Category: Features & Interviews

Whilst females working in manufacturing have increased steadily recent years, the proportion is still significantly lower than men, something Forterra Plant Manager Nicki Durrans is keen to see change. Nicki, 38, has been working in the manufacturing industry for 18 years in a broad range of roles, including health and safety, human resources and quality […]

Conservatory Outlet Group is vowing to add to its 34 apprentices and empower its 312 staff members to ‘gold level’ standards, after securing a prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accolade for the first time. The UK’s leading manufacturer of high-quality windows, doors, home extensions and conservatory products has been recognised with a ‘We Invest in […]

Manufacturing/engineering firms could claim tens of thousands back in tax relief  The HMRC Research and Development Tax Scheme was created to encourage business innovation and stimulate the economy, through supporting firms to bring new products and services to market.  Yet, due to time constraints, lack of awareness and doubts around eligibility or the legitimacy of the […]

According to ABI Research, pharmaceutical manufacturers will spend USD 1.2 billion on data analytics by 2030. The industry is accustomed to one way of operating — large batch size production. As pharmaceutical production moves to a more personalized approach, manufacturers may struggle to keep pace and remain agile. How can the industry catch up? Here […]

Lee Wrall, Director, Managed Services Provider, Everything Tech In a world of complex cyber attacks, and a customer base that is more clued up than ever about the use of their data, the need for thorough protection against sophisticated cyber threats is vital for engineering. From simple phishing scams, which target people’s email addresses and […]

One of the West Midlands leading charities for supporting children with physical disabilities is celebrating a major funding milestone thanks to the generosity of a local wire manufacturer. The Chris Westwood Charity, which helps fund the purchase of mobility, sensory and vision equipment for children living within a 50-mile radius of Stourbridge, has become the […]

In medieval times, medical diagnoses largely relied on the use of urine wheels — charts that corresponded urine colour with different diseases. While urology remains an important area of study, doctors now rely on a multitude of tests to diagnose patients. Slow and incorrect diagnosis delays treatment, so how can doctors deliver accurate test results […]

~ How to manage a complex network of new and legacy equipment ~ Legacy equipment is vital to the functioning of many manufacturing facilities. Nevertheless, with rapid advancement in automated and connected technologies, managing both new and old equipment simultaneously can be a challenging balancing act. Here Johan Jonzon, CMO and Co-Founder of pioneer in […]

SMEs in high-tech manufacturing face all the usual supply chain challenges, plus some that are particular to the sector. Affordable, cloud-based, user-friendly MRP/ERP systems can provide the capability they need, writes Sara Duff, UK Business Development Manager at MRPeasy.com. The general public often thinks of ‘high-tech’ in terms of Silicon Valley tech giants churning out […]