Wednesday February 14

10.30 – 11.10

Anchoring lean in marine, CAUTION... forecast rough seas ahead!

Tim Walrond, MAS South West

Prepare your business to meet the challenges presented to us in today’s global marine market, by attending a South West DTI Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) lean awareness seminar.

This is an interactive workshop that will raise participants’ awareness of the seven major wastes in industry and give them an understanding of how lean techniques can be used to eliminate these non-value adding activities.

12:00 – 12:40

Rejection of goods - the defences

Nigel John (British Marine Federation), Tim Reynolds (Dyer Burdett + Co) and Russell Kelly (LA Marine)

The current fad for rejection of craft or equipment reflects unrealistic consumer expectations and a misplaced perception that legislation obliges manufacturers to deliver perfection.

Prudent affirmative early action is essential. Hear how to do it from the experts.

14:30 – 15:10

Perspectives for the global and UK economy in 2007

Kenneth Broux, Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets

Higher interest rates across the world in 2007 may spark a rebound in volatility and force investors in currency and interest rate markets to re-rate their risk profile.

The dollar is forecast to recover in 2007 and we expect another solid performance for the UK economy next year. But the Bank of England may have to raise interest rates beyond 5.0%.

Thursday February 15

09.00 – 09:45

The Breakfast Briefing - Bricks Vs Clicks

Chaired by David Lewin, chairman of the MTA, with a panel of John Gardner from Piplers of Poole representing conventional chandlers, Tim Millinder of Marathon Leisure representing the suppliers and Karl Pentin of Safety Marine UK representing the Internet chandlers

The proliferation of web trading has brought out a host of Internet chandlers that hold little stock (if any) and undercut the conventional bricks & mortar chandleries.

But Internet trading is now firmly established as a route to market, so Internet traders, suppliers and conventional retailers must learn to work alongside each other.

This seminar sees a panel of three – a supplier, a conventional chandler and an Internet chandler - answering questions from the floor on how all three can work together for mutual benefit.

15.00 – 15.40

Total opportunity analysis

Patrick Lee, senior manufacturing specialist, MAS South East

The presentation will provide an insight into the tool that enables businesses to understand the key cost elements and how they are influenced by process and organisational performance.

As a tool, Total Opportunity Analysis provides a mechanism to evaluate financial potential of the business based on reaching the theoretical maximum process and people performance and therefore provides direction for any lean or change implementation programme.

Picture – if necessary – BBExPside 1

Last year’s Breakfast Briefing on the Internet saw over 100 people and standing room only at the back