On 20^th June, the Manufacturing Advisory Service and WMG are running a unique event introducing manufacturers to MAS’s New Product Development Gateway programme, as well as a range of innovative technology and tools available at WMG’s International Institute for Product and Service Innovation.

The event will help local manufacturing SMEs create products that will give them a competitive advantage.

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and WMG have a long history of working together and are both part of the West Midlands Manufacturing Consortium that delivers MAS support across the region.

During the day, the following sessions will be held:

Low Volume Manufacturing

A practical session offering an introduction to Additive Layer Manufacturing Technology and how it is possible to develop prototypes and tooling through this technology.

Product Benefits

A session using a "Design with Intent" toolkit to look at what specific behaviours you can derive through clever product design and how you can better meet user requirements.

Social Media as an Intelligence Tool

How chatter and discussion on Twitter et al can help you determine what your competitors are doing and how you might use social media to create advocates and a community to ultimately sell your products.

The event will also feature representatives from the University of Warwick Science Park and local Law firm Withers & Rogers to talk about how businesses can access finance and Intellectual Property support.

Dr Mark Swift, Head of SME Programmes at WMG, University of Warwick says:

“This workshop addresses the important need to move small businesses from low value components to higher value systems and ultimately to products. The purpose of the new International Institute for Product and Service Innovation is exactly that, to help develop new market ready products. Our long strategic relationship with MAS allows us to do this within a robust NPD process. MAS and WMG have a strong professional relationship and the two product development offerings for SMEs complement each other very well.”

Roy Pulley, Manufacturing Advisor at MAS, says:

“New product development is both difficult and risky for any size of business no matter what sector or market you’re in. This workshop will give businesses an insight into how a structured process methodology with risk mitigation, evaluation tools and techniques can help eliminate the risks and maximise the commercial opportunity.”

Walsall-based door and window hardware manufacturer Strand Hardware Ltd has collaborated with both MAS and WMG’s SME team over the last year in order to ensure that their products have the best chance of success in the competitive market they are in. Catherine Franks, Managing Director of Strand Hardware, said:

“Working with MAS and the WMG SME team has allowed us to strengthen the engagement with our clients and ensure they get the best value from our products. We have seen the profile of our business increase and are continuing to look at ways we can engage with both support providers to advance the business further. I would recommend that businesses in the West Midlands attend this workshop to find out what support is available to them to grow their companies.”

SMEs from the West Midlands are invited to register for the event via the Eventbrite page or email wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk