Articles
Culture vultures 
Is management communication of a corporate culture and values to its workforce little more than a mantra? The evidence, says Colin Chinery, is both compelling and damning.
March 2010
Best practice vies for insurers attention
Can best practice or Lean behaviour reduce insurance costs when insurance is a global commodity market? In theory, yes it can. In practice, like insurance, it is a subjective science but there is evidence that best practice does make a difference. Will Stirling reports.
February 2010
It's time to share
The modern factory engineer is as likely to be devising a value stream map, or filming a production process to be intranet-cast to a Chinese sister factory, as he is operating a machine tool.
Steve Burgess, continuous improvement project engineer at GKN Wheels, says knowledge-sharing between sites is crucial.
January 2010
The story of the steel wheel
One hundred years ago, GKN Wheels — known then as Joseph Sankey & Sons Ltd or ‘Sankeys’ — patented and produced the first pressed steel wheel. Originally manufactured for use in motor cars, this was a significant engineering breakthrough, made possible by technological advances in the production of high quality steel alloys and rolling systems.
January 2010
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) — Problem solved
At its simplest, OEE measures the availability, performance and quality of a machine or line. With a definition and use that has been subject to longstanding debate, Andy Spooner, business development director at Suiko, canvasses the insights of an OEE champion/user, OEE software provider, and a coach and facilitator.
01 Dec 2009
278 Articles available. [click to view more]
Interviews
Strategy For Success
Having arrived at the Technology Strategy Board last year fresh from Airbus, chief
executive Iain Gray is ideally placed to consider how technology and innovation can take manufacturing forward into a new age. Becky Done talked to him about a strategy that will help to redefine the sector for future generations
January 2009
Raising the bar
From apprentice to Scotland’s 10th richest man and owner and CEO of global group Clyde Blowers, Jim McColl has refined the process of success. Industry needs a new generation of good leaders, he tells Gay Sutton, ones with ambition, hunger, and the ability to think big
May 2008
From Russia with love
British van-maker LDV has gone through the mill, so how is it shaping up for the future? CEO Steve Young tells Gay Sutton about life under Russian ownership
November 2007
Pride of place
British manufacturing must do better at selling itself to a misinformed and sometimes sceptical public, Saint Gobain Glass managing director Alan McLenaghan tells Colin Chinery
October 2007
Knocking bloody doors down
If you thought quango chairmen were all ex bank managers seeing out the twilight of their careers, meet Nick Paul. He loves steam engines, ski-ing and his Morgan sports car, but Ken Hurst discovered something less glamorous that he’s even more passionate about. Manufacturing
May 2003
6 Interviews available. [click to view more]
Business Profiles
In the frame
The Dunraven Window Group has become one of Wales’ most dynamic family-owned businesses. Operations manager Keith Carter talked to Jayne Flannery about the company’s growing market share
01 Jun 2008
The clinical approach
Mike Skelt and Bob Galvin of Olympus KeyMed tell Debbie Giggle how the company is pushing up standards
01 Jun 2008
First flush
CME Sanitary Systems faces an independent future with conviction and confidence, as Robert Pols discovered when he spoke to CEO Brian Watson and
operations director Simon Peck
01 May 2008
Lean transformation
Scott Irwin, site leader of the Southend site of MK Electric, part of the Honeywell Group, talked to Jayne Flannery about creating a robust and sustainable UK manufacturing operation
01 May 2008
Package deal
After 25 years in business, Atlas Packaging is determined to move forward with a business plan based on agility, innovation and customer service, Clive Gamble told Ruari McCallion
01 May 2008
77 Business Profiles available. [click to view more]
