Food industry lean manufacturing qualification launched
02/12/2010
A qualification has been developed to encourage and measure lean manufacturing standards in food processing firms.
Improve, the sector skills council for food and drink manufacturing, has worked with Tony Salt, the training and development manager of sweet manufacturer Swizzels Matlow, to devise the Food Manufacturing Excellence (FME) proficiency qualification.
The training scheme is a combination of the Food Manufacture and Business Improvement Techniques NVQs and industry professionals relevant training in the strict food and drink improvement standards.
Mr Salt said that the qualification - which has been further developed by skills provider, Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions (EMS) - would be a measure of the future for Britain's food manufacturers.
"The partnership between Swizzels Matlow and during the pilot project has strengthened the learning and development opportunities for delivery of the qualification," he said. "The knowledge and understanding of lean techniques and vocational learning supplied by Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions has been exceptional."
The business improvements programme manager at EMS, John Stoneley, said the programme was challenging but rewarding, and tests had already proven to be very successful.
"The learners have put in a lot of hard work and effort and made some significant improvements to the process," he explained. "They have worked very well as a team and have sustained the improvements they have achieved."
Improve, the sector skills council for food and drink manufacturing, has worked with Tony Salt, the training and development manager of sweet manufacturer Swizzels Matlow, to devise the Food Manufacturing Excellence (FME) proficiency qualification.
The training scheme is a combination of the Food Manufacture and Business Improvement Techniques NVQs and industry professionals relevant training in the strict food and drink improvement standards.
Mr Salt said that the qualification - which has been further developed by skills provider, Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions (EMS) - would be a measure of the future for Britain's food manufacturers.
"The partnership between Swizzels Matlow and during the pilot project has strengthened the learning and development opportunities for delivery of the qualification," he said. "The knowledge and understanding of lean techniques and vocational learning supplied by Engineering and Manufacturing Solutions has been exceptional."
The business improvements programme manager at EMS, John Stoneley, said the programme was challenging but rewarding, and tests had already proven to be very successful.
"The learners have put in a lot of hard work and effort and made some significant improvements to the process," he explained. "They have worked very well as a team and have sustained the improvements they have achieved."
RSS