Over 2000 students from across the West Midlands are set to receive an interactive insight into lean manufacturing, ‘six sigma’ and ‘kaizan’ thanks to the continued roll-out of Inside Manufacturing Enterprise (IME).
The educational visit programme, which offers a unique opportunity to see best practice manufacturing by touring some of the best factories in the world, has reinforced its commitment to getting young people into industry by launching its next year of activity at Yamazaki Mazak UK in Worcester.
Co-ordinated by Coventry University Enterprises on behalf of the Manufacturing Advisory Service – West Midlands, the initiative is a fantastic way for pupils, tutors and teachers to see how companies operate in the 21st century, the skills involved and the career opportunities available to them.
Michelle Connors, IME Project Assistant, picked up the story:
“We are currently seeing a major skills shortage in manufacturing, so there is a genuine need to showcase the sector as a viable and potential source of employment.
“Since launching in 2003, we have helped over 2000 students and teachers and enlisted support of more than 40 companies, including the likes of JCB, Jaguar, The Cheese Company, Caterpillar and Ricoh.”
She continued: “It is fantastic that we can celebrate our fifth birthday with the news that Advantage West Midlands are continuing to fund the project and that, importantly, we are going to stage 180 unique visits, involving 100 schools and over 2000 budding engineers over the next three years.”
The latest event at Yamazaki Mazak was used to highlight the importance of the Inside Manufacturing Enterprise programme and featured addresses from the host company and David Wright, Chief Executive of the Manufacturing Advisory Service-West Midlands.
Six schools, including Cockshut Hill College in Yardley, also shared the knowledge and experiences they have gained from taking part in the initiative.
Michelle continued: “We have been working with Yamazaki Mazak for five years and it is a great supporter of developing young talent.
“Its factory, the first Japanese machine building facility to be built in Europe, is currently the most advanced of its type and provides machine tools and sophisticated manufacturing systems to customers in more than 30 countries. A prefect venue to kick-start the next year of activity!”
Inside Manufacturing Enterprise provides an excellent resource for students and staff involved in manufacturing, engineering, design and technology courses, not to mention directly supporting the new Specialist Diplomas due to be implemented in September this year.
All of the companies taking part are leaders in their field and the visits are structured in line with the curriculum, with students able to experience work related learning, knowledge of production methods, first hand insight into latest engineering processes and information on careers and pathways.
Manufacturing specialists also provide teaching input in the lead-up and during every tour, which is already proving invaluable.
MAS-WM’s David Wright added his support: “The existing workforce is getting older and we have to do everything we can to put manufacturing on the educational radar and encourage young people to consider it as a career.”
He concluded: “Changing perceptions and creating a more positive image of industry is essential and there is no better way of doing this than by taking pupils into world class factories and letting them judge for themselves what the sector is like.”
