainability and security of the supply chain

Capgemini, Georgia Institute of Technology, Oracle and DHL release the thirteenth annual Third-Party Logistics Study

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, in cooperation with the Georgia Institute of Technology, Oracle and DHL have released an in-depth study into the current state of logistics outsourcing. The study is based on a survey of 1,644 logistics executives from North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America and identifies a number of key findings:

Green supply chain initiatives are essential for future business success according to 98% of logistics executives, yet the majority are unwilling to invest any additional funds in the greening of the supply chain.
The theft of material goods continues to be the top security concern. But the changing business environment means that companies must focus more attention on other causes of supply chain disruption from the theft of intellectual capital and natural disasters, to the closure of ports and product tampering.
Underpinning sustainability and security are strong relationships across the different parties in the supply chain achieved through integrated systems and services. Through deliberate efforts to form solid relationships with logistics providers using detailed contracts and metrics, companies can achieve significant cost savings, shorter order cycles, better customer service and improved business efficiency.

Although the survey shows that 3PLs and their users believe the associated costs of creating a more secure, integrated, environmentally-friendly supply chain should be split, there is continued resistance to collaboration and the unspoken assumption that costs will ultimately be carried by the customer.

Green supply chain
Companies are almost unanimous in their belief that green supply chain initiatives, such as local sourcing, are important but there is widespread uncertainty about how to move forward with sustainable supply chain operations. However, companies must begin to act before it is too late. The survey shows that the ‘greening’ of the supply chain will have an increasing impact on network design, transport modes used, selection of equipment, business processes, behaviors and balance sheets. Yet few users rate green capabilities as a deciding factor when choosing 3PL partners. Only 46% of respondents said that the effect of supply chain operations on the environment was a factor considered when selecting a 3PL. Collaboration is key; only when the source and impact of emissions can be accurately assessed can 3PLs and their customers become accountable and will the supply chain become more environmentally friendly.

“3PLs and their customers must be open about expectations and capabilities, if they are to find innovative ways to improve supply chain security and green credentials,” said Hans Hickler, CEO, DHL Global Customer Solutions.“When companies cooperate with 3PLs, there is often limited readiness for both parties to adequately learn current practices, develop joint solutions and share the benefits. But those willing to advance the 3PL-customer relationship beyond today’s sticking points stand to be rewarded with supply chain efficiencies that deliver competitive advantage and customer satisfaction.”

Security in the supply chain
Although 76% of respondents called their 3PLs secure, the survey reveals a gap between 3PL users’ expectations and the current security capabilities of their 3PLs. Companies are becoming increasingly concerned about the costs of meeting compliance mandates designed to enhance supply chain security in the face of terrorist threats. However, by working closely with 3PLs and setting up the right processes, companies can stand to gain considerable benefits that help recoup costs and improve the efficiency of the supply chain.

“Though the overall 3PL picture is similar to last year, it has become clear that green supply chain and supply chain security are increasingly becoming key drivers for success,” said Dennis Wereldsma, Global Leader of Capgemini’s Distribution Sector. “As compliance and regulation around green and security practices becomes increasingly prevalent, 3PLs and users that are greener and can tout their security capabilities can gain significant market advantage.”

Integrated Logistics
The benefits of supply chain collaboration and logistics integration can be huge, but this can only be achieved by putting aside fears over loss of control, visibility, internal competency, and of being too dependent on a third party service provider. However, through the use of comprehensive service level agreements that balance costs and risks and 3PLs investing in their own service offerings, companies will begin to experience the payoffs of working so closely together. By adopting integration-enabling, open standards-based technologies together with 3PLs, companies will be able to increase agility, lower costs and ensure stronger relationships.

Dr. John Langley from the Georgia Institute of Technology reiterates, “The greatest shared challenge is that of forming and growing successful collaborative relationships between users and providers of logistics services. Without a commitment from both sides little progress can be made in the greening of the supply chain and supply chain security. More than three quarters of 3PL users rate consolidation, routing, and mode selection as the top services 3PLs can contribute to green strategies. However, just 31% indicate that their 3PLs currently offer these capabilities.”

Finally, technology is also a high priority for 3PL users. 3PLs continue to outsource web-enabled communications, visibility tools, warehouse/distribution management, and transportation management/execution. However, the IT expectation/performance gap persists, with only 38% of the respondents satisfied with their 3PL providers’ information technology capabilities.

