Manufacturing Advisory Service
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) focuses on helping small and medium sized manufacturers to grow.
MAS provides companies, whatever their size, with practical support on all aspects of manufacturing and offers direct access to manufacturing experts with a proven track record. Subsidised consultancy assistance is available where it is needed.
MAS delivers advice to manufacturers to improve their productivity and competitiveness. There are five main levels of service offered to businesses in need of manufacturing related support:
1. FREE helpdesk and research service - A quick query service. Experts will be happy to answer questions on a wide range of technical issues or could spend up to 2 hours researching your problem. Call now on Tel: 0845 658 9600 or email: advice@mymas.org
2. Manufacturing Review FREE to SME manufacturers - experienced manufacturing advisors will carry out a hands-on assessment and diagnostic of your business that will highlight areas of opportunity or action you can take to improve operational performance. All initial advice relating to this is also free of charge. Contact the Advice Line 0845 658 9600 to find out more.
3. Events - training and networking events to help improve awareness and skills related to manufacturing issues and best practice. See the events section of the www.mymas.org website.
4. Subsidised Consultancy Support for SMEs - MAS can provide up to 50% of the cost of an expert to help you improve your business, at two different levels:
- Up to £1,000 and 50% subsidy towards basic improvement projects
- Step-Change – up to £3,000 and 50% subsidy towards more complex projects
5. Signposting and Referral - for non-manufacturing queries, such as human resources, legal or environmental issues, MAS works closely with a range of organisations to ensure manufacturers have access to a full range of business support services.
The MAS programme has always aimed to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing businesses. The common services and support MAS provides focuses on:
- Innovation - assisting in growing top line sales and employment through new product development, innovation and business strategy programmes.
- Strategy - assisting clients to plan for growth by combining best practice with tailored regional plans designed to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and plan for a suitable future.
- Operational Improvement - assisting to identify constraints, quantify impacts and design transition plans to realise targeted operational output.
- Supply Chain - assisting to realise efficiencies through improved coordination with suppliers and customers.
- Finance - assisting clients by providing consultancy tailored to their financial requirements including manufacturing market insights, bespoke research into key markets, one-to-one strategic support and financial consulting from manufacturing experienced staff.
- Technology - assisting companies to obtain a competitive advantage through the exploitation and commercialisation of technology.
The MAS service is delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Consortium (MAC) which includes Pera, Grant Thornton, West Midlands Manufacturing Consortium and South West MAS. This consortium has a specific focus on driving business growth through strategic and technical support for SMEs developing advanced manufacturing capabilities and creating high value jobs. Enabling business improvement with manufacturers operating in global supply chains; and linking SMEs with the apprenticeship programme delivering a minimum of 1,250 engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships annually.