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[May 2005]
CERAM Gives Business Boost to West Midlands
Through its ongoing association with the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands (MAS-WM), CERAM, the internationally renowned centre for materials and technology, has now assisted over 160 Small – Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in improving efficiency and profitability, ensuring that the West Midlands region continues to thrive as a national business centre.
MAS West Midlands is a government funded scheme set up to facilitate practical help and advice to SMEs in the region through a network of qualified associate providers, enabling SMEs to remain competitive in today’s aggressive and diverse market place.
Since teaming up with MAS West Midlands back in 2002, CERAM has become one of the organisation’s main delivery partners and has helped companies spanning a broad range of industries, from traditional ceramic whitewares and advanced ceramics, to animal feeds processing and hand-built sports cars.
Stoke based Moorland Pottery is just one of the SMEs to have benefited from CERAM’s expertise.
Renowned for its constant delivery of creative earthenware, Moorland Pottery had identified a niche in the market for producing a range of products utilising coloured engobes. Initial trials proved unsuccessful but with the help of funding from MAS-WM and access to CERAM’s advisors, a project was undertaken to develop suitable materials and processes in order to achieve the firm’s objectives.
With CERAM’s assistance, Moorland was able to overcome initial chipping resistance issues to produce a new high performance range of coloured earthenware products, and subsequently increase its annual turnover.
Myles Engineering Ltd, a Stoke based automotive component manufacturer, has also received assistance from MAS-WM and CERAM.
As a Tier 1 supplier to Bentley Motor Cars, Myles had to ensure that their manufacturing capacity was maximised, a goal that was hindered by problems such as inaccurate stock control and rapid growth outstripping chain management.
CERAM Consulting Group was called in to carry out a full process and layout review.
Following a thorough consultation and examination of working practices, Myles Engineering was able to implement a number of beneficial systems resulting in computer recorded and controlled stock levels and greater production efficiency.
Another company in the automotive sector that is currently benefiting from the MAS-WM programme and CERAM’s specific involvement is Topfleet.
Topfleet, a successful manufacturer of refrigerated containers for lorries, was struggling to remain competitive with Eastern European firms offering cheaper production rates. A change of direction was required for the company and with interest growing in using structurally insulated panels (SIPs) for the housing market, directors at Topfleet decided that this was the ideal solution.
Re-branding was the first step taken as Topfleet became known as Future Home Builders. However, the firm still has a long way to go in achieving its goal of manufacturing for the housing market and working closely with leading associations and government departments.
CERAM, working in association with MAS-WM, will work closely with Future Home Builders in advising on the transition process and will also make its substantial testing facilities available to the firm to ensure Future Home Builders’ products fully meet the required building standards.
ENDS