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.
An introduction to MTC Training from Martin Dury, Learning Design Manager – MTC Training
MTC Training provides learning solutions designed to help develop, enable and inspire your workforce, providing tangible business improvements and a return on investment.
The aim
The Manufacturing Technology Centre aims to play a key role in redressing the skills gap in the High Value Manufacturing sector.
The target audience
Engineers and Technicians
We help Engineers and Technicians stay ahead of the competition by providing training programmes that target both existing and emerging manufacturing technologies and processes. Learning best practice is designed for additive manufacture, industrial robot programming and cyber-security.
Graduates
We work with organisations to create bespoke graduate induction programmes that build upon the University qualification to further develop practical skills and application. Clients pick from a choice of modular subjects to meet their business needs, meaning programmes can range anywhere from between 3 days through to 6 weeks. Popular modules chosen are subjects such as Design Drawing Best Practice, Design for Manufacture and Assembly, Introduction to Machining and Introduction to Electro-Pneumatics.
Leaders and Managers
We provide a range of accredited courses to ensure decision makers are correctly informed and best placed to make decisions on adopting emerging technologies such as automation, robotics and additive manufacture.
Get the most out of your team with our ILM accredited Team Leader Supervisor Standard (Level 3) and Operations / Departmental Manager Standard (Level 5) programmes.
Note: Both of these approved standards are potentially fundable through the Apprentice Levy for employers with a pay bill exceeding £3m per year. If you are not a levy payer then you will only have to pay 10% of the apprenticeship costs assuming the value of training does not exceed the maximum funding cap.
The delivery method
All courses have been designed to incorporate a selection of delivery methods, to ensure we can meet your training needs irrespective of your location and schedule.
Face-to-face
Face-to-face courses are held at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, delivered by our expert engineering team. They maximise on the opportunity for learners to experience practical activities whilst quizzing our experts.
Virtual classroom
Virtual classroom sessions are short structured training sessions and Q&As delivered live and online, using your computer’s video conferencing ability. They maximise on the opportunity to listen to and quiz our experts and industry peers without having to leave the business. There is no requirement to download software, you simply need an internet connection, speakers and an internal microphone (installed in most laptops). A typical PC headset is ideal for this.
eLearning
eLearning modules are short highly interactive training sessions delivered online. They typically cover the same content and learning objectives as the face-to-face training, but are compressed with simulated practical activity.
They maximise on the opportunity to fit the learning around your schedule and business needs as they are self-paced.
Bespoke
This service is aimed at businesses with a large training requirement (such as a strategy to adopt additive manufacturing) and for those that want training solutions tailored to their needs.
How does it work?
Upon contacting the MTC training team, our experts will be in touch to: