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Post by jonjel on May 23, 2011 11:52:46 GMT 1
I tuned in last evening to Richard Hammonds Engineering Connections. The reason being that my tiny company had some input into that programme. We hired them some kit.
At the time I offered our services as consultants on one particular subject that featured on the programme, and the deal was, as far as I can remember was, we would waive our normal fee if we got a credit. It was over a year ago. No, they had their own experts.
Well, as soon as Hammond described Nitrogen as a toxic gas I lost all faith in what was being said, and when they totally cocked up on our input part I reached the conclusion that in future I will take a very sideways look at any technical programme aired.
Interestingly, their 'experts' got a credit!
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Post by StuartG on May 23, 2011 12:19:13 GMT 1
As far as I know, when film co's, ad agencies etc want, the general rule is 'stitch them up' they'll lap it up and You'll probably get a credit as well. If they think they've got a 'soft touch' they will run over You. They run on undiluted ego mostly, and are of another planet. Grin 'n bear it this time, they may well return, Then You can stitch them up big-time!
Cheers,
StuartG
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Post by StuartG on Jun 21, 2011 1:03:55 GMT 1
 =========================== Principled said... "Stu Tonight BBC 1 21.00: Made in Britain. Hopefully an antidote to some of my dire predictions about UK manufacturing...well, I hope so  . P" I watched it and Evan Davis did His best. The Raleigh Cycles pictures reminded me of my Raleigh Palm Beach bike. The Brompton bloke came over well, and He sounds with-it and has 'savvy'. Ron Dennis for PM, He's a b**, but you need to be and their car looks good, they put their money where their mouth is with 800 million investment. BAE Systems will do well if they are left alone and not troubled with the PC Brigade. They mentioned the 'Mantis' which looks like something a 10 year old has knocked up, and because of that it's probably just a 'test bed' for the guidance systems for a later model, like this one, the Demon UAV [above]. This looks more like something the Brits would come up with. There's a video in amongst this site www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/28/347894/pictures.html they don't show it landing at the end of the video, but right at the end it looks like some 'agriculture' is thrown up. Further weight is given to this idea when they say "The flight was considered a success by the flapless air vehicle integrated industrial research (FLAVIIR) programme, which includes BAE, Cranfield University and nine other UK universities." and should say 'despite over zealous use of the remote joystick by the driver on landing!' It looks to be a good idea... The YouTube video shows more detail and other videos...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJs8elFbNBo BAE site www.baesystems.com/Capabilities/Air/UAV/index.htmMantis Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_MantisDemon Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Demona different take on the 'Mantis' postmanpatel.blogspot.com/2008/09/mod-make-extravagent-claims-for-mantis.htmlCranfield's site www.cranfield.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2010/page50603.htmlThe programme showed GB Plc (Eng.) to be in good order, but really the manufacturing needs to be encouraged, the reason why our engineering is good is because the 'also rans' have gone bust or abroad. It's the same old story good ideas bad production. StuartG ps. I mucked up the best flight video, try again www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJs8elFbNBo |
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Post by principled on Jun 21, 2011 10:07:48 GMT 1
Hi Stu
I thought the programme was interesting and well presented. There are POCKETS of excellence in the UK, but there are also vast wastelands where industries once stood. Whether those niche areas will grow to form a firm manufacturing base that resolves our current trade deficit remains to be seen.
The good thing is that after the problems of the late 70s/early 80s where we took our eye off the manufacturing ball and focused it on the financial sector as the new "saviour", the Government has now learnt its lesson and hopefully will back British industry once again.
However, IMO, there is are two ticking time bombs:
1) The age profile of many skilled employees. It always struck me when I went to discuss training with employers that the majority of skilled employees were nearing retirement. Usually, this was because the finance director would veto recruiting and training under the mistaken impression that it would take just 3 years for an employee to go from ab initio to fully skilled. This led them to put off recruiting and training often until it was too late.
2) No matter how good we are, if we load companies with too many on costs (I'm thinking here of carbon permits etc.) they'll just up sticks and go. I see this as a real issue with the chemical, steel and glass industries. It strikes me that politicians think that companies aren't always looking at reducing costs and so need some sort of "incentive" to do so. This, for Government is usually in the form of higher taxes. I have yet to go to a company that manufactures that hasn't got its costs under a microscope. Indeed, since the adoption of Japanese manufacturing methods and processes (eg Kaizen), cost reduction is usually drilled into all employees as well.
I'm looking forward to next week's prog.
P
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Post by StuartG on Jun 21, 2011 10:34:16 GMT 1
pps.
Brief explanation of why I moved the discussion, I didn't want to invoke the ire of Joanne [She who has to be obeyed] by discussing the programme in the 'humour bit' The title contained the letters BBC, and the rest of the words do not necesasarily reflect the views of the posters.
Stuartg
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