“The continued gap between the capabilities of 3PLs and what is required by their customers is extremely worrying,” said Sundar Swaminathan, Senior Director, Oracle. “IT capabilities are critical to the integration of logistics services provided by 3PLs and the ability to facilitate green supply chains and supply chain security. 3PLs need to simplify and modernize their applications and infrastructure so they can bring new services to market more quickly, increase agility and operational efficiency and deliver service excellence.”

About the 2008 Third Party Logistics Study
A total of 1,644 logistics executives from North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America participated in the web-based survey. A small number of executives in other areas such as South America and the Middle East also responded although there was no in-depth analysis of these geographies. The findings were then supplemented with the results from in-depth ‘focus interviews’ which were a new feature in this year’s study. Interviews were conducted with industry observers and experts, primarily relating to the special topics identified in this year’s report; integrated service offerings, “green” supply chain, and supply chain security. The Capgemini Accelerated Solutions Environment® (ASE) was also leveraged as a brainstorming setting where executives could collaborate on shared issues. Survey recipients were asked to think of a 3PL as a company that provides one or more logistics services for its clients and customers and a ‘fourth party logistics (4PL) provider’ of logistics services as one that may include more advanced logistics outsourcing services than a conventional 3PL normally would provide.

Retail Think Tank predicts possible year-on-year fall in total sales

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Fall in Customer Demand Will Hurt Retailing in Quarter Four

The KPMG/SPSL Retail Think Tank (RTT) – the group of leading industry figures which provides a non-partisan guide to retail sector health – has unveiled its latest Retail Health Index (RHI) ratings for the quarter just ended (quarter three) and its forecast for the next quarter (quarter four). The ratings are based on the Members’ review of a comprehensive industry database and their discussion during its quarterly sitting, in October.

The output chart below tracks the change in retail health quarter-on-quarter and shows that the health of UK retail has slipped for the seventh quarter running and is now at its lowest level since the group first met in early 2006. The base period for the metric (when the index value equals 100) is quarter one 2006.

Retail Health Index 2006 to date

The key points to emerge from the latest meeting, held on October 14th 2008, included:

Looking back, the overall state of health slipped a further three index points to 92 in quarter three, doing slightly better (by one index point) than the panel had predicted three months ago. In effect this meant that the decline in retail health continued at the same rate in quarters two and three, rather than deteriorating any quicker as the RTT had feared in July. As the chart shows, this still represents the poorest state of health that the sector has been in since the RTT first sat in April 2006. However, for the fourth quarter running all three key drivers (demand, margin and costs) contributed negatively to retail health, despite retailers fighting hard to survive and prosper through the long dog days, and extended Sale campaigns, of summer.

Looking forward to quarter four, Members agreed that the outlook looked less favourable, issuing its most pessimistic set of retail health predictions yet. It believes that the state of retail health will deteriorate in the next quarter (quarter four) to an RHI value of 86, representing an accelerating rate of decline over quarter three. Commenting on this trend the RTT said, “Despite the encouragement that quarter three was not quite as bad as we had feared, retail, like other sectors, is in difficulties and most significantly the anticipated further fall in customer demand will hurt retail in quarter four. Depending on what happens to inflation, which looks likely to ease, we are possibly looking at year on year falls in the value of total sales.

The RTT believes that the recent stock market and banking collapse has clearly affected the real world of jobs and consumer spending and shaken financial security, despite the likelihood of more interest rate cuts.

Although the RTT blames the projected worsening rate of decline in health most specifically on a further deterioration in demand and margins, the RTT is at pains to point out that it is not all bad news; it believes costs have now stabilised and retailers will benefit from a slight relief on the costs front in quarter four.

RTT members agreed unanimously that demand will weaken considerably in quarter four, although some are more pessimistic than others. The panel still sees a split between the fortunes of food and non-food retailers with non-food retailers feeling the brunt of weakening demand. However, the panel is in no doubt that the quarter ahead will be tough even for food retailers as volumes will continue on a downward trend. The RTT feels that with the latest unemployment figures showing some 1.7 million out of work, a rise of 164,000 in the three months to August, the biggest rise for seventeen years, fear of unemployment will further hit consumer confidence and levels of demand.

Retailers will suffer even more heavily than in Q3 from declining margins. Last quarter the panel believed many retailers did not needlessly sacrifice margins to stimulate demand and judged it well. However, the fear is that they may now have reached the limit of how far they can push suppliers and still attract customers at prices that protect margins. The RTT believes that non-food retailers, in particular, will have to be more aggressive on price and that the road towards quarter one next year is already red-lit. Last year’s voucher promotions, e-mail campaigns, one-day sales and other, yet to be announced, incentives to buy, are likely to be tactics that are out in force early as we head towards Christmas. The panel also predicts that Christmas 2008 will be a return to basics, becoming more about children than adults, with adults likely to defer buying presents for each other until the Sales.

