December 2007
Manufacturing Advisory Service

There can be no doubt that global competition is becoming increasingly intense.  Achieving a prosperous international business and, importantly, making it sustainable in the face of such competition is a challenge being faced by many businesses across our region.

 

The emergence of global economic powerhouses like China and India creates greater competition, yet offers real opportunities for manufacturers in the South East to become more innovative and competitive themselves.

Helping manufacturers to understand the benefits of new international markets, utilising resources in a way that is focused on long-term business growth and efficiency, and delivered in an environmentally-efficient manner, are part of the MAS South East ethos.

 

When offshoring goes wrong it can be more than just a financial headache. Our expertise is in guiding people through the complexities of offshoring and assisting with bringing business back to the UK where necessary. Isle of

Wight-based FloControl Ltd are manufacturers of a revolutionary  invention – the world’s only push button watering can. When they began to experience issues with poor quality and delivery from their Polish suppliers, as well as technical issues to do with the performance of the materials they’d selected, they knew it was time to look at sourcing local alternatives.

 

Dawn Bone (owner of Flow Control (GB) Ltd) contacted MAS South East to help bring back production to the UK, and more importantly to the South East region. We helped to source supplier companies specialising in various unique

components, along with a suitable assembly company. We also put Flow Control in contact with Royal British Legion Industries for help with assembly, and helped them to identify contacts and information to ensure they were

making the correct material selection for their product. Dawn Bone said: “With the help of Lee Candy from MAS  South East we have been put in contact with the RBLI and are working closely with Frank Myers and David Church.

 

We are now doing all manufacturing and assembly work in the region using a performance-suitable material for the industries that are currently using the NuCan, including the marine and automotive industries. We’re also delighted to have achieved a shortened assembly time.” Our ‘Offshore? Be Sure’ programme helps manufacturers identify the threats and opportunities of offshoring and ensures that the decisions taken are tactically and strategically sound. A MAS specialist will deliver the programme, supported by a decision-making toolkit to help guide companies through the complex offshoring environment. Offshoring can threaten the survival of manufacturers by taking vital business out of the region, but can also be an issue when a company must look offshore in order to remain competitive and survive. We can help with advice on offshoring as part of a portfolio of solutions to support the sustained growth of businesses in the region.

 

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