GTMA supporting reshoring – Engineering Capacity

The association has invested
in a number of schemes to support this, including the Toolmakers’ Census and
Supply Chain Clusters initiative.”,sans-serif;>

The latter underlines the
association’s confidence in supporting the UK Supply Chain to develop focused
working groups as Clusters. To achieve this GTMA has appointed Alan Arthur to
manage the drive to bring key advanced manufacturing sectors together with
capable and competent suppliers. “,sans-serif;>

Working from the GTMA’s Manufacturing
Resource Centre in Alcester, Warwickshire, Dr Arthur will expand the Centre’s
active involvement in sectors such as aerospace, automotive, medical, marine,
rail, energy, oil and gas as well as general precision engineering.”,sans-serif;>

The GTMA says that as a
chartered engineer with a PhD, Dr Arthur’s background in mechanical engineering
and additive manufacturing places him in an excellent position to develop the
Supply Chain strategy. He will be responsible for further establishing the
GTMA’s supply chains in its key sectors of tool making, jigs & fixtures,
workholding, metrology, and precision machining. “,sans-serif;>

Association chief executive,
Julia Moore, says: “Results from our most recent survey show the industry is
still upbeat. Confidence was one of the clearer indicators about future
expectations with many members anecdotally looking forward to 2015 in the
belief that a more stable and sustainable environment will see business demand
increase further. These initiatives have been set up to support this.””,sans-serif;>

With the Toolmakers’ Census
on track to be completed by Spring 2015, it will provide a comprehensive map of
the toolmaking, precision machining and engineering companies capabilities
available to industry looking to bring manufacturing back to Britain. “,sans-serif;>

Additionally, the GTMA will
be developing its partnerships with organisations such as the SMMT, Composites
UK, Renewable UK and other leaders in the rail, marine and aerospace industry
associations to deliver a coherent supply chain strategy.”,sans-serif;>

“This work will be
instrumental in assisting UK industry as it seeks to bring work back to the UK,
supporting the sectors that are experiencing issues with insufficient companies
to cope with the demands that they are facing, such as the aerospace and
automotive industries by looking up and down the supply chain,” says Julia
Moore.”,sans-serif;>

In partnership with the AMRC,
the GTMA recently launched a suite of CNC training courses that cover from
introductory level right through to advanced level. Specifically tailored to
ensure all candidates acquire and develop the required skills in CNC milling
and turning to perform at the highest level in today’s modern engineering environment,
the objective at each course level is to make sure that attendees have access
to one of the world’s most advanced training programmes.”,sans-serif;>

Designed for the toolmaking and
precision machining industries, Julia Moore, explains that the new courses are an
important step in helping to fill the skills shortage. She says: “Courses will
be held at both the AMRC’s facility in Sheffield and in the Midlands at our
Manufacturing Resource Centre in Alcester.”  “,sans-serif;>