Inflation, increased staff costs and lay-offs in China will very likely affect the prices that retailers will pay for the goods sourced there, as will the maturity of more favourable currency hedge deals with the pound continuing to be weak against the Euro and to a lesser extent, the Dollar.

Amidst the gloom, though, there is some light for retailers. The RTT expects the growth in, and negative impact on health of, costs will begin to decline in quarter four. The reduction in the price of oil, the renegotiating of many quarterly rent demands to more favourable monthly ones, mainly for new premises, and falling rent inflation as well as an additional 1.5 million square feet of retail space joining the market in quarter three/four will all contribute to a lessening of the effects of costs.

The RTT notes the impact of rising labour costs have now been absorbed although the exodus of many thousands of foreign EU workers back to whence they came may still hold some challenges to retailers’ costs. The panel still feels that better training of staff is, in difficult trading conditions, more important than ever and noted that due to expansion even the leaders in this arena may have been tempted to skip or rationalise their normally stringent training regimes. Such actions, the panel cautions, are likely to be extremely counter productive. The RTT also warns that it is at head office rather than store level that the main threat to jobs exists.

Manufacturing firms lose business due to shortage of bilingual workers

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

20% of manufacturing companies have lost out on business because staff can’t speak a foreign language
21% of employers in the manufacturing sector would be willing to pay staff more if they had language skills
16% of manufacturing companies would benefit from more foreign language speakers

One in five companies in the manufacturing sector (20%) has lost out on business because their staff cannot speak a foreign language, according to research released recently by the Teach Yourself Business Languages Series.

The independent research conducted by Gfk NOP reveals that 16% of companies in the manufacturing sector feel that they would benefit from a foreign language speaker in their organisation and 23% would actively hire a candidate who could speak a second language over one who couldn’t.

The survey of over 500 UK companies also found that over a fifth (21%) of Manufacturing companies would consider offering employees who speak a foreign language extra incentives, including a higher salary. This is compared to only 6% of construction companies and 7% of companies in the Retail sector.

Sarah Carroll, author of the Teach Yourself Business Languages Series, says: “Globalisation has prompted the demand for foreign language speakers in the UK. As Manufacturing companies begin to operate more within the international community, they must ensure they hire staff with good language skills. It’s encouraging that some Manufacturing companies are beginning to recognise this demand and that they are prepared to offer foreign language speakers a premium salary.
“China is one of the fastest growing global markets and the demand for UK Mandarin Chinese speakers is increasing. Mandarin Chinese is quickly becoming one of the most useful languages to know in business and Spanish may well end up rivaling English as a global business language in the Americas by 2050. Manufacturing businesses need to be aware of this and invest in foreign language speakers so they are able to compete in the global market.”

International figures suggest UK is regaining lost ground in innovation

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The UK and other EU member states are showing signs of fighting back against the tidal wave of innovation and patenting in China and Korea, says the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA).

According to Matt Dixon, a patent attorney and spokesman for the Institute, figures for 2007 just published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) show that, at 9.1 per cent, the UK had the highest rate of growth in Europe for international patent filings under the Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT).

“In 2006, the UK lost its position as one of world’s top five centres of innovation for the first time in nearly 30 years,” Matt Dixon said. “WIPO’s figures for that year showed that, in terms of the number of patent applications filed, the UK had dropped to sixth place, behind the US, Japan, Germany, South Korea and France.

“WIPO’s figures for 2007 show that although the UK remains in sixth position, the good news is that its rate of growth for international patent applications has picked up well and is now ahead of major competitors Japan and the USA (both with a growth rate of 2.6 per cent). The UK’s growth rate is also higher than both France (2.1 per cent growth) and Germany (8.4 per cent).

“If this is sustained, we expect to see the UK back as one of the world’s top five innovating economies within three years.”

The CIPA spokesman also pointed out that China’s surge in patenting indicates that the economy there is changing fast. “China is doing today what Japan did 30 years ago,” Matt Dixon continued. “It has moved up to 7th position in the patenting league table and is changing from low-cost ‘copycat’ manufacturing to innovating in its own right. We expect to see this lead to a greater concern for product quality among Chinese manufacturers - which will undoubtedly give rise to some price inflation.

