FAQs



Project Management

What is involved in project definition?

  • Identifying benefits - for participants, customers, suppliers: primary and secondary.
  • Estimation of costs - can be done using spreadsheets, time-study data, analytical estimates and comparative estimating.
  • Specification of work packages or tasks - project objectives can be matched with tasks and associated goals.
  • Project plans and work breakdown - resource plans to achieve objectives through available resource to required quality on time and to budget.
  • Clarification of results and deliverables.

Supply Chain Strategy

Environmental Knowledge

Market Intelligence

What mechanisms are used for information gathering?

The mechanisms used will depend on the material wanted, the timeframe and the end application of the knowledge. Typical methods of collating information include:

  • Brainstorms with experts
  • Use of national networks
  • Literature searches
  • Web-based searches
  • Industry surveys
  • Road-mapping
  • Interviews with relevant contacts

What kind of information can be obtained?

There are many different types of information and one of the services MSG can offer is making sure that the information obtained is relevant to your needs through initial discussions relating to what the needs are and how the information is to be used. Obviously there are different levels of detail that can be investigated and the greater the amount of detail required, the more time and effort which will need to be invested. Information available includes:

  • Literature reviews - details of publications available or summaries of the information contained within these publications
  • Statistical data on market trends, technologies, materials and global activities (historical and forecast)
  • Opinions and views on trends and technologies from companies and research organisations
  • Summary information on company activities and interests in particular areas.

MSG can provide comments and interpretation on the various raw data obtained.

Knowledge Management

Robotics and Automation

Technique Comparison and Integration

  • Why come to TWI?
    In these situations the comparison of techniques must be carried out effectively and without the influence of individuals, or groups, within the business unduly effecting the outcome beyond their input to the commercial and technical risk/benefit analysis. Initially the subject should be studied in the broadest terms to avoid settling for the 'obvious' solutions.

    It is often far easier for a third party, particularly one experienced in cost/benefit analysis and risk assessment, to conduct a study of the requirement and potential solutions and to provide guidance for decision makers within the business.

Facility Optimisation

Globalisation Assistance

What is meant by 'globalisation'?

Globalisation is one of those terms that has many meanings. It can depend on who you ask. Some lobby groups see it as the spread of Western brands and capitalism across the world. In the Manufacturing Support Group's view globalisation is the increased flow across national boundaries. This flow can be money, goods, services, technology, jobs or people. The trends of increasing globalisation impacts on supply chains organisation, communication, markets, employment methods and employment patterns.

Why is TWI interested in globalisation?

For TWI globalisation means that our Member Companies are increasingly working and located in many different geographical regions, and this can result in new challenges and opportunities.

Materials supply and the skills used for different joining processes can be different in these different areas. A process that is optimised for one area may fail in another. (For example an encapsulation process used in the UK, when transferred to an area of high humidity). Manufacturing Support Group can assist companies with review of their requirements and whether their manufacturing processes are ready for transfer, whether they need to design their products for a particular region where they will be manufactured, or to review the manufacturing operations in a new area and assist with quality assurance implementation.

Quality Assurance

What examples of application codes and standards are there?

Virtual Network

What is a 'Virtual Network'?

It is an informal system that includes contacts throughout many organisations. It is not a legal entity, but allows organisations and individuals to co-operate and work together on short-term projects or interventions.

The Manufacturing Support Group at TWI facilitates access to a range of technical expertise, not only TWI experts in materials and joining technology, but also through established links with other research and technology organisations, universities, and independent consultants. This network is continually evolving to meet our customer requirements and feeds from many other formal networks such as the Knowledge Transfer Networks and technology transfer activities that TWI is involved in.

Why should I be interested in a 'Virtual Network'?

It can provide access to expertise that is useful to an organisation for a short period of time. Expertise that companies do not necessarily wish to obtain full-time, in-house, but would find useful either occasionally or for input to a particular project. Through the network many different technologies can be covered, and Manufacturing Support Group can facilitate the interaction to ensure that companies arrive at the solution they were looking for. Through TWI, several experts can be contacted about a particular enquiry or issue, with no confidential information disclosed, and the original company's name need not be mentioned in the first instance, making it a very robust process.

What about confidentiality?

Once suitable contacts have been identified, usually specific confidentiality agreements are set up between the parties involved, to cover the specific work being undertaken. No confidential information is released into the network until these agreements are in place and any information to be sent to network participants is always verified with the client in advance. Where TWI is involved in faciltating the interaction, confidentiality agreements can be put in place by TWI contracts department, or the client may use their own agreement.

Manufacturing Best Practice

mailto For more information please contact: manufacturing.support@twi.co.uk


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