17/11/10
Sharing expertise vital for manufacturing and engineering future in Wales
Manufacturing and engineering firms in Wales need to share ideas and experiences regularly in order to give these sectors a healthy long-term future in Wales, according to the head of one of the country’s largest engineering employers.
Adrian Button, Managing Director of the GE aircraft engineering plant at Nantgarw said such firms need to innovate and continuously improve quality in order to stave off competition from lower-cost rivals overseas.
Although the size of these industries in Wales has shrunk substantially, manufacturing by nearly 44%, over the past 20 years, he said he believed a commitment to quality and innovation would give them a healthy future here, and sharing non-commercially sensitive ideas and experiences would help achieve this.
He was speaking after GE became the latest firm to join Wales Quality Centre, the organisation which promotes innovation and higher quality in industry and assists member firms in achieving recognised quality standards.
The Centre, established 27 years ago when Wales’ economy was undergoing major change, has just reported an upsurge in new members, brining the total to over 200, as today’s firms face new economic challenges.
Mr Button said GE recognised the importance of large firms in particular getting involved in networking activity to share good practices and learn from other businesses in Wales
He said: “Quality is at the heart of everything we do at GE Aviation. Our customers rely on a top quality product and service to drive safety around the world. But we don’t think we have all the answers which is why sharing best practices with other manufacturing and engineering businesses is so important. We are always on the lookout for new ideas and a more innovative way to do things.”
Mr Button added: “We see the Wales Quality Centre as a good platform to share best practice. We see ourselves as playing an active role in encouraging the growth of manufacturing and engineering in Wales and believe these sectors must compete on quality rather than price. Quality and service are how we stay ahead of the game and compete successfully. It is still possible for manufacturing and engineering in Wales to compete internationally by continuously focusing on quality products and turnaround times and by sharing best practices.”
David Phillips, Chief Executive of Wales Quality Centre said: “Wales boasts a wealth of knowledge when it comes to manufacturing and engineering and these sectors could really benefit if businesses worked alongside each other more. By pooling the experience, techniques and approaches to quality we will create a more dynamic manufacturing and engineering sectors and can begin revive what has been a shrinking industry in Wales into an expanding industry.
“Collaboration and communication are key components in building momentum for Wales’ manufacturing and engineering sectors. Tapping into the collective expertise that Wales has to offer will guarantee the future survival and renewed growth for sectors which were once the major employers in Wales.”
Wales Quality Centre delivers the Welsh Assembly Government-backed Inside Welsh Industry programme which enables groups of industry representatives to visit each other’s premises to observe new techniques and processes.
