2009
"Despite the most challenging economic conditions in decades companies involved in the MX Awards are showing a desire to improve and succeed. Companies like winners Leyland have demonstrated how you succeed irrespective of the economic conditions and signpost a bright future for UK manufacturers. We are proud to sponsor such a key programme and to help companies prosper in difficult times." Chris Hibbs, manufacturing leader for the UK, PricewaterhouseCoopers
"It is a real honour to have won as it reinforces to our staff and customers that we are on the right track for the future. Not only have our strengths been recognised but we can also look ahead to the future and build on the advice that will be provided by the MX judges." Shaun Morely, Site Manager, 3M Health Care Ltd Clitheroe
"Winning is fantastic but winning in MX shows that there is still the potential for growth within a competitive environment and it underlines our position within the manufacturing industry. To be recognised for the first class products we produce and the flexible and highly trained staff we employ is further endorsement to all of our clients." Bill Sinclair, SELEX Galileo Manufacturing Manager
"Last year the company entered MX and we were fortunate enough to be shortlisted. The entire experience was of great value and extremely worthwhile. It is excellent news to have won the award for Process Innovation and it supports the hard work that our 180 employees carry out."Craig Paterson, Converteam
"Last year Aquamarine Power had just seven staff and in less than a year we have grown to 33 and to have our work recognised like this is fantastic as a boost to all our employees. In terms of what MX does to support the industry, there is nothing out there like it and this is instrumental in ensuring future investment in manufacturing companies." Martin McAdam, Aquamarine Power Ltd Chief Executive
"We believe the MX Awards play a key role in supporting manufacturers – particularly in the current economic downturn - and in giving them a gauge as to how effectively they are matching up to best practice across the industry. The awards are instrumental in encouraging young talent to see manufacturing, engineering and design as exciting careers, and highlighting that the industry is a great deal more innovative and forward-looking than it is traditionally portrayed." Amina West, Autodesk’s Sales Director, Manufacturing Northern Europe
"Well done to Converteam. We find that often the most effective and indeed spectacular results come when organisations look not just at creating new products but also at revolutionising or simplifying their supply-chain or manufacturing processes. A process of continual improvement of a company’s processes can lead to increased quality or cost-effectiveness. That’s why IXC is particularly proud to be sponsoring the Process Innovation category in this year’s MX awards, highlighting the achievements of firms like Converteam who truly understand the benefits of this process." Mike Hield Managing Director, IXC-UK
2008
To be a winner at the IMechE MX Awards is a coup for all 1400 staff at EADS Astrium in Portsmouth who have been working on leading space satellite projects. This award also shows the public our commitment to encourage more young people into an exciting career in science, engineering and technology.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Manager, EADS Astrium, Winner Partnership between Business and Education
The public recognition of winning two MX Awards really is proof that we are becoming a leading edge organisation within the marketplace and we are committed to best practice in all areas.
Richard Kahn CEO of Altro, Winner People Effectiveness and Sustainable Manufacturing
We have worked extremely hard to attract a diverse, skilled group of people which are key to our business, so we are delighted to have this recognised by winning an MX Award.
Tim Millwood, Plant Manager, Cummins, Winner Diversity and Inclusion
Hozelock has faced some real challenges in the past, but we have an excellent platform for growth which has been recognised by the IMechE MX Awards. Being short-listed for seven awards is outstanding for us and the Midlands. It shows our customers and global competitors that simplicity, flexibility and innovation are at the core of everything we do.
Peter Rush, Managing Director, Hozelock, Winner Customer Focus
It is great that our ability to continue producing at high volume and to consistent high quality, has been recognised which is testament to the commitment and professionalism of every one of our 1,400 employees.
Jim Summer, Managing Director, Leyland Trucks, Winner Logistics & Resource Efficiency
Winning an MX Award marks a milestone for the business and is proof to our customers, staff and competitors that we are continuing with the innovation and vision that has led to this success. We have done amazing things. Barnsley-made products are now in Morocco and New Zealand!
Edward Naylor, Chief Executive of Naylor Industries, Winner Best SME
The development of a company-wide strategy of excellence and cost efficiency has transformed Perkins into a centre for manufacturing excellence and we are delighted this has been recognised by the MX Awards 2008.
