The Engineering & Manufacturing Network

Engineering & Manufacturing Marketers' Meet-Up
2023-07-12 12:00 - 14:00, 2023-10-18 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | Horizon Works Marketing 14 Berrymoor Court Cramlington NE23 7RZ
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EMN Marketing Surgery Session
2023-08-16 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-09-20 09:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Online webinar, EMN Tanfield, Stanley, Co Durham, DH8 8LF, United Kingdom
Contact Samantha Vassallo: +44 (0)777 228 3759

EMCON 23
2023-09-14 | Rainton Arena Mercantile Road Houghton le Spring DH4 5PH

Increasing the size of your talent pool and plugging the leaks!
2023-09-14 01:00 - 14:00 | Rainton Arena Mercantile Road Houghton le Spring DH4 5PH
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We’re delighted to host Engineering Together and the Womens’ Engineering Society Tyne Tees Cluster at EMCON 23!
This fringe event will take place on site at this years exhibition and is open to anyone Involved or interested in the attraction, recruitment or retention of staff within the engineering & manufacturing sector.
According to the Closing the Gap 2030 Report by MAKE UK, in 2022 there were 92,000 live vacancies in the manufacturing sector, and recruitment remains a real concern.
So what’s the solution? Increasing the size of the talent pool from which to fish can help…but that means no longer “recruiting engineers and manufacturers in your own image”. If we hire individuals who share similar backgrounds, experiences, skills and perspectives as team members and managers, then we limit the skill sets, the potential innovation and risk suffering from groupthink – stifling new ideas and critical thinking.
Diversity in terms of background, gender, ethnicity, neurodiversity and experience is proven to lead to more innovative solutions, but recruiting from a more diverse pool also comes with its challenges which must be addressed head on. And after spending time on recruitment from diverse groups, we’re still leaking talent! What can we do to encourage retention and return to work for a diverse workforce?
Hear tangible solutions and good practice from engineering & manufacturing colleagues on the attraction, recruitment & retention of a more diverse workforce. Strike a balance between hiring for ease of integration with bringing in different perspectives. Promote diversity, actively seek candidates from different backgrounds and create rounded innovative teams.
It’s good for business!
Timings
13:00 Introductions – Jo Douglas-Harris, Chair of the Women Engineering Society Tyne Tees Cluster
13:05 – 14:00

REACH more candidates – STEMAZING is a Call to Action to collectively amplify the voice of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths so we can create a more diverse and inclusive STEM future
RECRUIT more effectively – language, target groups – with Lauren Bathan Associate Director – HR Partnership at Jackson Hogg Limited
RETAIN more people – peer groups; allies; health & well being, language, team leader & supervisor training; culture; travel – with Paula McMahon, Civil Engineer at Sir Robert McAlpine and Co-Chair SRM Gender Equality Network;
RETURN after absence – flexible or phased return; – STEM Returners – A multi award winning helping employers access the very best available talent whilst improving their diversity & inclusion.
Q & A
14:00 onwards Look around EMCON 23

NE Maintenance Forum meets EMCON 23!
2023-09-14 08:45 - 10:00 | Rainton Arena Mercantile Road Houghton le Spring DH4 5PH
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We’re delighted to host the University of Sunderland NE Maintenance Forum this year at EMCON23 !
This EMCON 23 fringe event will take place on site at this years exhibition and is open to maintenance engineers and operators from companies across the North East.
Come and join us for breakfast and listen to Rob Cook, Senior Engineering Manager for Marelli Automotive, one of the world’s leading global independent suppliers to the automotive sector and Aidan Roche from Suez Environmental who specialise in innovations for circular water and waste solutions.
Rob and Aidan will be presenting on all things maintenance mangement, sharing good practice and answering your questions and afterwards you can look round EMCON 23 – the regions specialist Expo for the regions engineering & manufacturing SMEs for even more networking, making connections and peer to peer support.
Timings

Arrival 8.45 am
Fringe event 9am – 10am
10am onwards – look around EMCON 23

Shaping Tomorrows Supply Chain - Procurement Law Dynamics & ESG Imperatives
2023-09-14 14:30 - 15:30 | Rainton Arena Mercantile Road Houghton le Spring DH4 5PH
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We’re delighted to bring this specialist fringe event hosted by Muckle LLP this year to EMCON23
This EMCON 23 fringe event will take place on site at this years exhibition and is open to buyers and suppliers alike from the engineering & manufacturing sector.
Public sector procurement touches all aspects of engineering & manufacturing– and its best practice themes are used by the private sector. In this session Alison Walton, A Legal 500 UK ‘Recommended Lawyer’ and head of our Procurement and Subsidy Control team at Muckle LLP will explore the practical changes that are coming to the law surrounding public procurement, how this will impact both those that write tenders and those that bid for them. Alison will cover:
• The current public regime and how it impacts on private supply chains (payment terms etc)
• What changes are on their way and the impact these will have for all bidders and;
• Best practice themes likely to emerge in private sector
This will be followed by a short session on ESG Imperatives – an insight into the core principles of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and how how ESG considerations are having a significant impact on procurement decisions across public and private supply chains.
Keep ahead of the curve – combine a bit of CPD and knowledge building with attendance at the regions biggest SME engineering & manufacturing showcase – meet some of your potential local suppliers and buyers.
Timings

