Daring to be different

The die was cast when some of the keynote speakers pulled up to the Siemens Answers for Industry conference on foldaway Brompton bikes. Innovation coursed through the event, from the 200mph electric-powered sports car on display in the exhibition hall to the tales of frontline operational excellence emanating from the seminar theatres. How UK manufacturers can turn that creative flair into greater cash gains enthralled more than 1,000 stakeholders who were gathered to hear from industry leaders and peruse the latest industrial kit. "It's about marketing the UK internationally as a world leader in certain fields," Juergen Maier, managing director of Siemens Industry sector UK and Ireland, told delegates. "That will create all sorts of investment and spin offs... One area where we can definitely excel – and have already made a damn good start by the way – is offshore marine energy. And another happening right here in Manchester is graphene." Converting military technology for use in the commercial arena could be another candidate. A self-charging torch using material designed to prevent soldiers carrying around hefty battery packs was detailed by James Baker, managing director at BAE Systems' Advanced Technology Centre in day one's opening keynote session. Another innovation using technology from unmanned armoured vehicles could offer the antidote to the morning rush hour, he revealed. "We donated this vehicle to Oxford University to a professor called Paul Newman," he told delegates. "He's sees a service in the future where you can go the motorway, press a button or subscribe to a service, and the vehicle will drive you around the M25 without you having to steer." BAE is keen to work with SME manufacturers and academics on making the driverless car and other ideas a reality, concluded Baker. "The defence market is not big enough or attractive enough to attract much investment. If we can take technology into energy, automotive, and make a real impact, from my perspective there's a real benefit in that." The benefits of smarter energy use were on the agenda in the day's second main auditorium session as a panel of energy experts, including Keele University's Jonathon Porritt and the EEF's Roger Salomone, offered best practice tips. Ignoring the politics and investing in energy-efficient equipment was fundamental, said Steve Barker, panellist and Siemens UK's head of energy efficiency and environmental care. "There is this instability and confusion around policies, but that's not an excuse for doing nothing. We still can do a lot by reducing emissions and improving efficiency using a lot of measures which are very cost effective, but which are not yet being done. We need to look at ourselves." The emphasis on empowerment echoed around that evening's VIP 'Make it in Great Britain' panel debate. Maier of Siemens told a packed auditorium: "There's one point I wanted to highlight again: the one thing I am particularly passionate about is that we, as an industry, must invest more." Current spending lagged dangerously behind our adversaries overseas, stressed the Siemens MD. "Together, we need to work at this a lot harder. And I think if we do, given that we've got good factories here already, our factories will be much better than others." A good example of UK excellence can be found down the road in Cheshire. Vauxhall's flagship Ellesmere Port site beat off European rivals to secure a £125m deal to build the new Astra earlier this year. John Hickson, facilities, utilities and environmental manager at the site, told delegates how scrupulous energy measurement will play its part in helping deliver ambitious productivity targets set out in the deal. He said: "If you can't measure it, you can't control it; if you can't control it, you can't manage it; and if you can't manage it, you can't improve it. This is the mantra that's drummed into all our people." Leeds-based Agfa Graphics is another nearby site leading the way. The plant, which produces digital printing plates, was the first in the UK to pick up the new ISO 50001 environmental management standard. Site director Graham Cooper told delegates: "We've had to develop a much more detailed, documented knowledge of where and why energy was consumed on site. When you've got to find out how many kilowatts you use, you find it here and there in places you wouldn't expect. It helps develop far sharper energy objectives." Mastering people management is just as important as processes when it comes to business success, the conference heard. "Really, it's all about people," Finbarr Dowling of Siemens' Congleton site, which produces variable speed drives, told a session on lean manufacturing. "Technology can be fantastic, but without the people it's not going to work." And getting those people switched on means demystifying continuous improvement jargon, advised Dowling. "Somebody last week was telling me, 'you're talking about kaizen and genba kanri – can you stop talking all that ninja stuff, it puts a lot of people off'." Laying off the Japanese jargon might help to reinvigorate the interest of existing workers. Meanwhile, enticing the waves of youngsters so critical to future manufacturing success will be down to delivering a more inspiring public persona. Maier of Siemens crystallised one of the event's enduring themes during a panel debate on skills: "I think what we're missing is those real entrepreneurs... More of those people are going off to make their money in finance or consulting – they are not attracted to come into manufacturing. I do think, as an industry, we need to get a more creative and innovative image." Siemens signs partnership deal Siemens and construction group Morgan Sindall signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see both companies enter a strategic technology and infrastructure partnership at the Siemens Answers for Industry conference in Manchester. Siemens Industry UK MD Juergen Maier said the partnership was a great example of two leading companies working together to create jobs, growth and investment. Maier said: "I am delighted that we have entered into a partnership with Morgan Sindall Group. This is a great example of two leading companies working together to create jobs, growth and investment." Maier added: "I am proud that our two businesses will work together to develop key UK infrastructure projects – it is a sign that we are optimistic about growth, and that we are more than confident to invest in the UK marketplace." Morgan Sindall managing director, Graham Shennan, added: "Siemens chose to partner with Morgan Sindall Group because of our strong sector alignment, our geographical spread right across the UK and our mutual expertise in infrastructure development throughout the country. We are both multi-disciplinary organisations with capabilities shared across each company and we already use Siemens products across many of our key projects."