Andrew Wheatcroft, Technical Resources Manager, Perkins Engines, Winner Process Innovation
Inchinnan is our global centre of excellence for compression system components and to be a winner in the IMechE MX Awards reaffirms our decision to invest in the new plant. It provides employees with a modern, clean, low-noise facility and sets new manufacturing standards by embodying best practice principles of the Rolls-Royce production system.
Mike Lloyd, Director, Gas Turbine Operations, Rolls-Royce, Winner Process Innovation
We are absolutely delighted to have won. This is a real victory for us, the engineers and the entire company. Wrightbus has recognised the potential for hybrid electrical public transport vehicles for more than a decade. Our extensive engineering expertise and knowledge of hybrid and electric transport along with our innovative approach has allowed us to be world leaders in this exciting field. Winning MX really differentiates us from our competitors and confirms us as a leader in green transport solutions.
David Barnett, Mechanical Engineer and Wrightbus Project Manager
To win an IMechE MX Award marks a catalyst within our manufacturing team. Taking part in IMechE MX and receiving assistance from the Government’s Manufacturing Advisory Service has enabled us to develop and implement our future state vision. This has been an integral part of the transformation we have undertaken during the last two years.
Andrew Esson, Managing Director, Phoenix Beattie,
Partners
By working together with IMechE we are looking to set the skills agenda and improve the prosperity of manufacturing in the UK. Our support of the Manufacturing Excellence Awards and sponsorship of the SME Award is a key part of this and we were impressed by the level of entrants, none more so than eventual winners Naylor Drainage.
Emma Mulligan, NSA-M - Partner MX Awards
We believe the awards have a huge role to play in encouraging young talent to see manufacturing, engineering and design as exciting careers – and in highlighting to UK society how innovative and forward-looking the industry is. Innovation and quality are now the key differentiators of UK manufacturing. Innovation comes from ideas first – but it takes the right technology to enable a designer to capture and communicate these. It was a natural choice for Autodesk to sponsor the Product Innovation category. We are pleased we did – and to be associated with such pioneering and talented designers as those at Wrightbus, winner of this category and of the overall award.
Amina West, Autodesk’s Manufacturing Sales Director, Northern Europe, Partner
MX continues to justify its reputation as being right at the top. I was delighted that this year's winner was named as Wrightbus; the commitment and dedication that they have shown with regard to Product Innovation is demonstrated uniformly across other aspects of their business.
David Wright, Chief Executive MAS West Midlands, Partner
The MX Awards scheme provides companies with a means of benchmarking themselves with the best and identifying where they can improve. I am particularly pleased BP sponsors the education award; capability development is a priority for BP and it is through inspiring school students to persue science and engineering that we have the skills to keep the UK as a competitive economy.
John Baxter, Group Engineering Director, BP, Partner
2007
Wrightbus was very happy with the press attention that the Manufacturing Excellence Awards received. Since winning the MX Award we have received numerous comments from customers and suppliers who saw press articles on our success. The coverage seems to have been spread across the UK, obviously helped by the Times Focus Report. Local coverage was excellent too, particularly due the presence of our First Minister Ian Paisley at the awards dinner, and the report even made it to the front page of one local paper.
David Barnett, Project Leader, Wrightbus - Overall Winner 2008 and Product Innovation 2007/2008
The process of entering the IMechE MX Awards has been a fantastic opportunity and given us a chance to summarise our performance and explore areas for further improvement by benchmarking with our counterparts across UK industry.
Tim Darkes, Managing Director, Trend Control Systems - Overall Winner 2007
To be recognised alongside major companies such as Agfa, DuPont, Elfab and Hozelock is a great boost to everyone at Rencol. Winning really sends out the message that we are moving in the right direction.
Jim Smith, Managing Director, Rencol - Winner Best SME 2007
The introduction of the Mentor scheme in MX 2007 really benefited us. They explained the submission process, which allowed us to focus our attention on key areas. Winning the MX award has been an uplifting experience for staff moral on our site and has given our site extremely valuable publicity across the company’s international sites. It has also given us that recognition within industry.
Graham Cooper, Site Manager, AGFA - Winner Sustainable Manufacturing 2007
Winning the Business Development and Change Management Award has certainly been an incredible journey. It is an achievement shared by all our employees, all of whom have risen to huge challenges in order to see through far-reaching change processes to a successful conclusion.