EMCON opens from 9am
Shaping Tomorrow’s Supply Chain fringe event 2.30 – 3.30pm
EMCON closes 4pm

EMN Members trip to Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)
2023-10-10 | The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) Ansty Park Coventry CV7 9JU
Our trusted affiliate, Lloyds Bank, partners with the national Manufacturing Technology Centre who work with Manufacturing Support Services (MSS). The MSS team is made up of experienced senior engineers and backed by the MTC to support manufacturing businesses from across the UK and Lloyds Bank sponsors them to provide support to SME’s.
The team at Lloyds have kindly offered to sponsor a visit down to the MTC in Coventry on Tuesday 10th October 2023 for EMN members. We already have 10 companies signed up and are looking for a further 10.
Coach collection in Newcastle/Durham (depending on where most people coming from) returning the same day. One free space per EMN member only I’m afraid as there are limited spaces.
The SME Support Guide from the Manufacturing Technology Centre explains all the challenges the MTC can assist SME’s to address including productivity, supply chain robustness, digitalisation, technology road mapping, technology adoption, and new product and process development.
They also offer a free no obligation 3 – 5 hr line walk service to gain a better understanding of your business by one of their senior engineers who will then look to suggest projects that can add value. Any support up until and including the line walk is free of charge with no future obligation as it’s part of the Lloyds partnership with the MTC.
This is genuinely a fantastic facility and an opportunity not to be missed.

LEAN WORKSHOP GROUP INTEGRATES LEAN MANAGEMENT AND INDUSTRY 4.0
2023-10-18 09:30 - 15:30 | Robert Bosch Ltd, Denham
The Lean Workshop Group is once again gearing up to support engineering and manufacturing companies in driving operational excellence through Lean Tools & Techniques and Industry 4.0. The event is due to take place on 18 and 19 October 2023 at Robert Bosch Ltd in Denham, London.
The event will showcase how integrating lean management and Industry 4.0 to address pain points will provide manufacturers with a host of benefits such as real time data to accelerate production management, data driven quality control and training in virtual reality to improve working conditions.
Delegates will have an opportunity to participate in practical and interactive sessions, using the advanced equipment from the Lean Workshop Group’s partner companies. Key topics which will be covered include Visual Management, 5S (Workplace Organisation), Standard Operation Development, Work Content and Workplace Design, Logistics Operations, KANBAN Systems, ANDON, Intelligent Sensor Technology, Fundamental Skills Training, Cordless Power Tools, Autonomous Mobile Robots and Industry 4.0 Applications.
The Lean Workshop Group is a consortium of eight of the most innovative suppliers to the manufacturing sector: Bosch Rexroth, Spitfire, SICK UK, Orgatex, Bosch Power Tools, Visual Management Technology, WERMA Signaltechnik and K Hartwall.
Jonathan Wright, partner at the Lean Workshop Group, said: “We are delighted to be hosting two workshops at Robert Bosch. Utilising the latest lean techniques, our experts will empower attendees with the knowledge and tools they need to adopt advanced technologies to bolster their business processes.
“If you’re a Leader or Engineer in Manufacturing, Operations, Continuous Improvement, or Digital Transformations, and you’re committed to achieving peak efficiency and securing competitive advantage, I would encourage you to sign up today!”
The FREE events will be held between 9.30am and 3.30pm on Wednesday 18 or Thursday 19 October 2023 at Robert Bosch Ltd, Denham. For more information and to book click here

