MAS publishes annual report

The government’s Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) has published its Annual Report for the period 2007/08, revealing the claim that £177 million of added value has been delivered to the manufacturing SMEs it has worked with - a 24% increase on the previous year. Other reported MAS milestones for the period included: · 20,600 enquiries · 5,000 manufacturing reviews · 900 awareness / training events, benefiting 12,300 participants · 2,200 in-depth consultancy projects involving 13,800 days of intensive support to business Speaking at the MAS Annual Dinner, Dr Bryan Jackson OBE (pictured), chair of East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) said he had the feeling that “the companies we target are going to need our experience, our vision and our understanding more than ever over the next 12 months." MAS had now expanded its services to assist with strategic planning and skills development, sourcing supplies, services and equipment, the application of lean techniques across the whole organisation, making supply chain improvements and improving resource efficiency.