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CEOS' MISSION TO THE UNITED KINGDOM: 14-21
SEPTEMBER 2000
Mr. L Ganesh, having just taken over
the office of ACMA President, was given no respite.
In less than a month and straight after the success
of Automechanika participation, a 17-member CEOs Mission
was led by Mr. Ganesh to the U.K. with the objectives:
- To Interact and learn from the successful and
relevant SMMT Automotive Industry Forum
- Visit some of the British auto component companies
who have benefited from it
- To see the possibility of replicating a similar
Industry Forum in India
- To visit and study component manufacturers who
are practicing Lean Manufacturing concepts under
the guidance of Prof. Daniel Jones of Cardiff University
- To establish contacts with the British SMEs in
the Tier –2 and 3 positions
The Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), U.K. and
SMMT (ACMA’S counterpart Association) assisted
in planning and organising the Mission, with the programme
"kicking off" in Birmingham and finishing
at Cranfield.
- Visits to companies who benefited through the Forum
-
Interactive session with Mr.
Arthur David, Director SMMT– Industry Forum
(also keynote speaker at the last ACMA AGM)
Birmingham c. Meeting with India
Working Group (IWG) set up by DTI & headed by
Barry Cole, Head of the International Components
Team which comprises senior representatives of Industry
and Trade who have business interest in India. The
discussion between Mission Members and IWG threw
up a surprising similarity in experiences.
Cardiff a. Houses the Lean Enterprises
Research Centre (LERC) where again old acquaintances
met- ACMA and prof Daniel Jones- acknowledged Guru
of Lean Manufacturing. His team is working on the
Supply Chain projects for various industries, trying
to integrate suppliers and end –customers
as demands change rapidly and manufacturers must
meet demands.
Visits to companies practicing Lean Manufacturing were:-
Ford Engine plant – Bridgend.
Built in 1980. Believe it will take 4-5 years before
they may lay claim to "LEAN"
Lister Petter- Gloucestershire
Engine manufacturing plant
AVON Automotive- Wiltshire Have a joint
venture with Gold
Seal Royal Military College
of Science (RMCS) – Cranfield RMCS comes
under Cranfield University and does extensive research
on Electrical Vehicle Technology, head by Dr. Ron Colyer,
former Chief of Power Electronics & Electrical Systems
at the University.
In the course of these visits, it was
with pleasure the Mission Members met with an Indian
Student from Madurai studying for her M.S. at the University.
Potential partners were met by certain
Members and discussions were useful while SMMT Industry
Forum and DTI agreed to assist ACMA in forming a similar
Forum in India to help industry surge ahead in Quality,
Technology and Productivity.
ACMA wishes to thank DTI for the effort
put in, in organising a good programme. It was impressive,
to say the least, to meet with a professional Government
Organisation, keep to place industry on top of the world
map and working with commitment towards this goal. |
