Laser systems engineer is off to Japan

A DTI Global Watch Service product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 10, 2001

A young Oxford laser systems engineer is off to Japan in July to learn the latest best practice techniques - helping to ensure that his company stays ahead in its field.

A young Oxford laser systems engineer is off to Japan in July to learn the latest best practice techniques - helping to ensure that his company stays ahead in its field.

David Milne, a 28-year-old senior engineer with Exitech, of Long Hanborough, Oxford, one of the world's leading suppliers of laser-based micro machining systems, is being seconded for a year to Marubun Corporation in Tokyo, a scientific and industrial equipment trading company, with the help of the Department of Trade and Industry's International Technology Service.

David, of Stubble Close, Botley, will be working with Marubun engineers studying current and future photolithography tool requirements in the Japanese semiconductor industry.

"I will have the unique experience of working alongside engineers assigned to a consortium made up of the major Japanese semiconductor businesses", said David.

"As well as opening up new business opportunities we anticipate, through the DTI secondment, that we will learn of the proposed technology developments of the Japanese semiconductor industry for future generations of lithography and the associated tool requirements.

I will be looking at all their best practices in manufacturing in our line of business and the wealth of knowledge I will be able to bring back to our company along with the business contacts I will make will prove invaluable in enabling us to make greater inroads for our products in Japan".

Upon his return David will be given responsibility for the Japanese region for Exitech's range of semiconductor equipment and point the way forward for future products.

Dr Malcolm Gower, chairman and technical director of Exitech, which has a 60-strong staff, estimates that the impact of the DTI secondment on short-term future business could lead to at least doubling the company turnover in Japan within one year - from the current ?3million a year to around ?6million.

He said: "In the short-term this is likely to require at least ten more engineers.

Longer-term, if we successfully capitalise on our present market leadership position, this could rise to as many as 50 engineers servicing a Japanese tool market worth ?20million annually within five years".

The secondment is supported by International Secondments, part of the DTI's International Technology Service.

This service, which supports UK employees from any discipline to any country for periods of three to 12 months, aims to help UK companies improve their performance by benchmarking themselves against overseas companies and adopting leading edge techniques and management practices.

It enables them to learn best practice, improve productivity and develop overseas links with other businesses.

The service provides both financial assistance and practical advice.

There is additional financial support to companies with fewer than 250 staff, to help cover the cost of filling the gap left by a secondee during the secondment.

The DTI grant provides about 50 per cent of the direct costs of the secondment.

There is also financial help for language and presentational skills training if needed.

In addition to secondments, the International Technology Service supports group missions to overseas countries, has a 12-strong team of International Technology Promoters which forges links with specific countries on behalf of British companies and provides an information service, highlighting technology advances around the world.