north west higher education manufacturing innovation & design partnership allan e w rennie...
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North West Higher Education Manufacturing Innovation & Design
Partnership
Allan E W Rennie
Lancaster Product Development Unit Lancaster University
Presentation Contents
The NW HE MID Partnership Partnership members, funding & operation Why work in partnership? Why Manufacturing, Innovation & Design? Details of some of the Projects What’s it been like? For MID? For SMEs? SME Demand, Economic Benefits, Impacts 3 quick case studies 2 shameless plugs!!! Questions
The PartnershipHEI’s
~£9.97M Total~£4.13M ERDF
670 Assists
Regional Links
30th June 2008
Adv M
fg G
rp
TMI/MAS
Oth
er B
SO’s
NW B
us L
ink
~£43.9M new
579 new jobs
Design Council
NW HE MID Partnership
How the Partnership is made upInstitutional share of MID Partnership
0
10
20
30
40
MID Partnership HEI
Pe
rce
nta
ge
(%
)
Total Project Value % of MID 20.03 39.96 20.09 5.84 5.48 8.60
ERDF Value % of MID 20.08 38.77 21.05 6.11 5.29 8.70
UCLAN Bolton Lancaster Cumbria Salford Manchester
Partnership Operational Period
Funded through the Regional Action Plan VETS funded through Manchester Enterprises (also ERDF)
Operationally, commenced in November 2006 (first Partners meeting)
Actual SME delivery commenced January 2007 (post-KBAP)
All partners have Regional Action Plan funding until 30 June 2008 A number of partners have / are seeking extensions to 30
September 2008
Why work in Partnership?
Take a collaborative and focussed approach to SME business support Multi-partner support to individual SMEs Allow for intra-partnership referrals Joint marketing and promotion
Pool the capabilities of participating HEIs Graduate placements (course / specialism specific) Technical expertise: design, analysis, visualisation, prototyping Packaging, branding, marketing, publicity
A central source of access / information(-ish) Geographical coverage of the whole NW Region Importantly, we’re not in competition with each other!!!
Why Manufacturing, Innovation & Design?
Regional Economic Strategy Improve quality/services: targeted support for manufacturing
businesses; innovation; use of new technology
Local Action Plans / Sub-regional Action Plans LEP: advanced manufacturing & design technologies
Example: HEI’s have access to design and advanced manufacturing technologies that many SMEs don’t (e.g. CAD, advanced CAE tools & RP / ALM) No RP / ALM bureaux in NW (Obj2) region – driven by HEI’s
Example: HEI’s are (generally) at the leading edge of their research specialisms Industrial relevance; true technology transfer
University of Central Lancashire Project: Designlab UK Provides a bespoke marketing service Assist companies who lack the know-how or the
budget to engage professionals to help their marketing efforts
Provide a high quality service which is backed by professionals to ensure deliver matches promises
Fund up to 50% of costs towards any project undertaken (e.g. branding, photography, video, literature, websites, exhibitions)
www.designlabuk.org.uk
University of Central Lancashire
University of Bolton Project: Accomplice Phase III
Involves education: 14-19 secondary pupils, post-16 apprentices, under/postgraduates and HEI staff
Solving real problems for real businesses
School networks (hubs in Bolton, Preston and Kendal)
SME sets problem – young people develop solutions – University provides technical support
Fresh thinking generates novel ideas, new products,
services or ways of working
University of Salford Project: Virtual Environments
Virtual environment modelling
Typically 5 days allotted per scheme
Work to be fit for purpose and ready for instant deployment/implementation
No charges made – FREE!
Created to accompany planning application
3D model for marketing
Product/Process Visualisation
Flow chart process visualised
University of Bolton Project: Product Development Service
Three levels of assistance 1: demonstrate & trial new technologies (½ day workshops) 2: product and process analysis (full day engagement) 3: in-depth R&D (up to 4 weeks intervention)
Providing support to overcome and/or aid Technological barriers Time limitations of employees Employees shortage of knowledge and skills
Taking a product from the backburner to showcase
University of Salford Project: Innovation Centre Centre aims to:
Provide innovation support to regional businesses Embed innovation within regional businesses
‘Open Innovation Challenge’ is a joint initiative with the British Design Initiative and leading Design Agencies, bringing together: Manufacturers, design agencies, consultancies, designer makers,
sole traders, inventors and venture capitalists
Help available to develop: A new product or invention A technology Or even just an idea
Developing a ‘proof of concept’ of the product and a ‘pitch’ to prospective partners and manufacturers
University of Cumbria Project: Knowledge Transfer Service To encourage innovation and the transfer of knowledge from HEIs
into SMEs in the region Innovation audits to assess SME innovation demands Communicate support mechanisms available Develop action plan, timescales and implementation strategies
Assistance delivered via: Intensive support from dedicated business adviser Workplace consultancy from academic/specialist staff Referral to regional sources of support Access to knowledge transfer finance Access to graduate level skills Joint events for businesses Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Direct link into the NW HE MID Partnership
University of Bolton Project: Staircase Provide SMEs with a positive link to the NW knowledge
base through Specification of new products Design and management of new systems Technology capabilities (cost performance ratios and
application areas) Developing confidence with technical jargon Use of third party contractors
This leaves SMEs more conversant with the capabilities of new technology Better able to work with third party design houses,
manufacturers and suppliers as they progress up the technological staircase
University of Bolton Project: MAGNET
Facilitate collaboration between regional SMEs To promote innovation and collaborative product
development and bidding
Addressing issues such as Business processes / productivity Workforce knowledge Regional knowledge base Evaluating systems for ICT and e-business capability
Lancaster University Project: CAS:CADE Enhance SMEs capabilities in CAE technologies
CAD, CAM, FEA, CFD, etc.. The analytical side of product design and development
Develop SMEs knowledge of collaborative tools Product Data / Lifecycle Management (PDM/PLM) Web publishing/reporting of design data and documentation
Demonstration, networking and taster events Product design, development and analysis assistance Subsidies (real £’s and vendor discounts) towards
technology implementation
Lancaster University
Project: Sustainable Product Development
Focus on areas around eco- / sustainable design and product development e.g. product optimisation, material minimisation, value
engineering, design for environment Carbon footprint measurement, social impacts CSR in design and manufacturing
Delivered in partnership with Small World Consulting Ltd and Crowberry Consulting Ltd
Lancaster University Project: Rapid Manufacturing NW
Exploit additive layer manufacturing technologies for production of end-use and bespoke components Product optimisation, part consolidation, customisation Reverse engineering of hard-to-manufacture replacement parts Manufacture of high value, one-off, direct-use parts
Delivered in partnership with Econolyst Ltd
Manufacturing support (FREE!!) from approximately 10 machine manufacturers and service bureaux in the UK and in mainland EU
What’s it really been like? For MID?
