08/05/2009 by Andrew Nicholson.

We’re pleased to advise that MAS YH are now offering 75% support to all manufacturers in Yorkshire & Humber for all new projects effective from 6 May.  This opportunity means that when you undertake an improvement project, for every £1.00 you commit, the government will commit £3.00.

As an approved MAS specialist, we have worked with many manufacturers in Yorkshire and the Humber on many varied projects:

• process improvement, both back office and on the production line
• developing employees’ skills in leadership, team working; performance management
• engaging the workforce in improvement activities
• training the workforce in lean techniques
• improving the factory layout
• restructuring
• relocation
• software systems
• management systems (ISO9001, ISO14001)
• developing a medium or long-term strategy

Typically, the companies we’ve worked with have benefited from:

• reduced lead times
• increased turnover
• increased productivity
• increased space utilisation
• improved leadership skills at all levels
• overall savings typically range from £25,000 to £500,000

There is no better time to go ahead with your MAS project than NOW.  Visit our website for more information on Lean Manufacturing and for our contact details.

Posted in Credit Crunch, Lean, General | Print | 1 Comment »

21/04/2009 by Andrew Nicholson.

RMS is looking to appoint a dynamic and talented individual as Production Engineer. RMS designs and manufactures specialist electrical connectors for use with Electrical Submersible Pumps used throughout the global oil industry.  The company is a subsidiary of James Fisher Group Plc.

The role is a largely hands-on position, reporting to the Production Manager.  The candidate must have skills/experience in mechanical design as well as knowledge of (or the ability to learn to use) CAD packages and it’s desirable to have good communication skills and good practical experience/knowledge.  It’s preferable for the candidate to hold an Honours degree in mechanical, production or similar engineering discipline.

THIS VACANCY HAS NOW BEEN FILLED

Posted in Job Opportunities, General | Print | 1 Comment »

08/04/2009 by Andrew Nicholson.

We’re on the road again … to take part in “Ask the Expert”, a Business Surgery organised by the South Durham Business Network for organisations in South Durham.  The surgery is taking place on Tuesday, 28 April with representatives from a range of professional services from Accounting to Sales.  We’ll be offering advice on improvement activities you can implement in your business - simple, cost-effective techniques which you can take back to your organisation and put in place fairly easily, and will offer you quick results.  Sounds too good to be true … why not come along and have a chat with us?

The Business Surgery is being held at Spennymoor Town Hall, with sessions commencing at 3.00pm.  There’s more information on our website, www.nicholsonconsultancy.com.

Posted in Events | Print | 1 Comment »

05/03/2009 by Andrew Nicholson.

Thank you to everyone who attended our seminar at the North East Regional Business Fair and to those who came to visit our stand.

The seminar was well-attended with over 50 individuals, from both service and manufacturing sectors, interested  in “Improving Business Efficiency”.  Angela’s presentation was well-received, with good interaction during the “Questions and Answers” session.  She touched on the basic concept of “Lean” in the workplace; emphasised the importance of getting your staff on-board from the start of any improvement process; Angela then explained the definition of the Seven Visible Wastes, one of the tools we use to help identify where “waste” is occurring; and then finished with a demonstration of the “Ease and Effect” grid which helps you to plan the order improvements need to be made, once they’ve been identified.

If you’d like to have a copy of the presentation slides, just visit our website and complete the form.  It’s a quick and easy process.

Posted in Events, Lean | Print | 1 Comment »

02/02/2009 by Andrew Nicholson.

Did you know that if you have a manufacturing plant in Yorkshire and Humber you are entitled to up to 2 projects per year of up to 10 days each, subsidised at a rate of 50%.That’s up to 20 days of in-house bespoke consultancy for only £300 per day.  Find out how you can take best advantage of this assistance by visiting www.nicholsonconsultancy.com, which gives examples of what can be achieved in just one day:

• Lean workshop (Factory of the Future)
• Workplace Organisation (5S)
• Value Stream Mapping
• Set-up Reduction

Posted in Lean | Print | 1 Comment »

02/02/2009 by Andrew Nicholson.

The largest business event in the North East of England is taking place on 25th and 26th February Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park.  It’s expected that over 1000 people will attend this event which will host a combination of “Meet the Buyers”, a business exhibition, a support and advice zone and free-to-attend seminars on a range of “hot” topics.  This will be a great opportunity for North East organisations to develop business and make new contacts.

Nicholson Consultancy will be delivering one of the seminars, on Wednesday 25 February at 10.30 am on “Improving Business Efficiency”.  Come along and hear how you can get more from your exisiting resources using the Lean approach, which can be used effectively both in the office and in the manufacturing environment.  If this is an area which particularly interests you and you’re unable to attend our seminar, you can come along and visit us at the Exhibition, on Stand 22.  We’ll be there on Thursday 26 February too.  Alternatively you can sign up for our e-zine, “Better Today” at www.nicholsonconsultancy.com/ezine for articles on ways you can improve your business efficiency.

If you’re based in the North East and are a supplier of products and/or services, take a look at the NE Business Fair website, www.nebusinessfair.co.uk for more information.  You can “View the Buyers” who’ll be there, and see if you can provide any goods or services they need.  To sign up as a free visitor visit the NE Business Fair sign-up page.

Posted in Events | Print | 1 Comment »

13/11/2008 by Andrew Nicholson.

For those who want to fight back against the current downturn, you may be interested in this workshop.  If you’d like to learn how Lean thinking can help you make savings, not only in your manufacturing processes, but also in your administrative functions, this is the event for you.  You’ll come away with low-cost practical ideas that will give quick results, helping you to reduce costs through improved processes.  You’ll also receive 10 tips for survival from a financial expert’s viewpoint.  If you want to know more visit the webpage, http://www.nicholsonconsultancy.com/open_workshop.htm.

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07/11/2008 by Andrew Nicholson.

The easiest and most effective way we’ve found to engage people:

In the workplace provide a 30-minute introduction to the basics of Lean:

• Continuous improvement:  Plan-Do-Check-Act
• The 5 Steps to Lean
• Value Added and Non-Value-Added
• The 8 Wastes

Ask people to spend a couple of hours over a week or two to come up with examples of the 8 Wastes in the workplace.  Take digital photos, take videos and post them around the place.

Gather people together in their work groups, share the examples and brainstorm some improvement actions.

Have the group prioritise the ideas using a simple “Ease and Effect” grid.

Convert this into an Action Plan, with tasks, names and dates.

Publish it, implement it, update it, revisit it, review it, do it again …

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04/11/2008 by Andrew Nicholson.



Welcome to Manufacturing Times, our brand-new blog about the world of Manufacturing. We’re aiming to keep you up to date with ways to help you make your company efficient and profitable …

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