INBIS, together with consortium partners TA Net and ITM, have recently been appointed as National Network Developers for a new service being initiated by the Department of Trade and Industry.  One of the key features of this service will be a UK wide network of Centres of Expertise in Manufacturing (CEMs).  It is hoped in the next few months to identify and attract a wide range of CEMs covering all aspects of interest to manufacturers. 

The National Network will have a membership base drawn from the wide range of organisations that could be of benefit to businesses involved in manufacturing.  This will include centres of expertise in manufacturing technologies (such as technology institutes and manufacturing centres), centres of expertise in skills and training (such as national training organisations), industry sector bodies (such as Trade Associations and Industry Fora), centres of knowledge and research (such as university departments with particular manufacturing expertise, Faraday Partnerships or Research and Technology Organisations).

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will, through its own dedicated website, its database of CEMs (drawn from centres of expertise in manufacturing throughout England, Scotland, N Ireland and Wales), and links with the Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence to be established in each region (in England and Wales) help manufacturers to obtain information and identify sources of practical help on all manufacturing related expertise and support issues.

There are significant  benefits for CEMs who do become national network members. The MAS website will be primarily designed to provide value added information for manufacturing company users but in so doing, it will also be a credible globally accessible marketing tool for those CEMs included on it.  Manufacturers, SMEs and other bodies using the MAS and the website will be directed towards the CEMs with the most relevant expertise and services and CEMs will engage with users on their own mutually agreed terms and conditions.  In addition to featuring on the website., CEMs will be able to share information across a national network of support organisations.

If you wish to express an interest in becoming a CEM, please complete the enclosed Pre-Registration form and return to Tony Boylan or Lisa Campbell either by fax or e-mail. Following this Pre-Registration we will write to you more formally with the terms and conditions being established with the DTI for CEM membership. You may also like to see the DTI's website concerning this service (although you do not need to register at that site if you complete the attached).

www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing.

A J BOYLAN

MAS Project Manager

23 August 2001

PRESS RELEASE

INBIS APPOINTED NATIONAL NETWORK DEVELOPER FOR DTI MANUFACTURING INFORMATION SERVICE

A major new national information service aimed at boosting the productivity of small to medium manufacturing companies in the UK, is to be established by specialist engineering consultancy the INBIS Group under a £1.1 million contract awarded by the Department of Trade and Industry

The service will form a key part of the DTI’s Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) initiative, which was announced in February and featured in the Government’s general election manifesto.

Under the contract, INBIS, as the National Network Developer, will be responsible for developing and co-ordinating a wide range of new internet and network-based services aimed at all UK manufacturers. They will create the new service together with consortium partners ITM Group and TANet.

Commenting on the award of the contract, Industry Minister Brian Wilson said:
"A strong manufacturing sector is vital for a modern, knowledge driven economy. We want to help business exploit new opportunities by giving them fast access to best practice advice in an environment where technology is rapidly changing. The award of this contract,” he continued, “is an important step forward in setting up the Manufacturing Advisory Service, which will create a 'one stop shop' to help businesses sell their products and create new jobs in the future".

In addition to the creation of a powerful website, a key task for INBIS will be the recruitment and development of a national network of up to 500 high quality ‘Centres of Expertise in Manufacturing’. These will be freely accessible via the internet and will offer manufacturers and SMEs a wide range of support services.

An underlying national database will direct companies to the best sources of information and expertise and the National Network will have a membership base drawn from a wide range of organisations. This will include centres of expertise in manufacturing technologies; skills and training; industry sector bodies and centres of knowledge and research in addition to the new Regional Centres of Manufacturing. These are to be established by a partnership between the DTI and the Regional Development Agencies in England and Wales and to be operated in co-operation with the Small Business Service’s existing network of Business Links.

The contract was won in the face of stiff competition and Roy Barton at INBIS said: “We believe the Manufacturing Advisory Service to be an important initiative for UK companies and are delighted to be working with the DTI to develop a network and service meeting the needs of manufacturers”.

INBIS is one of the largest providers of independent design and engineering services in Europe, specialising in engineering management consultancy, integrated engineering and technical resourcing. It employs some 800 people in offices throughout the UK and Europe.

The DTI and INBIS are keen to attract as wide a range of expertise as possible and organisations interested in offering manufacturers support and advice can register their interest at the DTI’s site at http://www.dti.gov.uk/manufacturing  or by email to mas@inbis.com

Supplementary information

The DTI’s Manufacturing Advisory Service, officially announced as an initiative in the “Opportunity for All in a World of Change” White Paper in February 2001, and included in the Government’s manifesto, is a key element in the Government’s strategy to improve the capabilities, productivity and competitiveness of UK manufacturers. The MAS will be particularly focused on smaller companies, although all manufacturers will be able to access the future national network.  The MAS will provide specialist manufacturing advice and consist of two main strands of activity:

·       Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence (RCMEs) to be established by means of a partnership between DTI and the Regional Development Agencies in England and Wales and to be operated in co-operation with the Small Business Service’s existing network of Business Links.

·       A National Network of existing Centres of Expertise in Manufacturing (CEMs). 

The DTI is to provide total funding of some £15M for the MAS initiative over three years to supplement other RDA regional funds. The RCMEs will be contracted for by the RDAs and WDA and the first RCME will be established later this year. They will make available practical and experienced hands-on advice, act as a focal point for the regional delivery of support services to SME manufacturers and be a main node on the national network - accessible to all companies.