MAN managers first to benefit from new WMG improvement programme

SIX senior managers from a West Midlands manufacturing partnership are among the first in the country to complete a new Innovation Business Leadership (IBL) postgraduate programme at WMG at the University of Warwick.

The Innovation Business Leadership (IBL) programme is a unique postgraduate education programme designed to create new business leaders capable of delivering significant benefits to their company.

The programme is delivered through five three-day modules. It covers: strategy and innovation; leading and managing talent; operational efficiency; financial and commercial awareness; and sales, marketing and reputation management.

The six managers are all from Brandauer, Advanced Chemical Etching, Barkley Plastics, SMT Developments and Alucast – firms which form part of the Midlands Assembly Network (MAN).

They are already putting what they have learned on the IBL programme into practice by exploring new technologies, implementing a host of process improvement measures and creating employee development schemes.

The first to complete the programme include:
 
John Swift and Martin Haynes, both of Alucast, one of the UK’s leading aluminium casting companies.  The duo have played a key role in the firm securing the automotive global quality accreditation TS16949 that will put it in line to tender for £5m of additional automotive work every year.  

“Putting this system in place is very time consuming so we needed to have a strategy in place that utilised the skills of our staff so we could meet our target of achieving a successful audit within one year,” said Haynes, who is Group Quality Manager.

“There is no doubt the IBL programme has been beneficial in delivering clearer thinking and giving us an idea on how we can not only secure TS16949, but actually make the most of it both operationally and commercially.”

John Rowley, of contract electronics firm SMT Developments has recently been promoted to managing director of the business. He attributes his success to some of the things he had learnt over the course of the year and has developed a number of new ideas for how to take the business forward.

He said: “The IBL programme opened my eyes to a range of new technologies and innovative tools that we can use to create new products and services at SMT. It has helped me realise the great potential the business has. I also met some fantastic people from other sectors that have been extremely inspirational.”
 
Theresa Williams, Finance Director at precision pressings company Brandauer, is now pioneering a new mentoring scheme for other managers at the firm.
 
Tony Hague, chairman of MAN, said: “It is imperative that MAN stays ahead of the curve with the most forward thinking management training and research knowledge. Working with WMG on this leadership programme has allowed us to do that.”
 
Dr Barry Winter, course director at WMG said: “Our programme isn’t just about the classroom learning. The programme offers the participants the ability to network with others, attend technology demonstrations and hear from guest speakers that have implemented innovative new practices in their businesses.

“Santander Corporate and Commercial was so confident of the programme benefits that they agreed to part fund the first cohort of 16 participants from 14 different SMEs and offered them the opportunity to attend Breakthrough master classes as part of the course.”

He added: “Throughout my career I have developed and analysed many business theories and models that have the potential to transform the productivity and performance of small businesses, but they rarely see the light of day in SME management practice. This programme has brought this theory to life, combining both academic rigours with practical application. We have been inspired by the results of the course and are delighted that the MAN group have noted so many benefits already.”