UK manufacturers urged to seek improvement in performance

Companies in the UK process industry sectors could and should invest in their staff and their use of performance improvement tools and techniques in order to release the full potential of the businesses and the people in them, Mark Lewis, chief executive of the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence (PICME) told the Chemical Industries Association Business Outlook conference.

He noted that many UK process manufacturers have some way to go to bring their operations to world class levels. 'It remains the case that on average productivity improvements of 20-30% are available. This can give additional production or reduce waste and cost,' he said. 'The key to unlocking this potential does not necessarily involve fresh cash or capital equipment. It lies in learning how to work more effectively and to use established continuous improvement tools.'

Many process-based companies hold a belief that operational and manufacturing improvement skills and techniques are not able to improve performance fast enough to be justified, given the financial pressures for short-term returns, according to PICME. However, the organisation believes that this is a mistaken view, particularly with increasing supply chain pressures, and must be challenged if the UK sector is to have a sustainable future with increasing regulatory and commercial pressures.

'We believe that sustained improvement in operating fitness is available to all companies within the UK process sector,' said Lewis. Since its launch in March 2001 by the DTI and the leading sector trade associations PICME has succeeded in saving substantial sums for every client it has worked with. These currently total more than £70m in immediate and longer term benefits .