Questions and Answers for the Manufacturing Advisory Service

Manufacturing Advisory Service

• Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence
  
  
• National Network of Centres of Expertise
  
  
• DTI’s Web Site on Manufacturing

1. What does the  Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) do and why aim to set up the MAS in the first place?

The Government believes that a strong manufacturing component of the economy is important and that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) would benefit from the opportunity to access affordable and practical advice related specifically to their needs as manufacturers. In the absence of such advice the Government is concerned that too many will try to make do with old plant, uninspiring technology, and inadequate working practices. The Manufacturing Advisory Service helps to address these needs and provides assistance from experts – on hand and easily available - to enable SME manufacturers to succeed and improve their productivity which generally lags behind that of our major competitors (e.g. Germany, France, US and Japan). It does this  through:-

• Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (RCME) which act as focal points for the delivery of support services to SME manufacturers and are main nodes on a national advice network.
  
  
• A supporting National Network of Centres of Expertise in Manufacturing (CEMs).
  
  
• A dedicated website for manufacturers providing access to all parts of  the MAS with many links to other complementary sources of information and advice.

2. Who is responsible for the MAS?

The MAS has been developed as a partnership between DTI and the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) who have now appointed a Regional Centre for Manufacturing Excellence to deliver the MAS in their respective regions. The MAS also interfaces with the SBS and its network of Business Links.

3. When will the MAS be available ?

All ten RCMEs are now open for business (nine in England and one in Wales) and the National Network is now live.

4. What is the nature of the interface with the SBS?

The MAS complements the activities of the SBS and its Business Links, both backing up the work of the counsellors in Business Links, providing a source of expert assistance to which SBS clients can be referred, and pro-actively contacting clients in consort with the SBS. There is a link between the SBS Call Centre and RCMEs delivering the MAS.

5. How much is the Government spending on setting up the Manufacturing Advisory Service?

RDAs and the WDA are funding the Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (RCME) but their expenditure is being supplemented by a £15M contribution from DTI over the first three years. This includes DTI’s funding of the National Network.

6. What does the Government hope to achieve (in the long term) through having the MAS?

Government aims to increase the competitiveness of UK Manufacturing, and especially SMEs, by the transfer of knowledge, know-how, new technologies, materials, best practice methods and processes and facilitating innovative training, education and skills development. By increasing the competitiveness of our manufacturing base (about 135,000 manufacturing companies) we should make much needed gains in productivity.

7. Will the MAS help my business?

Yes. It should enable your business to receive information, advice and support either for free or at an affordable price.

The core services are:

• Information/signposting
• Analysis of real needs
• Short term practical advice
  Follow-on advice (up to five days of subsidised consultancy by specialist MAS Practitioners/Consultants for smaller firms)
• Access to training
• Access to demonstration and testing facilities
  
  

8. Will the MAS keep up with manufacturing developments?

The MAS has access to best practice technologies, methods and processes for manufacturing.

9. Is the MAS a national or international initiative?

The MAS is essentially an initiative for England and Wales, originating from the Department of Trade and Industry in partnership with the English RDAs and the WDA. The National Network component involves the whole UK

Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence

10. What are Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (RCME)?

RCMEs provide and act as focal points for the delivery of support services to manufacturers and are main nodes on the National Network. RCMEs are helping manufacturers to improve their operations and to make use of the best manufacturing practices and available expertise. They are based on existing institutions and facilities, and are not newly built establishments. RCMEs have credible and experienced experts able to advise companies dealing with enquiries over the telephone or by taking on follow-on projects (a subsidised fee will be charged for the latter service). They may also be geared to help the manufacturing sector through their host organisation’s associated activities, and will be expected to sign-post companies to other sources of help and expertise whenever appropriate.

11. How many RCMEs are there in each region?

There is one RCME per region in England and one in Wales, although in some regions the RCME reflects a consortium approach as is the case for the London RCME.

