The document discusses the benefits of collaboration through the Midland Assembly Network (MAN) group in the UK. It defines collaboration and explains how MAN allows small to medium sized manufacturers to work together to increase capabilities, market competitively, share knowledge and resources, and secure larger contracts. Originally formed in 2005 with six companies, MAN has since grown to include nine member companies and provides its combined expertise and manufacturing capabilities across many industries for customers in over 35 countries.

1. The Benefits of Collaboration
& The concept of MAN
Tony Hague – Managing Director, PP Electrical Systems
Chairman – Midland Assembly Network (MAN Group)

2. Define….
 Collaboration is working with others to do a task and to achieve shared goals
 Process where two or more or organizations work together to realize shared goals
 This is more than the intersection of common goals seen in co-operative ventures,
but a deep, collective determination to reach an identical objective
 For example, an endeavour that is creative in nature
 By sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus
 Most collaboration requires leadership, although the form of leadership can be
social within a decentralized and egalitarian group.
 In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources,
recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources

3. Not New..?
 Japan – official “cluster groups”, both industry specific
and geographical
eg. Automotive, semiconductor, etc…
 Germany – cultural “supply chain groups”, area specific.
Mittelstand “family” owned businesses, like to work with
local companies.

4. Man Group – Our companies
A collection of complementary, non-competing UK Manufacturers:

5. Benefits to Members
 A more “powerful” sales message.
 Increased scope of supply.
 We can “punch above our weight.”

6. Our manufacturing capabilities

7. Benefits to Members
 Marketing & PR – increased exposure, shared cost.
 Shared knowledge, best practice.
 Apprentice “sharing”
 Personal “scaffolding”

8. Benefits to Members
 Enhanced links to academia, leading to student placements, KTPs etc…
“The Warwick Manufacturing Group is
an academic department at the
University of Warwick, providing
research, education and knowledge
transfer in engineering, manufacturing
and technology.”

9. Background to MAN
In 2005, UK manufacturing was:
 Suffering from the collapse of major manufacturers,
including MG Rover, Peugeot’s Ryton Plant and Agco
 Impeded by a lack of Government support
 Faced with increasing commercial pressures from low
cost rivals in Eastern Europe, the Far East and sub-
continent
 Struggling with lack of ambition, confidence and under
investment in technology

10. The beginning of the MAN Group
Originally a group of six non-competing,
like-minded companies joined forces to
create the Midlands Assembly Network (MAN)
The focus was on working together to:
 Increase capability
 Retain existing work
 Win new orders
 Create added value
 Offer single source manufacturing
 Collective marketing
 Supported by Accelerate

11. MAN in 2014
 MAN is made up of 9 SME companies plus WMG as an academic associate.
 Combined turnover > £65M in over 20 different industry sectors.
 Since it’s inception in 2005, MAN has successfully secured in excess of £25m
of orders and created over 100 new jobs.
 Together, it has access to world class facilities and serves customers in
more than 35 countries across the globe.
 Employs over 650 staff
 More than £3m invested every year in new machinery and developing
technologies.
 Comprehensive training programme in place and over 30 apprentices now
employed.

12. Man Group – Our markets
Aerospace
Medical
Automotive
Telecomms
Defence Food Processing
White Goods Renewables
SecurityScientific Equipment PowerPrinting

13. Benefit to the customer…
 A single point of contact ( responsibility)
 A mass of knowledge ( inner & outer circles )
 Risk management.

14. Man Group – Benefits & Results
CUSTOMERS BENEFITS:
Full design and prototyping service
Design for manufacturer skills
Production volume manufacturer; low,
medium and high volume
Full supply chain management
and logistical support
Strong links with academic institutions
Accredited to all major quality
and industry approvals
THIS RESULTS IN:
Improved engineering design
Vendor rationalisation
Inventory reductions
Cost down conformance
Reduce time to market
Efficient and highly flexible manufacturing
Risk minimisation
Proven track record of developing new
technology and products
A World class performance

15. CASE STUDY – Guardfreight
MAN has worked with Guardfreight to design
and produce a prototype for E-Containerlock
and will shortly be entering into low to medium
volume production. So far Barkley Plastics,
Mec Com, SMT Developments and Westley
Engineering have been involved.
What do we do?

16. Man Group – Our customers

17.  None competing members that “complement” each other.
 A democracy, but not a “free for all.”
 Ten MD’s in one room………, hence a “Chairman.”
 Monthly strategy and sales meeting are held to pre-empt
sector drives and maximise business opportunities
 A clear business plan & measurable objectives ( its not a social club)
 Equality of input & effort.
 Marketing and communications specialists in place
 The right blend of personalities – “know, like & trust…”
Key to Collaboration

18. Man Group – Achievements
Design and manufacture of
front and rear callipers for
Bugatti.
This is a unique monobloc
construction, creating a
mechanically stronger product
required to slow the car down
to zero, from 253 mph… faster
than it can accelerate to the
same speed !

19. Man Group – Achievements
Manufacture of the crucial ‘pump
slotting shields’ that were used in
CERN’s world famous Large Hadron
Collider

20. Man Group – Achievements
Cast the top and
bottom caps used to
hold the 2012
Olympic Torch
together

21. Man Group – Achievements
 Development of OEM equipment used for nano-coating

22. Man Group – Achievements
James Pittard, Director of Loqski, said
“We are delighted to be producing
product in the UK with our
manufacturing partners the Midlands
based MAN-Group. The close
relationship between ourselves and the
MAN-Group will deliver parts ready for
the 2014/15 ski season”
select MAN-Group as
Manufacturing Partner

23. Man Group – Achievements
Man Group member beats off international competition in Off Shore Wind
The ability to offer total manufacturing
solutions has played a major role in
securing £8m of new contracts to
supply assembly and testing for
Siemens and a large manufacturing
package for Alstom Grid.
With an investment in excess of £1m
on capital equipment and a second
facility plus additional staff MAN Group
will be supplying Sheet Metal
Fabrication, Electro-mechanical
Assembly and Transformer Assembly.

24. Man Group – Future projects

25. Man Group & Collaboration
 It works
 It’s “fun”
 It’s fulfilling
 It creates a sense of shared purpose