Ever since release of the Gershon Report "Releasing resources to the front line" the public sector has been driven by the need to demonstrate that services it buys and provides are value for money and improve effectiveness.
Most projects to date have been used for short-term measures under the efficiency agenda. This has resulted in some significant gains - reducing time taken to process high-demand housing adaptations from 200–12 days for example – few have made a long term impact.
Generally this is because the longer term cultural changes are not always realised in the need to make a quick-win. But lean, by virtue of its' inclusiveness and by using the front-line staff, plays an important part in making real change that makes a difference to those directly involved. The continuous improvement environment that is created though a properly managed lean programme is the long-term benefit.
Story courtesy of the Institute of Operations Management. We are proud to be members of this institute.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Friday, 6 November 2009
Chrysler to break-even by 2011
ABC World News reported, "Chrysler's latest turnaround strategy is going to put the focus on Dodge. It plans to introduce three new fuel-efficient Dodge saloons and new Ram pick-up." The Washington Post says Chrysler, which came "closer to annihilation than either of its U.S. rivals earlier this year," projected it will "double its sales over five years and that it will break even by 2011."
The New York Times reports on the front page of its Business Day section that Fiat, "which owns 20 percent of the company, is now firmly in control and is being guided by a new board partly selected by President Obama's auto task force."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
The New York Times reports on the front page of its Business Day section that Fiat, "which owns 20 percent of the company, is now firmly in control and is being guided by a new board partly selected by President Obama's auto task force."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
GM to buy Delphi business
"General Motors Co. said it has received permission to use $2.8 billion of its government aid to help buy part of troubled auto parts supplier Delphi Corp., the automaker's former parts division." GM said Monday in a regulatory filing with the SEC "that the Treasury Department granted the release of $1.7 billion to acquire 'a membership interest' in the new Delphi entity that emerged from bankruptcy protection."
GM will "use $1.1 billion to buy Delphi's global steering business and four parts manufacturing facilities, ensuring a steady stream of critical parts to the automaker."
GM has received "more than $50 billion in government aid and the automaker will draw on the proceeds of $16.4 billion that was deposited in escrow by the government." Delphi recently "emerged from bankruptcy and GM agreed to buy an equity stake in the parts supplier as part of the deal."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
GM will "use $1.1 billion to buy Delphi's global steering business and four parts manufacturing facilities, ensuring a steady stream of critical parts to the automaker."
GM has received "more than $50 billion in government aid and the automaker will draw on the proceeds of $16.4 billion that was deposited in escrow by the government." Delphi recently "emerged from bankruptcy and GM agreed to buy an equity stake in the parts supplier as part of the deal."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Consumers willing to pay for quality
The Los Angeles Times (11/2) reports, "Consumers are showing a willingness to pay a little more to get big-name brands, including Colgate toothpaste, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Gillette Fusion shavers." That's "good news for the economy and the multibillion-dollar companies that make those products and have been battling to keep shoppers from trading down to store brands to save money."
Procter & Gamble Co., Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Kellogg Co. "all gave upbeat earnings reports last week and even stronger outlooks for next year." P&G said "sales were rebounding faster than expected after a year of declines -- and following price cuts to narrow gaps with cheaper competitors biting into its market share."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Procter & Gamble Co., Colgate-Palmolive Co. and Kellogg Co. "all gave upbeat earnings reports last week and even stronger outlooks for next year." P&G said "sales were rebounding faster than expected after a year of declines -- and following price cuts to narrow gaps with cheaper competitors biting into its market share."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Calling all Entrepreneurs !!!
November 16-22 is Global Entrepreneurs Week in the UK. If you are an entrepreneur, or know one, make sure they are publicising their events to a wide audience. For details see the website at www.gew.org.uk/
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
GM plant sold to electric auto-manufacturer
Motors Liquidation Co. has signed a letter of intent to complete its first major asset sale: the sale of a former GM assembly plant to premium carmaker Fisker Automotive Inc. which has said it plans to build plug-in electric vehicles in the plant.
Fisker Automotive will be paying $18 million for the 3.2-million-sq-ft. plant, which was commissioned in 1947 and until this summer was building Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel GT models. The company expects to create or support 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supply jobs by 2014, with full production capacity of 75,000 to 100,000 luxury plug-in hybrid cars per year.
Fisker Automotive is a green American premium sports car company with a mission to create a range of environmentally friendly cars. The concept was created between two independent companies who clearly wanted to make a difference in not only the automotive industry, but to the environment as well. Fisker Coachbuild, LLC and Quantum Technologies announced this joint venture partnership in September 2007. Fisker Coachbuild will provide exclusive design services for Fisker Automotive while Quantum Technologies (QTWW - a publicly traded company) will provide the latest technological advancements. Each car will feature cutting-edge plug-in hybrid penned as Q DRIVE exclusively for all Fisker Automotive vehicles.
Fisker Automotive strives to be a serious environmental alternative to other premium performance luxury cars on the road today. Fisker Automotive will be the first company in the world to have this type of a car on the road - a beautiful fast car that makes environmental sense.
Initial production is anticipated to be 15,000 vehicles annually with pricing to start at $87,900.
Story courtesy of Manufacturing and Technology eJournal
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Fisker Automotive will be paying $18 million for the 3.2-million-sq-ft. plant, which was commissioned in 1947 and until this summer was building Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Opel GT models. The company expects to create or support 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supply jobs by 2014, with full production capacity of 75,000 to 100,000 luxury plug-in hybrid cars per year.Fisker Automotive is a green American premium sports car company with a mission to create a range of environmentally friendly cars. The concept was created between two independent companies who clearly wanted to make a difference in not only the automotive industry, but to the environment as well. Fisker Coachbuild, LLC and Quantum Technologies announced this joint venture partnership in September 2007. Fisker Coachbuild will provide exclusive design services for Fisker Automotive while Quantum Technologies (QTWW - a publicly traded company) will provide the latest technological advancements. Each car will feature cutting-edge plug-in hybrid penned as Q DRIVE exclusively for all Fisker Automotive vehicles.
Fisker Automotive strives to be a serious environmental alternative to other premium performance luxury cars on the road today. Fisker Automotive will be the first company in the world to have this type of a car on the road - a beautiful fast car that makes environmental sense.
Initial production is anticipated to be 15,000 vehicles annually with pricing to start at $87,900.
Story courtesy of Manufacturing and Technology eJournal
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Black & Decker to merge with Stanley in US
The Washington Post reports, "Black & Decker, struggling amid a sales slump resulting from a dramatic slowdown in construction, said it would merge with rival Stanley Works in a $4.5 billion deal joining two of America's best-known tool manufacturers." The deal is "the largest in the consumer products sector this year, according to Dealogic, a data research firm." The "all-stock transaction has already been approved by both companies' boards and will be submitted to shareholders for a vote next month." In a joint statement, the companies said "that there was little overlap between their business lines and that the deal could generate as much as $350 million a year in cost savings, mainly in the back office."
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
Story courtesy of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. We are proud to be members of this society.
Business Improvement Experts... weald-business-solutions.co.uk
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