Manufacturers: do your BIT!

Local manufacturers are being urged to do their BIT by accessing government funding that can help them survive and thrive through challenging times ahead.

The Manufacturing Institute has launched the Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) PLUS programme - providing National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in lean manufacturing techniques - combined with guided workplace improvement projects that put the theory into practice to drive up performance and drive down costs.

Employers can benefit from full or partial funding towards BIT training under the government’s Train to Gain scheme. And following a recent relaxation of the eligibility rules, private companies employing less than 250 people can access this funding even where the learner has a previous qualification at that level. North West manufacturing SMEs may also receive further funding towards project support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

“Lean business improvement will typically raise productivity by 25%, but progress often falters because the workforce doesn’t have the teamworking capabilities, or skills to make it stick,” said Bill Tiplady, Skills Practitioner for The Manufacturing Institute. “Our integrated BIT PLUS programme is designed to empower the manufacturing workforce to implement and sustain continuous lean improvement to deliver long lasting business benefits.”

BIT PLUS is delivered by high achieving manufacturing practitioners and is a down-to-earth, hands-on programme designed for supervisors, team leaders and operators in companies that have introduced lean practices and are looking to engage the wider workforce in continuous improvement activities. It provides a practical toolkit of skills that can immediately be applied at work and gets the factory team working together to apply these skills to improve efficiency and increase profitability.

The programme can be tailored to individual companies, but typically it will involve an initial business needs review and skills assessment, approximately 18 hours underpinning knowledge training in Business Improvement Techniques and around 5 days of improvement project work. I also involves assessment of each individual’s competency in applying the lean tools and techniques to qualify at NVQ level 2 or, where appropriate, level 3.

Companies also have the option to pursue BIT NVQs, without the project support element.

The Manufacturing Institute is a Train to Gain training provider and an approved centre for EAL – the leading awarding body for vocational qualifications in engineering and technology. The organisation also has the prestigious Matrix quality standard. 

As one of the government’s Regional Centres for Manufacturing Excellence, The Manufacturing Institute delivers the Manufacturing Advisory Service in North West England and can offer access to additional funding.

For further information and for advice on funding visit: www.manufacturinginstitute.co.uk/bit  or contact The Manufacturing Institute on 0161 872 0393.