“The UK and the rest of Europe need to keep up the momentum in innovating and patenting to have any hope of remaining competitive in manufacturing. The latest WIPO figures suggest that many companies here have taken that message on board.”

Norwich Union kick-starts safety campaign with the importance of risk assessment

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Norwich Union is launching a 12-month campaign to help small businesses manage their health and safety issues.

“Simply Safety” is a series of one page guides aimed at a broad spectrum of trades including manufacturers, caterers, builders and retailers.

Each guide will be available to download at www.nurs.co.uk and has been designed as a reference tool or to display in workplaces.

The campaign begins by looking at the importance of risk assessments and outlines the key factors to helping keep staff and equipment safe.

“Often viewed as a box ticking exercise, the reality is quite the opposite,” warns Phil Grace, Norwich Union’s casualty risk manager. “Risk assessments are the cornerstone of managing risk in the workplace and the foundation on which employers can make the working environment safe for employees.”

Whilst 63% of the 3,000 firms visited by NURS’ risk advisors in 2007 were judged to have risk assessments that were ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’, more than a third (37%) had significant improvements to make to ensure the safety of staff, registering ‘Poor’ assessments.

“Businesses should be aware that a risk assessment is a means to an end and the first step in developing a safe working environment. Fitting guards on machinery, installing signage and staff training are all common actions that may need to be taken following a risk assessment.”

However, Grace is keen to highlight a common misconception that only “risky” businesses should conduct a risk assessment. “The reality is that every business should be risk aware, regardless of what it does.

“Apart from the use of sharp knives, most people would not regard a butcher’s shop as a “high risk” business. But this is not the case as proved by a recent accident involving a 15-year old boy who was working in a butcher’s shop and lost part of his arm whilst operating a mincing machine in which a guard had been removed.

“As a result, the owners were fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs. The manager was also fined and had to pay costs.

“It is a stark warning that safety equipment, in this case the guard, is there for a reason and should be used. At the very least, the business should have had a warning sign by the machine to remind staff to check the guard was in operation and only allowed fully trained staff, over the age of 18, to operate it.” advises Grace.

“A risk assessment survey is a simple process that offers businesses sound risk management advice and should be a fundamental part of a business philosophy that is taken seriously from the very top level of a company.”

Innovative new technology sought to improve disaster management and ease traffic

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Disaster mitigation and response, traffic management, road maintenance and pollution monitoring are some of the diverse areas set to benefit from £10 million investment in research and development by the Technology Strategy Board.

The collection of data from a wide range of sources underpins many applications including traffic management, healthcare, pollution monitoring and building management. Environments that are large-scale, high-density, harsh or unstable make data gathering particularly challenging. Without up-to-date and reliable data, it is difficult to understand or predict the dynamics of the environment. The government-funded Technology Strategy Board is to invest £10 million to encourage British companies to research and develop innovative data-gathering technologies that could be rapidly configured and deployed by users such as the police, fire and rescue services, local authorities, utility companies and many others.

Explaining why the Technology Strategy Board is investing in this area, Chief Executive Iain Gray said: “The ability to gather information in complex or difficult environments is vital for organisations such as the emergency services, transport authorities and power companies. Many UK companies have particular strengths in sensing, instrumentation and imaging technologies, and in telecommunications and intelligent systems. Bringing this expertise together would give the UK the capability to offer complete tracking and monitoring solutions, and to exploit the worldwide demand for such technology.”

The Technology Strategy Board believes that innovative data-gathering technology would improve operating efficiency in many industry and service sectors, such as:

Air, water and soil management
Control and security of utility supply
Traffic management
Road and rail infrastructure maintenance
Buildings maintenance and management
Health monitoring of patients in ambulances
Pollution monitoring
Monitoring and maintenance of civil engineering works
Instrumentation and control in vehicles and planes
Cultural Heritage: environmental management of historic buildings, collections, sites and landscapes.

The Gathering Data in Complex Environment funding competition – part of the Technology Strategy Board's autumn 2007 call for proposals in a number of innovation and technology areas – will stimulate UK companies to develop technologies that can be used successfully in challenging environments to gather data that currently cannot be gathered. The investment will help to accelerate development, bringing the technologies quickly and cost effectively to market.

The Technology Strategy Board’s investment will provide partial funding for winning projects that involve businesses working collaboratively with other businesses and/or with research organisations and academic institutions.

