Looking to reducing lost time to almost zero in just four weeks, or improve productivity by 23%?
These are just some of the improvements already implemented by Jack Barber, Production Manager at West Midlands-based Heat Treatment 2000.
Jack was one of the first delegates to complete our Manufacturing Efficiency Skills Bootcamp, which is delivered in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority.
HT2000 offers heat treatment of fasteners, forgings, pressing and aluminium castings in automotive, construction, medical and energy industries. Running at 400 tons a week on ferrous metals and 100-150 tons on non-ferrous metals means efficiency is a key part of business effectiveness. As a supervisor of the day-to-day operations of the plant, Jack had started to investigate LEAN and Six Sigma to see if he could help take the business to the next level of efficiency. Our Bootcamp helped him to take those crucial next steps and to understand how to effectively apply these principles to maximise value.
Why did you choose to attend the Bootcamp?
I wanted to expand my knowledge on continuous improvement and I’m really keen to make positive improvements at my company. For me, it was all about understanding how to put LEAN principles into a real-life working environment.
How have you found the balance between study and your role in the business?
I knew investing this time was beneficial to me and the company, so I wanted to make sure I got the most out of it. Our trainer, Andrew, was very understanding if I was running a day or two behind with all of the commitments I have in my home and professional life. I found it really helpful to squeeze in an hour in the morning before the office gets busy.
How do the skills you’ve learnt fit into your day-to-day role?
As a production manager, I strive to make our processes as effective and efficient as possible. The slightest improvement can have a major effect on any business, whether it be morale, improvement in output, or even customer service. We’ve seen major benefits in our processes since implementing some of the techniques so far, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how I can put even more of the LEAN principles into practice.
What were your favourite parts of the course?
Meeting the other delegates and the trainers in person. When we spent the week together, we were able to understand different points of view and discuss how each of us would approach the same task. The trainers had real life experience in using the LEAN principles, which helped me understand how to implement it and the challenges or obstacles I could face. I’d been researching LEAN in my own time before the course, but I found being on the actual course with the hands-on approach was far more beneficial.
Have you noticed any benefits so far?
At HT2000, we’ve noticed huge benefits to my learning on the Bootcamp, one being the way we record lost time, which has enabled us to put changes in place to go from 13% to 0.2% in four weeks on one line! This was done by putting the LEAN principles into practice and working with the management team to help overcome the issues we faced. I also managed to improve productivity in one area by 23% in three weeks.
Did this course fit into any progression plans within your career (if you have any)?
Yes, it has most definitely given me knowledge on how to lead projects with confidence, and I see this as progressing into the next stage of management and leadership.
What did you think about your trainer?
The trainers were fantastic. They were knowledgeable, friendly and very understanding. I felt comfortable enough to bring up anything I was unsure about and able to bounce ideas off them whilst on the course and even out of the course hours.
What did you think about your time at MTC Training?
MTC Training has really put some thought and detail into the Bootcamp. I could tell they’ve taken the principles and made it relevant and suitable for any business in any sector to understand and utilise for their own benefit. It was also really helpful that there wasn’t an overload of information and it wasn’t over complicated, so it was very easy to understand and take in.
Would you recommend this Bootcamp?
Yes, I would definitely recommend the Bootcamp. It’s worth investing the time, especially if you are in a supervisor or manager role and want to keep making positive changes in your working environment. It can be quite daunting going back into a classroom environment, but this has pushed me to look to do more courses with the MTC to continue my upskilling journey.
MTC Training launches new, free, online Digital Construction course
MTC Training recently launched its new, free online training course ‘Design for Manufacture & Assembly (DfMA) for Construction’ to help businesses introduce manufacturing principles into the construction industry.
Advances in Smart Construction and the requirements of the DfMA have placed a greater emphasis on the use of technology. To avoid industry being left unaware of this, leading industrial experts at the MTC have developed a course to help construction businesses understand the benefits, challenges, tools and techniques available in the very latest construction manufacturing processes.
Aimed at key business decision makers tasked with introducing DfMA into their businesses, the new, free, online training course will help participants understand the core concepts, appreciate design consideration for DfMA, and recognise its benefits and challenges, and how such challenges can be overcome for a successful adoption.