Peter Rush, Managing Director, Hozelock - Winner Business Development and Change Management 2007
The MX Award is a tribute to everyone within the Wright Group organisation and underpins our ongoing commitment to be at the forefront of technological innovation in our industry.
William Wright, Co-Founder of The Wright Group and Managing Director of Hybrid Vehicles Division - Winner Product Innovation 2007
Our industry is highly competitive. MX highlighted our strengths and allowed us to work on our weaknesses. We can now accurately compare ourselves with other manufacturers from all industries which has been very useful.
Tom Weldon, Managing Director, International Cuisine - Winner People Effectiveness 2007
As a former craft apprentice who joined the company with no formal qualifications I can really identify and empathise with the young people who join our schemes. For me there is no doubt that strong educational partnerships involving industry, academia and professional institutions can dramatically shape people’s career aspirations and their lives. The IMechE’s MX Awards highlight this. Such partnerships offer individuals unprecedented opportunities in terms of personal learning and career development.
Bernard Waldron MBE, Director of Manufacturing, MBDA - Winner Business/Education Partnership 2007
It was a real honour to win the Kellysearch Award for Customer Focus because striving to deliver customer service excellence is the key to our success.
Carol Cessford, HR Manager, Elfab - Winner Customer Focus 2007
Winning the Integrated E-Business Award has been a great experience for us. As a first time entrant it also enabled us to evaluate our ICT systems and websites, and gain valuable feedback from respected business people.
Simon Francis, Managing Director, Eastern Storage Equipment - Winner E-Business 2007
Winning the award for Financial Management underpins the best practice and success we’ve had in achieving a 29% increase in profits since 2004.
Mark Urch, Business Development Manager, Dunlop Bestobell - Winner Financial Management 2007
Winning an award offers real recognition amongst our peers in the manufacturing industry. It also marks a massive achievement in terms of innovation, practical skills and technical know-how by our workforce.
Stewart Towe, Managing Director, Hadley Group - Winner Process Innovation 2007
Being Highly Commended in our first year of entering was a real incentive to re-enter. In particular the self audit very useful in allowing us to analyse the business in a new light and progress it. It gave the business great national press and really raised our profile. Our local MP Diana Johnson has been very involved in advocating and promoting the company and the local press and radio covered it. ’I think manufacturing is a very difficult industry to be in at the moment in the UK, but schemes such as the MX Awards help promote best practice in industry.
Lloyd Atkin, Director, Bio-D - Highly Commended Sustainable Manufacturing 2007
MX underpins our belief that successful manufacturing in the UK requires absolute commitment to the creation of a world class operation. Being judged and short listed for the prestigious MX Awards is tangible evidence of our progress.
Tom Hall, Managing Director, Alitex - Highly Commended Business/Education Partnership 2007
We think the MX Awards really benefit UK plc manufacturing companies because national benchmarking is a real opportunity to really examine best practice and is what’s going to separate us in terms of whether we can sustain manufacturing or not.
Colin Allaway, Manufacturing Advisory Service, Partner
Firstly companies benefit because they answer the questions and they’re often surprised by their own answers. They then pass those answers onto us and we give them an international standard benchmark so they can see areas where they can improve.
Colin Brown, Director of Engineering, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Working to encourage talented young people to pursue careers in engineering is a priority for us. The MX 2007 was a great opportunity for AnTech to achieve recognition and benchmark our efforts, against our peers in the manufacturing industry. Being Highly Commended has significantly raised our profile and helped raise awareness of us as a company committed to training and education, and recruiting engineers of the future.
Toni Miszewski, Founder and Managing Director, AnTech - Highly Commended Business/Education Partnership 2007
Entering MX and being highly commended has improved staff moral, which in turn has improved efficiency and greater commitment to our change management process.
David Male, Lean Manufacturing Manger, AP Driveline - Highly Commended Business Development and Change Management 2007
We recognise that successful manufacturing in the UK requires absolute commitment to the creation of a world class operation. To be judged by such an eminent body and deemed a success is a tremendous reward for our endeavours thus far.
Tom Hall, Alitex, Highly Commended Business/Education Partnership 2007
Contact the MX Team on +44 (0)207 304 6859