Manufacturers asked to advise on new shape of MAS
1 min read
Following the Government's announcement in November 2010 that the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) will continue as the sector's leading support body, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is asking manufacturers to help shape the future of the service.
Among the areas up for comment and discussion are how best to prioritise services given emerging and future needs of manufacturers, strengthening key knowledge areas and the potential inclusion of non-SMEs.
More specifically, manufacturers are being asked to consider if MAS should strengthen its current hands-on, on-site support; extending lean manufacturing principles further into the organisational and operational aspects of the whole business; developing the expertise to help with emerging sectors like nuclear, low carbon and advanced manufacturing; and providing advice on taking their products to the market.
BIS also suggests that MAS needs to be able to offer advice in areas that manufacturers may have limited knowledge of, such as servicisation, value chains, sustainability and new forms of energy and green technologies.
MAS is primarily focused on the needs of SMEs but may also need to help larger mid market companies overcome barriers to growth.
Manufacturers wanting to contribute their opinions and ideas have until Wednesday 16th February to do so. Log on to: http://www.mas.bis.gov.uk/news/open-letter-to-manufacturing-stakeholders-on-the-future-of-mas
