Chairman's Note

The Manufacturing Industries Divisional Board (MID) is undertaking on a period of renewal.

We are still carrying on with our extensive core activities.

The renewal has two aspects, the first is the renewal of the membership of the committees, the second is the refocusing and the redefinition of what is manufacturing and aligning our activities around this new focus. This aligns with the Institutions strategy to promote the importance of manufacturing.

We are using the following IfM definition to encapsulate the breadth of activity covered and required by modern manufacturing;

“The modern definition of manufacturing is broad. The full cycle of activities from research, design and development, production, logistics, and service provision to end of life management. This definition makes a strong distinction between production (the physical processes of making, bending, etc) and manufacturing (the over-arching process of getting raw materials to goods and their associated services). (IfM)”

We are developing a number of themes and specific areas and these can be seen on the associated presentation MID Strategy [PDF]. All comments would be very welcome.

In addition our annual general meeting lectures have sought to get across the role of design and new product development in the overall activity.

We will keep you updated!

Steve Culley
Professor S.J.Culley Chair MID Board