Manufacturing Institute chief steps down
DR Julie Madigan MBE, chief executive of the North West-based Manufacturing Institute is leaving to “seek a fresh challenge”.
During 20 years in charge, Madigan was the driving force behind the UK’s longest running independent manufacturing charity.
Set up in Trafford Park in 1994, Dr Madigan joined The Institute in 1995 as director of education and training and was appointed as chief executive in 1996.
Under her leadership the Institute has led the way in the education, training and consultancy sector with a series of high-profile initiatives including the Agenda for Change campaign aimed at transforming the image of manufacturing.
Dr Madigan also instigated the schools Make It Challenge campaign, which has worked with 60,000 teenagers and teachers, brought the UK’s first Fab Lab to Manchester and partnered with Utah State University to introduce the renowned Shingo Prize to the UK.
Under her leadership, the Manufacturing Institute educated over 60,000 manufacturers in best practice, delivered hands-on shop floor improvements at more than 15,000 manufacturing sites across the world, and delivered more than £2bn worth of measurable results for customers.
Madigan said: “It’s been a challenge and a privilege to work with key figures in manufacturing dedicated to raising the international profile of this key North West sector. The Institute has also successfully raised education standards from the shop floor to the boardroom through its bespoke training initiatives. I leave behind a first class team to take the Institute forward in its vital role.”
Chairman of the board Neville Chamberlain said: “It has been an honour to work with Julie for many years. The Manufacturing institute is an organisation to be proud of and many of the initiatives that have put us on the map stem from Julie’s passion for manufacturing and outstanding ability to spot new trends in an ever-changing sector.”
Liam Ferguson, who has been a trustee and director of the Institute for almost 20 years, will take on an executive role to implement a range of senior appointments, expansion across the UK and a new training base.
The Manufacturing Institute will continue to operate from its Trafford Park base but will now use modern training facilities at Rutherford Point in Chorley’s Matrix Park.
Ferguson is chairman of Chorley-based North West Projects, a specialist nuclear design consultancy. He was previously a director of a multi-national engineering group and chairman of Vindon Healthcare.
