Troubleshooting team helps manufacturers to solve problems
The Coventry-based Manufacturing Technology Centre has launched a team of manufacturing experts and research engineers to help UK businesses of all sizes to improve productivity, processes and efficiency. The MTC says it is responding to demand in establishing its System Architecture team, which will examine companies’ processes to seek opportunities for improvement, identify bottlenecks, and find areas where technology could help cut costs, increase safety, save time or improve productivity.
The team leader, senior MTC engineer Nikki Gillatt, says it is important to understand exactly what a company wants to achieve and then launch an intense examination of what needs to be done. “Sometimes it could be a matter of clearing bottlenecks with technology, or helping the company with process improvement,” she explains. “Once the need for technology, automation or process improvement is established, we use our cross-industrial knowledge to recommend and develop solutions tailored to suit.
“Technology is not always the answer,” she adds, “but if it is, we will identify the best improvements from the myriad of automation available. We have worked in businesses in the aerospace and rail sectors with significant success, with technology having a dramatic impact on their operations, subsequently providing a return-on-investment.”