Engineers & Manufacturers Assemble – Husquvarna
2023-11-22 08:30 - 11:00 | Preston Rd, Newton Aycliffe DL5 6UP
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Join engineers, manufacturers, maintenance, production managers, senior leaders and BDMs for breakfast, networking & a tour of Husquvarna at their site in Newton Aycliffe.
More information to follow.
Draft Agenda
8.30 – 9.30 am Networking & Breakfast
9.30 – 9.35 am Welcome from Engineering & Manufacturing Network
9.35 – 9.50 am Welcome & Introduction – Caraline Robinson, Manufacturing Director of Husquvarna Group
9.50 -10.10 am Presentation 1
10.10 – 10.30 am Presentation 2 / Discussion
10.30 -11.00 am Tour of Husquvarna Site
Peer to peer activity is proven to:
• Improve understanding – when you explain a concept to someone else, you have to think about it more deeply and in a different way. This can help you to better understand the concept yourself – the power of thinking out loud!
• Increase motivation – you are often more motivated to learn when you are working with others and creating a sense of camaraderie.
NB: This event is open to members and non members of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network but preference will be given to members when the event is full.
If you make, manufacture or engineer products (not software) please choose the Engineering and Manufacturing Company ticket
If you deliver or sell services into Engineering and Manufacturing, please choose the Service Company ticket option.
Please – only one ticket per person and if you are unable to come as the event approaches – please let us know so we can release your ticket to others. Thanks
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Engineers & Manufacturers Assemble -Onsite tour of Parmley Graham Digitisation Discussion of Community Project
2023-11-23 10:00 - 12:30 | Parmley Graham, South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3AE
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Engineering Manufacturing Network in collaboration with Durham University Business Teesside University School, JAG Design and Parmley Graham are looking to engage with like-minded manufacturing companies across the Northeast. The project is to review and identify the barriers our sector face daily. Although the project has five areas in which research is being carried out, two of the research areas will impact members of the Engineering Manufacturing Network.
Understand the challenges faced by local manufacturers in upskilling their employees while embracing digital transformation and in attracting a future workforce to manufacturing.
Assess the potential of a digital platform in changing the community’s perception towards manufacturing, improving skills, reducing the digital divide and improving youth engagement in manufacturing.
We propose to bring a group of like-minded manufacturers together from across the Northeast and discuss issues around the two topics. The first event will be hosted at Parmley Graham, Gateshead |Site 23rd November .At the event, we can openly discuss the challenges faced by manufacturers and give examples of digital applications that have improved productivity and throughput. Interested parties will be informed of the date and time in November once confirmed.
This project will enable the companies involved to contribute to the direction of government investment for manufacturing in the next decade. We will also examine what skills our workforce will need as we embrace technology across the shop floor and beyond.
If you would like to be involved and set out the plan for manufacturing for the next decade, please get in touch with kaye@emn.org.uk at the EMN and inform her of your interest or register via the eventbrite link below.

9.45 am arrive for 10 am start.
10.00 am Welcome and introduction to morning by Parmley Graham
Ian Connor
10.05 am Introduction to digitisation and IoT applications
Abhishek Doshi
10.40 am Introduction to Community co-created distributed manufacturing platform project
Prof Atanu Chaudhuri
10.45 am Tour of IoT display room and Digital Twin Centre
11: 20 am Discussion on Digitalisation and IoT adoption challenges and inputs to Community co-created distributed manufacturing platform project- Prof Atanu Chaudhuri and Dr. Usman Adeel
12:00 IoT discussion with Parmley Graham, Jag Design team and networking
12.30 pm Close
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Engineers and Manufacturers Assemble – For a Christmas Social
2023-12-14 17:30 - 20:30 | Prince Bishops Place, 30-31 High Street, Durham, DH1 3UL
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A gathering of current and prospective Engineering & Manufacturing Network Members!
Come and join us for an informal gathering of the members, meet the Team, the Directors and Affiliates accompanied with drinks and nibbles.
Celebrate our 2023 member promotional campaign – our on line advent calendar that celebrates one of our members each week day in December – highlighting their skills, capabilities , products and/or services.
Help us launch our “Refer a new member” programme to strengthen the Network and further increase EMNs reach and benefits for its members.
Agenda
5.30pm Arrive – mingle
6.30pm Welcome from Engineering & Manufacturing Network
6.45pm More chat, mingling and Gin Tasting
8.30pm Official close – feel free to stick around if you like and sample more gin.
Peer to peer activity is proven to:
• Improve understanding – when you explain a concept to someone else, you have to think about it more deeply and in a different way. This can help you to better understand the concept yourself – the power of thinking out loud!
• Increase motivation – you are often more motivated to learn when you are working with others and creating a sense of camaraderie.
NB: This event is open to members and non members of the Engineering and Manufacturing Network but preference will be given to members when the event is full.
If you make, manufacture or engineer products (not software) please choose the Engineering and Manufacturing Company ticket
If you deliver or sell services into Engineering and Manufacturing, please choose the Service Company ticket option.
Please – only one ticket per person and if you are unable to come as the event approaches – please let us know so we can release your ticket to others. Thanks
Book Now
