Oversubscribed conference sees book launch

Delegate places were 50% oversubscribed for the PICME annual conference on Thursday 5th June at Cranfield School of Management.

Delegate places were 50% oversubscribed for the PICME annual conference on Thursday 5th June at Cranfield School of Management.

This year's PICME conference was themed around the PICME concept of manufacturing fitness.

PICME also used the event to launch its new publication "Manufacturing fitness - the PICME guide".

Conference delegates from chemical, pharmaceutical and polymer processing companies were treated to case-study stories of inspiration and perspiration from their peers as well as being introduced to: new grant-finding opportunities in manufacturing improvement; the launch of the PICME Forum - a networking opportunity; a new Internet-based benchmarking system; an innovative approach to batch process improvement; and how the UK's leading manufacturers compare with European producers.

Delegates also had the benefit of Lord Sainsbury's keynote address.

Sainsbury, present in his capacity as Science and Innovation Minister, has long supported PICME's methods of manufacturing improvement and was active in the extension of PICME's Government funding until 2007.

Sainsbury noted that: "PICME is leading this agenda as far as the process industries are concerned.

As many of you will know, PICME was born out of a desire to apply some of the lean manufacturing techniques employed in the automotive sector into the rather different circumstances of process-based operations".

Sainsbury said that PICME had: "proved its worth by offering hands-on practical help to companies in this sector that has a real and measurable benefit on their bottom line.

Scores of companies have been through the PICME benchmarking process.

And many of those have moved into the "master class" change programme looking at operations on the shop floor.

Those that have completed this process have collectively benefited to the tune of nearly GBP 20 million year-on-year - through direct cost savings, increased production capacity, and increased productivity.

One PICME client went on to win a best factory award last year".

Sainsbury added that: "It was for these reasons that the Government earlier this year extended our support to PICME to some GBP 3.75 million in all.

Not only will this enable it to continue to help process companies to make manifest the efficiency savings on offer.

But it will also enable PICME to develop its toolkit and offer a more bespoke service to smaller companies, and so focus more on the skill sets and the organisational changes in companies that will help make these improvements more sustainable".

PICME Chief Executive Mark Lewis believes that the 5th June conference has encouraged the chemical and allied industry companies to advance further down the road of manufacturing fitness.

"Our conference has shown that manufacturing fitness - from beginners to Olympic standard - is an attainable goal, available for all sizes and levels of business.

It begins with performance measurement, benchmarking and then manufacturing improvement.

The continuing 'journey' and the associated benefits flow from taking the steps to get fit".

Given the demand over the past two years PICME plans to review its conference capacity for 2004.

PICME also plans to develop other events focusing on individual sectors and additional operational improvement tools in such areas as availability, reliability and supply chain performance.

Details of the 5th June presentations and copies of "Manufacturing fitness - the PICME guide" are available from PICME.

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