Press Release

The future of manufacturing in the UK - Are we facing our greatest opportunity or will we watch it pass by?

3rd July 2007

Innovative and award-winning Kent business Jali Home Designs (“Jali”) held their first inspirational factory visit for the Manufacturing Insights programme on 28 June 2007.

Owner and founder, Nicholas Showan, challenged visitors on the current prognosis which continually expounds the decline of manufacturing in the UK by saying:

“Right now, more than ever before, we are facing our greatest opportunity for manufacturing in the UK, because we have a vast range of new technologies, systems, experience and skills to lead the way. This opportunity will not last for ever. Other countries will rapidly evolve and catch us up. We need to act now!”

He believes that companies that are labour intensive have to automate to survive. Whilst this is not necessarily new, Nicholas’ passion and vision stressed that most companies are only making a partial attempt to automate and innovate – they do not look at the whole production system – from the customer through to delivery - and how technology can be used to optimise processes and reduce human intervention.

The award-winning factory enables Jali to manufacture bespoke furniture components quickly and economically. A combination of the efficiency of production line techniques and the flexibility of a traditional joinery has allowed Jali to develop individual state-of-the-art computer-controlled cutting machines. Some of the techniques that Nicholas has introduced to the Jali business include many of the lean toolbox concepts such as: Muda (Waste elimination); SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die); Kaizen; Gemba; JIT (Just-In-Time); Do now and Do Lists, Kaikaku; Kanban etc All of which have contributed to a joined up seamless production process.

Jali are among the few selected companies in London and the South East of England who have been approved as hosts on the best practice visit programme. The programme is being delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) South East and MAS London.

Through the Manufacturing Insights – a best practice company visits programme – successful manufacturing companies are opening their doors to senior representatives from other manufacturing companies across the South East and in London.

www.mas-se.org.uk

Ends

Media enquiries:

Charlotte Lockwood, Account Manager
Harvest Marketing Communications
Tel: 023 9244 9655
Email: charlotte.lockwood@harvestpr.co.uk

Further information on the Manufacturing Insights initiative can be found at:
info@manufacturinginsights.co.uk and www.manufacturinginsights.co.uk.
Or

Contact and further information:
Ailsa Kaye – Programme Director
Manufacturing Insights
Ground Floor Offices
90 St Mary’s Road
Hayling Island
Hampshire
PO11 9AT
Tel: 023 9246 8978

Manufacturing Insights

Manufacturing Insights is a best practice company visits programme designed to facilitate the sharing of innovation and best practice among manufacturing companies in the South East of England with the aim of improving business performance.

The Programme is operated on behalf of the Manufacturing Advisory Service – South East, and was officially launched on 7th September 2006.

The company visit model is a popular, tried and tested method of learning; it gives business leaders the opportunity to see at first hand how other companies have achieved success and adapt ideas and techniques to suit their own operation.

Further information may be found at: www.manufacturinginsights.co.uk


MAS South East

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) in the South East provides straightforward advice and practical support to improve manufacturing competitiveness.

Funded by SEEDA and delivered by EEF South, the Regional Centre of Manufacturing Excellence, with the support of the Business Link network, SEEDA regards MAS as one of its key initiatives aimed at providing support to the manufacturing sector.

The MAS South East supports manufacturers in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex. Manufacturers can reach MAS South East Specialists by calling the Information Desk on 0845 609 2121, by visiting www.mas-se.org.uk or by emailing info@mas-se.org.uk

Jali Limited

Jali creates custom-made bespoke furniture items including bookcases, cupboards, radiator cabinets and drawer units. Everything is individually made to the exact size required by each customer and delivered in under two weeks.
The company was started in 1990 by the founder in his garden shed, and moved to Albion Works in 1992. A new factory was built to accommodate increased business and new machines in 2001-2002.

This award-winning factory, based in Kent, enables Jali to manufacture bespoke furniture components quickly and economically. Using the internet, the customer can design and configure their own joinery, obtain a price and even negotiate the delivery. They can then put their order into production and effectively ‘drive’ the £1m robotic factory – all within the space of a few minutes.

A combination of the efficiency of production line techniques and the flexibility of a traditional joinery has allowed Jali to develop individual state-of-the-art computer-controlled cutting machines which will cut out continually differing parts as if they were on a production line.

This makes massive savings. These are passed on to the customer in the form of rapidly-delivered, cost-effective joinery.

Jali are now working on expanding the range to include office furniture and storage units, wardrobes, AV & TV cabinets and more.

For more information, www.jali.co.uk