Learn from high flying aerospace sector

Other UK manufacturing industries can learn lessons from the country's high flying aerospace sector, according to business leaders speaking at a manufacturing summit in Telford later this month

Other UK manufacturing industries can learn lessons from the country's high flying aerospace sector, according to business leaders speaking at a manufacturing summit in Telford later this month.

But the aerospace industry - currently posting good profits - should not ignore threats on the horizon, including off-shoring work, and high UK material and labour costs which could change its future shape.

This will be one of the main subjects of debate at The Aerospace Forum to be held on the second day of The Manufacturer Live 2005 event at the Telford International Centre on September 28 and 29.

The debate will be led by John Ferrie, president of Smiths Aerospace and will feature a high-powered panel which includes John Whalley, executive director of Aerospace Wales, Gareth Williams of Airbus, Geoff Ford, chairman of Ford Components, Philip Butterworth-Hayes, editor of Janes, Jan Reid of Scottish Enterprise, Paul Packard of Thales and Stephanie Warren of Rolls Royce Aerospace.

Delegates will be able to join in the debate which will look at the threats facing the industry and opportunities which could allow the aerospace sector to react and prosper further.

The two day Manufacturer Live 2005 event will be attended by more than 2000 manufacturing decision makers who will hear from around 50 speakers from leading companies hosting workshops, seminars and debates on UK manufacturing's big issues.

Glen White, group chief executive of Conquest Business Media which organises the Telford event said the Aerospace Forum was a valuable opportunity to debate the big issues.

"This forum will focus on better understanding the direction of the aerospace industry, the opportunities within the customer community and the process excellence techniques available for deployment to achieve improvements in value chain productivity," he said.

The Manufacturer Live 2005 is set to be even bigger and better than last year's event.

Senior figures from across all manufacturing sectors will deliver presentations on all aspects of the manufacturing process.

The event, which is sponsored by Barclays and supported by the DTI, will be held at the Telford International Centre on September 28 and 29.

It will offer manufacturers the chance to learn from their peers and share their own best practice, and will include the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Awards.

The presentations and exhibitions will be based around the "seven pillars" of manufacturing excellence: leadership and strategy, design and innovation, world class manufacturing, skills and HR, logistics and supply chain, IT in manufacturing and manufacturing operations.

Andy Martin, head of UK manufacturing at Barclays said the bank was delighted to be the corporate sponsor of The Manufacturer Live 2005.

"As the leading bank covering the UK manufacturing industry, we are committed to helping the industry grow and remain competitive on a global scale.

We believe The Manufacturer Live is the perfect forum for people who share both this commitment and the desire to promote and share best practice.

This year's event is particularly important given the current challenges facing the industry, and we are very pleased to be associated with it".

At the end of the first day, the event is punctuated with the culmination of The Manufacturer Awards 2005, a benchmark awards programme recognising excellence in the seven pillars of manufacturing, with additional sector awards for automotive, aerospace and process.

The awards will be presented at a 750 seat gala dinner.

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