Free expert advice from IMechE to help UK manufacturers thrive

Philippa Oldham, Head of Manufacturing at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, says: "This new, streamlined business improvement programme is being offered free to all UK manufacturing businesses - whatever their size. In a time of fierce competition in business, the expert advice provided through the Manufacturing Excellence Awards could make the difference between a company's success and failure.

"The easy to use online assessment tool will be available for just six weeks from September 9. Companies from the West Midlands and Yorkshire / North East England will also be put forward for two regional awards to be announced to the winning companies in December 2013."

Chris Rea, Managing Director of AESSEAL, the Overall winning company for the 2011 Manufacturing Excellence Awards says: "Our business engaged in a benchmarking exercise with the Manufacturing Excellence Awards, which became an important part of our "Excellence Programme' and we grew from 31 million to 124 million sales over a 10-year period.

"I can therefore heartily recommend the Manufacturing Excellence Awards as an opportunity to learn more about business improvement opportunities and to grow and develop your business too."

The Manufacturing Excellence Awards have been helping UK manufacturing companies improve for over 30 years. This year marks the launch of a new, streamlined process aimed at providing expert advice in an easier format. All companies who complete the assessment, which takes just 4 hours to complete, will receive an instantaneous report highlighting key areas for improvement. The five steps are:

1. Register online, complete the company and financial profile
2. Complete the core questions
3. Receive instant personalised feedback for your business
4. Entrants in West Midlands and Yorkshire / North East England are put forward for regional awards
5. Regional celebration events where Award winners are announced

The 2013 Manufacturing Excellence Awards is run in partnership with The ERA Foundation, Lombard and WMG; it is supported by the CBI and the MTC. The Institution's new Manufacturing Excellence Awards online self-assessment tool will be available for 6 weeks only from 9 September 2013. Go to www.imeche.org/manufacturingexcellence for further details.