Applicants must register their intention to apply for funding, and submit an outline of their proposal, by 4 April 2008 and the final closing date for applications is 8 May 2008. Further information is available at www.technologyprogramme.org.uk

Centre of Excellence for Project Managers unveiled in Birmingham

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The UK’s first centre of excellence for Project Management Practice has been unveiled at Aston Business School in Birmingham.

The £200,000 scheme will bridge the gap between academics and businesses by focusing on the importance of project management to innovation.

Businesses across the West Midlands are set to benefit from the innovative Centre for Project Management Practice.

Many business leaders enjoyed the launch party at Aston Business School last night (Monday, January 28th), which included an activity fair, the chance to invent the device of your dreams and networking opportunities.

The project was funded with a £100,000 Business Engagement grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and match funding by Aston Business School’s collaborators – more than a dozen regional, national and international organisations.

The centre is headed up by ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’ academics who have all been project managers across a range of business sectors in the past.

Centre Director Dr Naomi Brookes, who previously worked in the aerospace industry, said the centre would create some fantastic links between project management knowledge and its practice in industry.

“Project management is a very crucial skill which is required to effectively undertake any form of business innovation,” she said.

“Businesses are finally understanding the importance of project management and at Aston we have a wide range of project management research and expertise available.”

The centre offers a novel opportunity for project managers to ‘swap’ with project managers in other organisations. The Centre will offer free seminar programmes to help project managers understand the range of research available to them, and to help researchers tailor their research to practitioners’ needs.

The first few companies to apply will get a free impact assessment to show how implementing best practice solutions would work in their organisation.

There is also the potential for further funding if it proves a successful scheme in its first year.

David Turner, from West Bromwich Building Society, said the scheme would be perfect for bringing together different industries.

“Some larger companies have their own centres for excellence, but where there are fewer project managers in an organisation, this new centre is ideal,” he said.

Outsourcing - Everything you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask!

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This year Imagineering is mounting it's own Fair at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry over the last weekend in November.

The stadium hosts the Sky-Blues Premier football team and is a stones throw away from M6 J3, with free parking.

Our aim is to attract as many young people to enjoy the hands-on interactive engineering activities from over 30 companies. Bring along your offspring, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, mums and dads so that you can all enjoy the fun. Please click here for further details or visit the Imagineering general website at http://www.imagineeringweb.co.uk/index.shtml.

Help us to beat their record attendance of over 20,000 young people.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:36:00 GMT

CASH IS KING!

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The London & Southern Branch are hosting this talk in Brighton that will provide participants with a better understanding of the role of cash flow and cash generation in a business. For further information, click here.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR IOM MEMBERS

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

An important message has been posted in the Members Only area of the website.

If you have not yet logged onto the site, please do so as soon as possible, so that you can access this information.

Members who have paid their subscriptions for 2007, have been sent details of their user name and password. If you have not received your logon details, please email: quals@iomnet.org.uk

MORE BUSINESSES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR LOOK TO THE INTERNET TO RECRUIT

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Jobcentre Plus employer survey confirms sustained buoyancy in recruitment market

As the number of employers looking to recruit increases, more and more are turning to the Internet to advertise jobs according to a new report from Jobcentre Plus.

The annual survey of over 4,500 employers indicates that around one in ten British businesses operating in the manufacturing sector were on the look out to hire new staff last year, 12% of whom used the Internet as a channel to advertise vacancies. The proportion of overall vacancies now being advertised through the Internet has increased to 16% from 12% in 2004, with one in every eight employers surveyed confirming they had used Internet websites to advertise a vacancy in the last 12 months.

This online trend is also being reflected by jobseekers themselves. In a single week in June, the Jobcentre Plus website experienced a record 6.6 million job searches conducted by nearly 2.2 million online jobseekers.

Caroline Flint, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, said:
“Employment in the UK continues to show sustained growth. However, if we are to meet our aim of achieving 80% employment we need to work harder still to support more people back into work. Yesterday we published a green paper on In Work, Better Off which sets out the steps to achieving full employment. That included our commitment to new Local Employment Partnerships through which major employers across all key sectors have pledged to create 250,000 jobs to support some of the hardest to help into work.

Overall, the results of the survey show that the UK recruitment market continues to maintain momentum. Last year 11% of vacancies in the manufacturing sector were successfully filled. Across the UK, small and medium-sized organisations (10-249 employees) were the most proactive recruiters, accounting for almost two thirds of successfully filled vacancies. They were closely followed by larger establishments in particular the businesses employing over 250 people.

Regionally, the South East and London maintained the trend for accounting for the highest proportion of filled vacancies and were also the regions most likely to refer to Internet or web-based recruitment.

