Abstract
Businesses attending the recent conference ‘The Productivity Journey’ at the University of East Anglia in Norwich came away with hints, tips and valuable insights on how to improve their manufacturing premises, processes and procedures.
The event, organised by New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (NAAME) and supported by the IET, attracted over 100 delegates. The IET’s sustainable manufacturing lead, Peter Ball of the University of York was among the speakers, addressing delegates on sustainable manufacturing - a unique yet often overlooked strategy for achieving positive productivity improvement. Professor Ball provided an update on the IET’s peer-to-peer consultancy initiative.
Managing Director of Hethel Innovation, Simon Coward likened productivity to a journey, a journey which many businesses found themselves on. NAAME was there to help such firms identify exactly where they were, on their respective journey, and provide advice and support on next steps.
Jamie Thums, Chief Operating Officer at Lintott Control Systems, underlined the importance of leadership. Productivity was ultimately about people, empowering managers and workers to play an active part in specifying, seeking and securing continuous improvement.
Fiona Lettice, the University’s Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) outlined ambitions proposals to create a £13m 2,000 square metre Institute for Productivity on campus by 2021, subject to securing the necessary funding.
‘The Productivity Journey’ took place on 17th September 2018 at the University of East Anglia’s Enterprise Centre (TEC), described as one of the UK’s most sustainable buildings.
