Keywords
Citation
Coultard, F. (2006), "Components and manufacturing sector “Consolidation”", Circuit World, Vol. 32 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2006.21732aaf.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Components and manufacturing sector “Consolidation”
Components and manufacturing sector “Consolidation”
Keywords: Electronics industry
Since the last column Intellect's refurbished offices have been completed and the Red Lion Street offices disposed of. All of the Intellect staff are now consolidated in the newly prepared accommodation in Russell Square House. The result is very pleasing for both the staff and especially the members. Already, of course, communication amongst the staff is much improved without the complication of being in separate buildings and the new meeting rooms are in constant demand from members. Facilities exist for members to make use of the IT connections when they visit.
The PCB Fabricator and PCB Supplier Group meet regularly with an excellent turnout each time; recent meetings were held on 2nd February and 18th May with the next scheduled meeting on 24th August. This group is busy working on the promotion of their services in the UK with the preparation of a White Paper to aid the lobbying of Government Departments such as DTI and the RDAs and also relevant MPs. They are also focussing on reducing utility charges in the face of a relentless rise in these costs recently. The newly elected Chairman is David Jones, CEO of the Invotec Group Ltd with the Vice Chairman being David Pike, MD of Graphic plc.
The Electronics Design and Innovation Group (EDIG) have met regularly each quarter (e.g. 17th March and 16th June when they also held their AGM); their next meeting at a member location is on 22nd September. The group's main focus is on honing their aims and objectives, high quality informative presentations and master classes and the furtherance of best practice. At present the appeal is to a “broad church” with regular attendance from a selection of about 50 delegates but eventually this may break down into smaller groups focussed on specialist areas; the members of course will decide. They have a Chairman, Chris McArdle of Innotec-UK and two Vice Chairmen, Ian Phillips of ARM and Clive Robinson of PQR, to share the work-load.
The ACEM group is undergoing a revival with meetings on 23rd February, 17th May and 29th June. A new Chairman, David Davies of Axiom Manufacturing Services and Peter Towler of Briton EMS as Vice Chairman have been appointed giving the group new direction. The next meeting will be on 6th September at Russell Square House. The accent at present is on defining real savings for members and the promotion of the EMS UK capabilities.
The ICT activity under the direction of Bill Wilkie is going from strength to strength with regular council meetings, evening seminars and an excellent annual symposium in Surrey on 15th June of which there is a separate report from Pete Starkey recorded in this publication. A Masterclass is planned later in the year and also, of course, other evening seminars. Plans are in train to further the excellent training course, which was held in conjunction with the Northern UK Circuit Group at Loughborough University earlier in the year. The next council meeting is on 12th July. There will be separate reports from Bill Wilkie, ICT's Technical Director, in the future.
Intellect's Component and Manufacturing sector held a technical workshop on 23rd June on “Lean Manufacturing” at Rohm & Haas's facility in Coventry; sincere thanks are due to the generous hosts. This was a fascinating programme and a highly useful day for those able to attend in the face of competition from Wimbledon! Pete Starky again has provided a comprehensive write-up, which will be included in Circuit World.
The environmental projects such as Faraday Mini-Waste, the TAZDIS programme and the ECO3 project continue. There are now at least three more in the wings waiting approval; these involve Intellect members. Cooperation between Intellect and the government agency, Envirowise has proved very beneficial also. There are a series of Road Shows being held round the country currently and now we also have another conference planned later in the year. On 20th July Envirowise are also holding another event to mark their “Big Splash” programme about saving water. This, of course, is highly topical with the current UK drought and the event will be held on HMS Belfast in London on the Thames; Intellect will be represented.
The policy advisory group HSECC run by Richard Waterhouse and which is addressing WEEE and RoHS matters is highly influential and vigorous, representing member's interests to government; it meets every 2 weeks and has an authoritative voice.
Intellect is establishing its brand image and gaining more and more useful publicity due to its focussed approach and the work by the Intellect Board, Intellect members and Intellect's staff.
Congratulations are respectfully sent to John Higgins, Intellect's Director General on his award of the CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. This is the result of much dedicated hard work by him and his staff. Well done, John!
Frank CoultardComponents and Manufacturing Sector Intellect