During the discussion, Dick explains how the idea for the consortium came during a call with Michael Gove MP and over 100 manufacturers, and how weeks of 18-hour days and 4am phonecalls saw the group rise to the challenge and avoid the health service becoming overwhelmed as the pandemic was at its worst.
Coordinating the group was a masterclass in management, with a focus on autonomy, rather than 'command and control', something Dick says is a lesson for all manufacturing leaders out there.
Dick also considers the long-term impact the consortium may have on the way the UK's manufacturing sector operates, with a call for more collaboration and a focus on the innovative mindset that sets British industry apart.
This conversation is a follow-up to the recent Live Panel involving key figures from the Ventilator Challenge UK, which was recorded in late May.
You can watch that, along with the full series of MM Live Panels, on our YouTube channel, here, or on the Videos tab at the top of this website.
| Manufacturing Management is proud to support the #EngineeringHeroes campaign, an initiative launched in collaboration with our sister industry titles at MA Business to celebrate UK manufacturing’s inspiring response to the COVID-19 crisis. Visit the campaign website to find out more. www.engineeringheroes.co.uk |