12. How will I know which RCME to approach?

SMEs entering the service through the Business Links National Information Service or directly by means of the Manufacturing Advisory Service web site, will be advised on this either by the SBS call centre or from their own search of the National Network database. Those approaching the RCME directly by means of the web based relational database will be offered recommendations based on the topic of interest to them and their geographical location. It would make sense to approach the RCME nearest to you or within your region. If the local RCME does not cover your particular area of enquiry, then subject to the RCMEs entering into suitable arrangements with each other, help will be secured from another RCME better placed to help. If it relates to skills and training requirements, you may be sign-posted to other organisations such as national training organisations (NTOs) or DFEE’s proposed Centres of Excellence.

13. How is funding for these centres monitored and who has control?

RDAs have a contract with RCMEs, backed by agreements between the RDAs and central government. The RDAs are accountable for monies spent. A similar arrangement applies to the Welsh Development Agency (WDA).

14. How will the quality of service be sustained?

Monitoring of individual RCME is undertaken in partnership with DTI by the RDAs and the WDA. An agreement is established between DTI each RDA and the WDA in respect of the scope and quality of service which RCMEs will be providing in their respective regions.

National Network of Centres of Expertise

15. What is the National Network and does this cover all of the UK?

To ensure that manufacturers and SMEs have access to the most appropriate sources of expertise in manufacturing, a National Network of Centres of Expertise in Manufacturing (CEMs) has been launched. The networking arrangements assist access to advice and so provide a supporting foundation for the Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (linked to it). The latter are main nodes for the network . The National Network is geared towards being accessible to companies/businesses of all sizes. It covers England, Wales, Scotland and N Ireland.  It has been developed by INBIS the appointed National Network Developer on contract to DTI and is receiving start up and operating support from DTI. The DTI has a contract with engineering consultants INBIS Ltd who, together with their partners TANet and ITM Group, have developed the National Network.  They help to maintain the site.

16. What criteria is being used in determining which establishments could become members of the National Network?

Applicant organisations will need to be:-

• credible,
  
  
• willing to provide objective and expert advice,
  
  
• willing to co-operate with each other; have
  
  
• good communication facilities; and
  
  
• a strong commitment to working with SMEs.

17. Will member organisations of the National Network receive funding from government as a result of their becoming members?

No. There will be no grant from government as a result of becoming a member of the National Network but government support for the networking arrangements, is intended to create a ‘win-win’ market for the members of the network and the companies who seek to take up their advice and services.

DTI’s Web Site on Manufacturing

18. What was the purpose of this first website on manufacturing?

The first DTI web site for manufacturers was designed as a brief and user friendly introduction to DTI’s  MAS. The first DTI manufacturing web site specifically for manufacturing communicates to UK manufacturers and their business advisers, particularly those dealing with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), MAS developments which could eventually help them to achieve a competitive advantage and improve their productivity. The site will continue to evolve over time to contain more general information and links to other DTI activities of interest to manufacturers and to the Small Business Service gateway (BLNIS).  It also links directly to the MAS website - simply click on the MAS logo button on the index page.

The site includes:

- A hyperlink to the White Paper - opportunity for all in a world of change.

- An Explanation about how the MAS benefits from the creation of a National Network which will help all companies to find existing centres of manufacturing expertise throughout the UK, able to offer advice and assistance on problems of interest to them.

- An invitation to centres of manufacturing expertise to register their interest in becoming a member of the National Network.  Eventually, the centres of expertise will be directly accessible to companies, through a web-based database linked to future versions of DTI’s site.

19. Who is INBIS ?

INBIS is one of the largest providers of independent design & engineering services in Europe, specialising in engineering management consultancy, integrated engineering and technical resourcing. It employs some 800 people in offices throughout the UK and Europe. INBIS won an competitive tendering selection process to be appointed as the National Network Developer.

20. How will I access other schemes from the web site?

Links to other sites and schemes do exist. Look under other support for manufacturers for e.g. Faraday Partnerships, Teaching Company Scheme, Trade Partners UK, Biowise, Fit for the Future, LINK and so on.

