Institution news
The prestigious event was held at the University of Warwick on 30 September.
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, founder and chairman of WMG and long-standing supporter of the MX Awards; and Dr Colin Brown, Engineering Director at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, welcomed the nominees and guests at a drinks reception in WMG’s International Digital Laboratory.
The awards ceremony took place after dinner; the evening was hosted by Jeremy Vine; and Dr Ralf Speth, CEO Jaguar Land Rover, was the guest speaker.
Christopher Simpson, MX Awards Chairman, commented: “The Manufacturing Excellence Awards were established to support and encourage manufacturing industries in the UK and this remains very much our focus. Over the years, many major blue chip companies have engaged with MX; but it is also the small and medium companies that gain benefit from exposure to the renowned rigour of the MX self-assessment process.
"It gives me great pleasure to congratulate all companies who participated in MX 2014 and in particular the winners, including the overall winner, Cummins Inc., and the best SME, Mech-Tool Engineering.”
The evening’s award winners were:
- Department for Business, Innovation & Skills Award for Overall Winner - Cummins Inc.
- Lombard Award for Best SME - Mech-Tool Engineering Limited; Highly commended: Subsea Technologies Limited
- NatWest Award for Business Development and Change Management - Building Adhesives Limited
- AESSEAL Award for Customer Focus - Elster Water Metering Limited; Highly commended: Tek-Tanks Ltd
- Grant Thornton Award for Financial Management - ZF Lemforder UK Ltd
- WMG Award for Logistics and Operational Efficiency - Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group
- The ERA Foundation Award for Partnership with Education - Selex ES Ltd
- Renishaw Award for Innovation in Products and Processes - Altro Ltd
- Hexagon Metrology Award for Sustainable Manufacturing - Brother Industries (UK) Limited
- Manufacturing Advisory Service Award for People Effectiveness - Loadhog Ltd; Highly commended: Mabey Bridge Ltd
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills Award for Overall Winner: Cummins Inc.
The Darlington-based diesel engine maker is part of a global group, with its base in the US. The Darlington Engine Plant (DEP) employs about 750 people, while the wider group employs about 48,000.
Cummins was a finalist in no less than six categories: customer focus, innovation in products and processes, people effectiveness, business development and change management, sustainable manufacturing, and for its partnerships with education. The judges felt that the company had very strong core values that underpinned the activities of its staff across the business, from design through to production and aftersales. The company shows commitment to its apprenticeship and graduate schemes and there is clear evidence of career development and promotion from within.
Desmond McMenamin, Plant Manager for Cummins in Darlington, said: “The award is recognition for all employees at DEP from the Institution for their continuous improvement efforts over recent years. DEP entered these awards in order to benefit from an independent review of our key processes. The valuable feedback from this external benchmarking process has helped us to identify areas that we can make further improvements upon in the near future. To win the overall award was a much welcomed bonus to this process.”
Lombard Award for Best SME: Mech-Tool Engineering Limited
Mech-Tool Engineering could be seen as the perfect embodiment of an agile, free-thinking SME. Ten years ago, the Darlington-based company employed 90 people and turned over £7.5 million. Now it has 270 employees and puts £30 million through its books. It began by making blast and fire resistant cladding, before expanding its range to offer complete solutions such as accommodation modules for oil rigs and other structures. Mech-Tool has also developed its consultancy services, now advising larger companies around the world.
Marshall Garner, Mech-Tool Engineering Chief Executive, said: “There is a sense of pride at Mech-Tool in winning this award because it recognises the company’s achievements in improving manufacturing efficiencies over recent years; and validates the programmes which are being implemented to make further advances.
“Great value is placed on an IMechE MX Award as the Institution is so closely aligned to the design and engineering activities of the company.”
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the awards. Visit our section on the
MX Awards to find out further details.