Lesley Strathie, Chief Executive, Jobcentre Plus said: “This survey demonstrates the continued strength and development of the UK recruitment market. It is encouraging to see employers using services such as our website and the Employer Direct Online service, which gives employers complete control of the recruitment process from advertising to appointment. That is growing at a rapid pace and we expect that trend to continue. Alongside that the new Local Employment Partnerships give us a framework for close work with employers committed to recruiting a more diverse work force including lone parents and others who have been out of the jobs market”

To advertise a job vacancy online with the IOM please see details here.

AUTUMN COURSES - BOOK NOW

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

IOM offer a wide selection of courses - Discounts available for multiple bookings

Courses available in September include...

Demand Planning & Management
5-6 September 2007

Managing the Client Relationship
7 September 2007

Master Planning
11-13 September 2007

Material & Capacity Requirments Planning
18-20 September 2007

Changeover Time Reduction
21 September 2007

Supply Chain & Inventory Management
25-27 September 2007

QRM - Lead Time Reduction
28 September 2007

For further details and to book click here

SME MANUFACTURERS REMAIN BOUYANT IN QUARTER TWO

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

SME manufacturers had a particularly buoyant quarter with business activity at its sharpest in the series history, according to the PKF SME Index, a survey of 1,000 SMEs operating in the manufacturing, construction and service sectors.

Business activity for SME manufacturers jumped from 56.2 in Q1 to 58.2 in Q2 (marks above 50 indicate expansion and below 50 indicate contraction). New business / orders also increased considerably and the figure was the strongest seen for seven-and-a-half years – the figure in Q2 was 56.2, in Q1 it was 54.5. Survey respondents put the growth down to an upturn in demand, only some of which is seasonal.

The strong new order growth meant a solid expansion in the manufacturing workforce in Q2 – the figure was 52.0.

Input price inflation continued to creep up in the quarter. The figure was 63.7, up on the last quarter's figure of 62.2. In line with this increase, prices at the factory gate were also on the rise again – although a smaller rise than the previous quarter – as manufacturers attempt to pass on their costs to consumers.

PKF partner for growing business, Stuart Barnsdall, commenting on this quarter's survey results said: "SME manufacturers have had a very strong quarter and should be commended on the increases in business activity and new orders that have been achieved.

"The rising costs to both manufacturers – as a result of hikes in the prices of raw materials – and then on to the consumer are slightly worrying in the present economic climate, but with the interest rate still on the increase, it would be expected that these will be tamed in the coming months."

SUMMARY OF DATA FOR SME MANUFACTURERS

	2007 Quarter 2	2007 Quarter 1	2006 Quarter 4	2006 Quarter 3
Output	58.2	56.2	55.4	55.2
New Orders	56.2	54.5	55.3	54.5
Employment	52.0	52.5	52.5	52.0
Input Costs	63.7	62.2	62.8	69.0
Output Prices	57.3	57.9	55.4	55.0

2005 2006Q3 2006Q4 2006Q1 2007

All companies                       50.1       52.6            51.3            57.3         50.9
Services                               54.8       55.4           53.0             52.1        63.0
Manufacturing                   52.3       55.0          53.0             65.6       52.8
Distribution                           44.6       52.4           53.8             59.3        36.2
Construction                         52.1       37.7           40.7             37.7         57.6

MORE EFFICIENT, LOW CARBON AND SECURE ENERGY

Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Darling publishes Energy White Paper

Greater energy efficiency and a secure, low carbon energy mix for the long-term are at the centre of the Energy White Paper published by Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling today (23 May 2007).

In a statement to the House of Commons, Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling said:

"We face two big challenges - climate change and maintaining stable and affordable energy supply in an increasingly unstable world. The Energy White Paper sets out a long term framework for action to address these challenges at home and abroad.

"The UK is also becoming increasingly dependent on imported oil and gas at a time when global demand is accelerating. We will ensure that we make the most of our substantial remaining reserves in the North Sea, have a diverse range of sources for our imports and make further progress opening up markets in Europe and more widely.

"With a third of our current electricity generation capacity due to close in the next 20 years there is also a pressing need for investment in new low carbon sources. We will work to ensure there is a market price for carbon into the long term by strengthening the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
We will triple the amount of electricity we get from renewables by 2015. We want to lead in the development of carbon capture and storage. And we will consult on the significant role that new nuclear power stations could play in cutting emissions and diversifying our supply.