21. As a Centre of Expertise, how much will it cost to register interest on the web site?

Registering to join the network will be free. The criteria for membership will subsequently be set and monitored. There is likely to be a nominal membership fee for member organisations (to be determined in consultation with prospective members).

22. How do I register the interest of my business/ organisation?

Organisations wishing to register their interest in becoming members of the UK National Network of CEMs should complete and return the proforma found on this DTI web site. This can be returned automatically when in the site. Alternatively, organisations may register via :- mas@inbis.com.

23. What do I receive in return for registering an interest?

Once a proforma has been completed, an acknowledgement letter will be issued explaining what the process involves and what the envisaged timescales will be.

24. What happens to information given by businesses/organisations on the web site? How is the information processed?

The information will be used by the National Network Developer to contact you with information regarding National Network membership.

25. Will personal information provided by businesses/organisations be treated in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998?

Yes. All information will be collected and stored on a central database and will be looked after and used by the network manager to be appointed; who will be required to comply with the Data Protection Act.

26. If information provided is used, for what purpose is it used?

Information will be collected and placed into a database and will be treated as both an application for membership of the National Network and the basis of the information on an applicant organisation for incorporation into the final network database if the request for membership is approved.

27. Will the web site become internationally connected at some stage?

We would like to envisage this for the future. In the first instance we need to fully understand the capability we have in the UK, and manufacturers and SMEs will be most interested in more accessible local sources of advice, but international participation could broaden the scope of expertise available for SMEs as the network develops.

28. Who currently manages this web site?

DTI in consultation with INBIS and the RDAs.

29. Will this DTI web site for manufacturers develop over time?

Yes. The web site serves to publicise this initiative and its developments.  The web site is also the direct link into the National Network (MAS website).

30.  What is DTI's strategy for manufacturing ?

DTI's strategy for manufacturing is based on measures and intended targets for the Manufacturing Advisory Service; and for the next phase of the Industry Forum and Partnership fund work. There are also statements on the outputs from manufacturing-related programmes as appropriate.  Government views manufacturing success as being critical to the prosperity of Britain, both currently and in the future.  A full discussion of the Department's strategy objectives may be found in its recently published document.
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Parliamentary Questions relating to the Manufacturing Advisory Service

To ask the Secretary of state for Trade and Industry, how often during the past year the Manufacturing Advisory Service has (a) given advice to firms about lean manufacturing and (b) acted as a medium between firms implementing lean manufacturing and (i) lean manufacturing experts and (ii) firms that have already had success in this area. (Claire Curtis- Thomas)

The Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (RCMEs) delivering the Manufacturing Advisory Service in each region are coming on stream at present and are the responsibility of the Regional Development Agencies in the regions concerned.  They are not expected to provide information to my Department in the degree of detail requested by the Hon Member. (Alan Johnson)

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures are being taken by the Manufacturing Advisory Service to inform domestic firms about lean manufacturing,  (Claire Curtis-Thomas)

All of the Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence being established to deliver the Manufacturing Advisory Service in their respective regions will be communicating to manufacturers the merits of lean manufacturing.  The associated MAS website (www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing/mas) includes a fact sheet on lean manufacturing.  In addition the service will refer manufacturers to the lean manufacturing experts within the group of Industry Forum Adaptation Projects that the Department supports.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what extra financing has been secured for regional development agencies to create positive job creation in the manufacturing sector.

RDA funding will increase from £1.24bn in 2000-1 to £1.70bn in 2003-4.  Alongside this, the Government has given the RDAs financial flexibility to pursue their regional priorities.  From 1 April this year, the RDAs are getting their funding from Government as a single funding stream which they can use as they judge best in order to meet a set of agreed targets.  Under this general framework there is also a modest component of extra funding specifically designated for manufacturing to match fund RDAs' Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (delivering the Manufacturing Advisory Service) but their role is not specifically one of job creation.  However, one of the underpinning objectives of the single pot is to increase competitiveness and therefore employment, including in the manufacturing sector.  The RDAs are working closely with Government to put in place strategies at the national and regional levels which will encourage the development of a strong and forward-looking manufacturing sector.

DTI
December  2002

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