Northern Manufacturing & Electronics free seminar programme

The North West is a vital region for the UK's automotive, public transport and aerospace manufacturing sectors - which alone contribute over 7bn annually to the UK economy. The North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) is the key organisation for the aerospace industry in the North West and its Chief Executive, Dr David Bailey, will present one of the keynote sessions of the 2015 programme, entitled Technology Opportunities and Challenges in the Aerospace Supply Chain. The Northern Manufacturing show will also launch a new feature for 2015, RoadRailAir, to reflect the region's strength in the supply chain for these sectors.

Wayne Kite of Stanford Marsh will deliver an overview of the emerging technology of 3D Printing and some case studies illustrating how it can be employed in almost limitless applications in manufacturing. Alistair Williamson of Lucid Innovation will explore how additive manufacturing is literally shaping the future of manufacturing across a wide range of sectors, from food and drink, to aerospace and medical technology.

Innovation is vital in manufacturing industry. Alistair Williamson hosts a second session looking at the innovation process, from spotting opportunities and market research through to effective prototyping and design. Peter Roberts, a Chartered Patent Attorney with Marks & Clerk LLP, will explain how to maximise return on R&D investment by capturing and protecting product designs.

Ailsa Kaye of Onsite Insights takes an in-depth look at best practice in manufacturing, drawing lessons in innovation, design, cost-efficiency and delivery from world-class companies, and showing how they can be applied in any business to improve competitive advantage. Tim Scurlock of Automotive Lean Consulting will take a practical look at how to employ Lean concepts to improve manufacturing efficiency. Mike Foster of the CE Marking Association looks at the latest legislative environment affecting manufacturers.

The Salford and Trafford Engineering Group Training Association, STEGTA, has been helping firms and young people into apprenticeship schemes since 1966 and is recognised by Ofsted as one of the leading training providers in the country. John Whitby and Ian Parker of STEGTA will show how apprentice schemes can benefit your business and provide an overview of government-supported training schemes.

Admission to Northern Manufacturing & Electronics 2015 is free to business visitors, and EventCity provides 3000 free on-site car parking spaces, with easy accessibility by road or public transport. To register online for free tickets, simply visit www.industrynorth.co.uk or call +44 (0)1784 880 890 (please mention MachineBuilding.net). Visitors can also follow all the latest news from the show on Twitter by following @industry_co_uk and #northmanf, or on the blog page at blog.industrynorth.co.uk.