Member Article

NEAA launches Manufacturing Innovation Group

The North East Automotive Alliance’s (NEAA) has launched a new Manufacturing Innovation Group (MIG), forming part of the alliance’s Innovation and Technology thematic strategy group.

The group hopes to deliver a consolidated approach to manufacturing project challenges, pooling regional knowledge and resources to identify best solutions for maximum productivity and adoption.

The Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing (CESAM) will reportedly play a central part in the group looking to drive collaboration.

A manufacturing excellence partnership between NEAA, industry, Universities and funders, CESAM will deliver collaborative projects, maximise funding support and the transfer of knowledge.

Together with the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), a new development on land north of Nissan, and the Skills Institute, there is a great push to look at developing competitive sustainable manufacturing as a catalyst for future growth and expansion in the region.

David Johnson, General Manager, Nissan Europe Production Engineering and Chair of the NEAA MIG said: “The MIG was founded on the premise that regardless of position in the automotive industry, OEM to Tier N supplier, the challenges and headwinds are common.

“How to overcome these headwinds in a fast, efficient way to maintain competitiveness is key to the sustainability of our businesses.

“This forum allows members to share issues that we are willing to toss into the open innovation arena. Through this sharing, we can identify synergies and pool resource to provide solutions faster and with less cost thus reducing overall risk.”

Paul Butler, CEO, NEA, added: “In order to remain a globally competitive region for the automotive manufacturing we need to stimulate more innovation in our manufacturing processes.

“The principle objective of this group is to drive manufacturing innovation and help companies move towards the factory of the future.”

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