On the new course at the MTC and why businesses should be looking to implement DfMA, Ian Buckingham, Construction Skills Manager, said: “This new course is ideal for those organisations, large and small, looking to introduce DfMA for the first time. They will complete the course having learnt from our experts on why being able to improve competitiveness through modern methods of construction has never been more important and fundamentally reassessing how they do business.”
To find out more or book onto the course, visit https://the-amtc.co.uk/training/engineer-training/digital-construction/ or contact the team on 02476 701774.
An update from… Martin Dury, Head of Future Skills
2018 was an exciting year for MTC Training. The addition of more courses to our portfolio created an inevitable increase in engagement with our training, as the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies continues.
We welcomed delegates from across the UK and Europe, from areas including business, academia, aerospace and military research, and engagement with our courses looks set to continue to grow.
This success is a testament to our committed team who create highly engaging and educational courses which are not only relevant to the emerging skills requirements of today, but are also constantly evolving to meet the needs of the future.
In 2019 we are continuing to work with an increasing number of clients who understand that the return on their investment in new technologies can only be maximised by ensuring that their staff have the necessary skills to fully exploit these new technologies.
These include organisations of all sizes and sectors, and an increasing cross-section of staff, including those who need technical skills, and also those who simply need a broader understanding of the technology their business is adopting.
Throughout the next year we will continue to increase our training course offering, adding additive manufacturing curricula, providing end-to-end qualification paths for upskilling engineers in this rapidly growing technology. These new courses are being created in response to identified skills needs through our competency framework approach.
We are also currently working with the CPD Certification Service to accredit both our existing and future courses. This will allow delegates to not only receive a certificate from MTC Training, but also a certificate which allows them to count their attendance towards a programme of continuous professional development, which to many is a valuable demonstration of commitment to furthering their skills, and often valuable in the renewal of professional memberships.
Lloyds Bank pledges £5 million extra funding for AMTC
Lloyds Bank will invest a further £5 million to fund its sponsorship of the industry leading Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC). The funding doubles the bank’s original commitment, bringing the total funding to £10 million over 10 years.
The extra funding will support around 3,500 apprentices, graduates and engineers by 2024, providing them with the right skills to be at the forefront of manufacturing in the future.
The funds will contribute to a 350% increase in the original target for training apprentices and support the AMTC’s commitment to addressing the skills shortage – one of the biggest challenges facing the manufacturing sector.
Established in 2015, the Lloyds Bank Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre is a state-of-the-art training centre designed to create a new generation of engineers and technicians, equipped with the advanced manufacturing skills of the future.
Lloyds Bank has been actively working with the MTC to promote the manufacturing sector and highlight the range of skills required. In addition, the bank actively supports clients in their drive to diversify their workforce to address the skills gap as part of its ‘Helping Britain Prosper Plan’.
Business Secretary Greg Clark welcomed the announcement: “The development of skills and apprenticeships, particularly in engineering, is crucial to the success of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
This training centre, with its focus on technical education in advanced manufacturing technologies, from apprenticeships through to technician and engineering up-skilling, helps manufacturers gain a competitive advantage, improve productivity and ensure high skilled well-paying jobs.”
On Lloyds Bank’s commitment to manufacturing and its ongoing support of the AMTC, MTC Chief Executive, Dr Clive Hickman commented: “The training centre is developing vital skills which are seeding industry in the region and far beyond, bringing on the next generation of manufacturing engineers and technicians. During their time at the AMTC they work on real projects and gain invaluable skills needed by UK manufacturing industry.
“Since the AMTC was established, hundreds of apprentices and engineers have been trained and up-skilled, and are now working in the aerospace, automotive, defence, medical and process industries, filling vital roles.”
Antonio Horta-Osorio, Chief Executive of Lloyds Banking Group said: “Our extended sponsorship will see industry benefit from three and a half thousand apprentices, graduates and engineers being trained and developing new skills. This will help address the biggest challenge that manufacturers consistently tell us about – the shortage of skills.
“The apprentices and skilled engineers who emerge from these world class training facilities play a central role in helping to drive up the productivity of the nation. They will be part of broader efforts to rebalance our economy – a more dynamic, open economy that is backed up by long term investment in infrastructure, skills, science and the latest technology.”