Needs a lot of goodwill No defined hierarchy /
structure in place Marketing & publicity
Takes a lot of faith For collaborative working
and providing co-delivered solutions to SMEs
Own projects to consider!!
Takes a lot of trust Who claims those
resultant outputs?
No sole responsibility for performance
Slow (and late) start
Able to pool contacts (BSO’s, agencies, etc)
Good support mechanism – open forum for discussion
Partners have an open policy for collaboration
Share best practice (admin, SME support, funding etc)
Joint marketing material
What’s it really been like? For SMEs?
MID offer a clear tangible product / service offering
Accepted that SMEs now expect to pay towards specialist support
Able to get co-ordinated support from concept – design – manufacture – packaging – market: a one stop shop (?!)
Slow start to SME intervention between KBAP and RAP
Change to a Regionalised Business Link severely affected referral rates – confusion on how to access services (?)
Demand now increased significantly for MID expertise / services
SME Demand
Actually increased significantly in last 4-5 months Now at ~87% (456) of pro-rata target of Assists to date
With increasing demand lately, anticipated that MID will deliver to target by June 2008
MID Progress: SMEs Assisted against Targets (pro-rata)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
J an-07 Feb-07 Mar-07 Apr-07 May-07 J un-07 J ul-07 Aug-07 Sep-07 Oct-07 Nov-07 Dec-07 J an-08 Feb-08 Mar-08 Apr-08 May-08 J un-08
Month & Year
# o
f S
ME
s A
ssis
ted Pro-rata delivery (against target)
Pro-rata delivery (actual)
Economic Benefits – Impact of MID Many Partners now just
entering the Outputs collection / analysis phase Jobs and Sales Safe New: still an issue
Anticipate that these will come close to target by “final” reporting and claims
Other Outputs: 5-6 KTPs generated with
Beneficiary SMEs 2 NWDA Grants for R&D
with Beneficiary SMEs
SME Growth (Jobs)
0
200
400
600
800
Output Category
# o
f Jo
bs
Cre
ated
/
Saf
egu
ard
ed
Target 579 214
Achieved 222 231
Jobs (new) Jobs (safe)
SME Growth (Sales)
0
10
20
30
40
50
Output Category
Val
ue
of
Sal
es C
reat
ed /
S
afeg
uar
ded
(£M
)
Target 43.926 17.224
Achieved 24.9856 13.25
Sales (new) £M Sales (safe) £M
Case Study 1: i-Teddy
Case Study 1: i-Teddy Inventor – Imran Hakim Interactive teddy bear with in-built media player Dragons Den: Investment of £140k (40%) Approached Bolton (PDS Project) Jan 2007
Design assistance – belt clip for MP3 player mount
Secured exclusive deal with Argos Sold approx 47k units over Christmas 2007
Generated £3M in new/increased sales and employment of 12 new staff
Currently investigating product extension for differing age groups
Case Study 2: Invent Water
Case Study 2: Invent Water Water feature design and manufacturer
Looking to expand into Middle East market
Approached Salford (VETS Project)
Created 3D visualisation of water feature at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland
Allowed for promotion via web presence
Generated £500k in new/increased sales and safeguarded £500k of existing sales
Case Study 3: UK Pier Revival Ltd
Case Study 3: UK Pier Revival Ltd Newly incorporated SME with vision for
revitalising Morecambe front (via LBC2) Approached Lancaster (CAS:CADE Project)
and Bolton (PDS Project) Generated visualisations of the ‘The
Beachcomber’ concept – pier and retail complex
Winner of the BURA National Design Award, late 2007
Secured initial investment (£65k) from Lancaster Vision Board for full feasibility study
What does the future hold for MID?
All Partners agree that it has been a force for good
Need to formalise its structure and operating / reporting channels Potential issues around ownership / accountability
Already been approached to offer MID consortium assistance to a number of Regional bids for business support
Investigating opportunities and developing themes for MID continuation under the forthcoming NWOP
Carbon Footprinting for SMEs
Delivered under the banner of the Sustainable Product Development Project (sub-Project of CAS:CADE) Thursday 13th March 2008 Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University
Aimed specifically at engineering and manufacturing SMEs
No cost to eligible (Obj2 FE) SMEs
Delegates will receive free Carbon Footprint Calculator
Details at: http://www.lpdu.lancs.ac.uk
9th National Conference on Rapid Design, Prototyping & Manufacturing
Coming to the North West Region for the first time in its history Friday 13th June 2008 Engineering Dept, Lancaster University
Low-cost delegate fees
Showcasing the latest in UK academic R&D and industrial case studies
http://www.rpnationalconference.com