"With the measures we are proposing across government on energy and the wider environment we can cut emissions by between 23-33 million tonnes of carbon by 2020 - the equivalent of removing all the emissions that we get from every car, van and lorry on Britain's roads today.

"Every action set in train by this White Paper is important, and none will be easy. Nor can we become a low carbon economy in a single step. But if each of us acts we can start to deliver the low-carbon economy vital to our prosperity."

For the full article please click here.

10 Complimentary places available for members of the Institute of Operations Management to attend the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange

With an ever increasing number of organisations realising their potential to reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency, the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange gives delegates the opportunity to attend a range of discussion groups and case studies focused on how organisations have already reduced their environmental impact.

To receive one of 10 complimentary places to attend the event, which will take place on June 14th at the Olympia 2 Conference Centre in London, please contact Dominic Matthews, the organiser, at dom@carbon-innovation.com or on +44 (0) 1883 344 799 ensuring that you make reference to the Institute of Operations Management.

Full details of the Low Carbon Innovation Exchange can be found here.

THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR EVENT

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

THE CHALLENGE OF CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR CONFERENCE

Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BOOK NOW!

The Challenge of Change in the Public Sector will explore the differences and similarities between private and public sector organisations in terms of change and the search for productivity and effectiveness. It will consider the impact of factors such as the strongly vocational motivation of many staff within the public sector and the pride of service to the community. It will also examine what tools and techniques can be translated from one sector to the other.

The event will start with presentations by Steve Egan, Deputy Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Mike Seitz, Commercial Director General at the Department of Health, who will set out the political and regulatory framework in which public sector organisations have to operate.

This will be followed by number of excellent case studies describing successful projects in NHS Trusts, Universities, the Prison Service, HM Revenue and Customs and other public sector institutions large and small, which will illustrate the practical issues and opportunities.

The open forum at the end of the day will provide an opportunity for speakers and delegates to draw together common themes and learning points, identifying where the challenges set out can and have been met and where issues still remain.

For further information and to book click here.

REGIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND VISITS

Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BRANCH!

South West Branch
COST REDUCTION THROUGH SUPPLY CHAIN OPTIMISATION
Thursday 14 June 2007, Bristol

Professor Hendrik Vanmaele, who is internationally recognised for his in-depth knowledge and expertise in supply chain management, will demonstrate how the supply chain can be made a critical source of advantage in today's globalised environment..........
More info and to register click here

Midlands Branch
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT IN BUSINESS SYSTEMS
Tuesday 19 June 2007, Coventry

If you are involved in the delivery of inventory improvements or responsible for the planning thorugh MRP, then there are valuable tricks and tips to be gained from attending this event.....
More info and to register click here

London & Southern Branch
VISIT TO LINDE MATERIAL HANDLING (UK) LTD
Wednesday 20 June 2007, Basingstoke

The Linde Basingstoke site has been producing innovative materials handling equipment for over 50 years and pioneered the development of mechanised logistics at a time when the concept was virtually unknown in the UK......
More info and to register click here

JUNE COURSES - BOOK NOW

Wed, 23 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Invest in the future of your Business, Invest in training!!

Bookings are being taken for the following courses:

Total Quality Management (TQM)
12-14 June 2007

This course defines quality and explains how to use well established models and how to deliver and sustain improvements in quality....
Click here for more info and to book

Costing & Financial Basics for Operations Managers
19 - 20 June 2007

Do you come away from Cost Meetings, confident that the management accounts have presented the correct picture?.....
Click here for more info and to book

Getting the best from Customer Supplier Partnerships
21 June 2007

In todays world, good customer-supplier relations are no longer a luxury. They are a necessity.....
This programme aims to show how customer or supplier can initiate a programme to form and develop win-win partnerships by working together for mutal benefits..
Click here for more info and to book

IT for Supply Chain Optimisation
26-27 June 2007

IT Solutions can support your business with Supply Chain Management, but would you know which solution to choose and how to effectively use the package suited to your specific business requirements?........
Click her for more info and to book

VISIT TO NORBAR TORQUE TOOLS, BANBURY

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Norbar Torque Tools is a third generation family owned business operating in a niche market. The company designs and manufactures precision torque measurement devices in its Banbury plant for a wide range of industrial users worldwide.

Having spent 10 years on lean improvements, the company has achieved much, but believes it can still achieve much more. Participants will witness examples of both step and continuous change, and will have the opportunity to discuss the companies successes and failures.

for more details click here

IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A CHANGE INITIATIVE, THIS WORKSHOP WILL IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS

Tue, 15 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Lean and Continuous Improvement Workshop, 15 May 2007

Over 45% of organisations will start a business or continuous programme over the next 12 months. Of these companies, over 75% will be unhappy with the progress they make. This interactive workshop starts by reviewing the principles of change and provides an overview of the main change philosophies that exist today (Kaizen, Lean and Six Sigma) allowing participants to discuss how or why organisations choose any one, or a combination of them...........

for more details click here

IMPROVE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN IN THE LAST 50 METRES BY ATTENDING THIS WORKSHOP

Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Applying Lean Principles to Reduce Supply Chain Costs in "The Last 50 Metres"

This workshop will demonstrate how to improve supply chain performance, reduce supply chain costs and working capital whilst improving on shelf availability. It will give attendees clear examples of how their own supply chains can be improved........

for more details click here

BOOK NOW FOR COURSES IN MAY

Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

LEAN PRINCIPLES
1- 2 May 2007

This two day course considers the lean business principles developed and implemented by Toyota, to provide an understanding of the fundamentals affecting product flow.....click here

EFFECTIVE STORES MANAGEMENT
9-10 May 2007

The warehouse or stores is a vital function in most industrial organisations. Frequently, however, the benefits available to the business from effective control of the operation are either overlooked or under exploited. This course is dedicated to exploring the opportunities for gain that are achievable by improving managment and control.....click here

REMOVE AND AVOID EXCESS & OBSOLETE INVENTORY
15 May 2007

Excess and obsolete inventory is a constant problem for many companies' balance sheets. There are two ways to deal with the problem, both of which are addressed in this course: first, removing excess and obsolete inventory at minimal write off cost; and second avoiding the recurrence of the problem..... click here

VALUE STREAM MAPPING
16 May 2007

Value Stream Mapping has become an accepted first step to making effective changes towards Lean Manufacturing and can help identify and coordinate the most appropriate steps, leading to short and medium term clarification of where the operation is going and how to get there.....click here

OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
17 May 2007

This course explains how operations performance can be improved through measurement. It is primarily aimed at first line and middle managers who are responsible for running day-to-day business operations.....click here

Visit to Siemens Medical Solutions - East Anglia Branch Event

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

East Anglia Branch

in association with MAS East

Visit to
Siemens Medical Solutions
Diagnostics Manufacturing Ltd

Tuesday 24th April 2007, 6.00 - 8.30pm

Sudbury, Suffolk

The East Anglia Branch is pleased to offer members this opportunity to have a look
around Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostic Manufacturing Limited operations and
to learn what the company is doing to support continuous improvement…… ..

The company use Six Sigma methodology to provide the business with the tools
to improve the capability of their processes and have introduced Lean to ensure
the company get the right things, to the right place, at the right time, in the
right quantity while minimizing waste and being flexible and open to change.

NOT YET BOOKED? WE STILL HAVE AVAILABILITY

For more information, click here.

Review of TOC and Lean within Manufacturing - Midlands Branch Event

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Lean are two very powerful
tools in their own right together they are exceptional.
Yet many people still use one or the other without recognising what they are missing ………

Based on recent case studies both in the UK and in the USA, the presentation will highlight just how TOC and Lean can combine and deliver to the bottom-line. These will include MRO type operations from the US Department of Defense, to MTO/MTS environments and to the whole subject of supply chain management and international logistics.

Delegates will gain a new, and perhaps clearer, understanding of where the TOC fits within any manufacturing organisation. They will discover how the TOC has developed over the past 20 years and see how one aspect of TOC is leading the way in India and China, creating a new powerhouse for manufacturing excellence.

WE STILL HAVE PLACES AVAILABLE FOR THIS
INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION

NOT YET BOOKED? SIMPLY COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM

AND RETURN IT TO:

The Institute of Operations Of Operations Management
Events@iomnet.org.uk or Fax: 02476 692305

DON'T MISS THIS WORKSHOP ON INVENTORY MANAGEMENT!

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Inventory Management can make or break many businesses, who have to improve customer services whilst reducing inventory and supply chain costs. But organisations cannot be effective if they do not have access to the latest inventory management tools and techniques.

There are still places available on this workshop on 25th April 2007, which will review and discuss the best practice in this area. At only £50.00 for IOM members or £95.00 for non-members, can you afford to miss it?

For more information click here.

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This is a test

New IOM website launching soon

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

The new IOM website is being developed and will be launching very soon. Members can register, change their profile, buy products and pay securely online using their credit card.