Manufacturing Excellence Awards 2008, Hunt to Find Best of Business ‘Oscars’ Begins

7th November 2007 

Dr Brian Iddon MP is urging firms in the North West to enter the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ (IMechE) Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards 2008. 

The MX Awards are the most prestigious ‘Oscars’ in the business world and benchmark best practice in UK manufacturing. Some of the world’s biggest industry names, from Barclays, PricewaterhouseCoopers, BP, Autodesk, and the Government’s Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) are supporting MX2008.

Dr Iddon MP said:

‘’I hope to see as many companies as possible enter MX2008, as the competition is known as the national hallmark of best practice in manufacturing and we, as MPs, should be doing all we can to support this country’s manufacturing industry, these companies and our future.

‘’Protecting the heritage of UK manufacturing and skills is a hugely important task, and to support this I would encourage any firms, of any size, to enter. They are free and run in partnership with some of the country’s leading business names”

Graeme Allinson judged MX2007 and said:

“I am continually impressed with the ingenuity and quality of product design by UK firms that enter the MX Awards. Some of them are real world beaters. The way forward for our manufacturers is to invest in quality and value. The majority of firms need to almost double spending in research and development to ensure we become the world leaders in overall quality.”

Companies can compete for awards ranging from Best Overall Business, Best SME, Best Sustainable Manufacturer, Product Innovation, and Best Business Education Partnership. Deadline for entries is 28 February 2008.

Each firm that enters is entitled to a free, bespoke Benchmark Report from a panel of manufacturing experts and independently valued at £20,000 after filling in a Self Assessment Audit.

The Report will offer a ‘top tips’ service to firms with invaluable advice on how to improve performance, taking size, industry and resources into consideration.

1. MX is one of the world’s longest-running business schemes in UK and was first set up 25 years ago by a dedicated team of IMechE members and business representatives to promote and protect the heritage of our UK industry and, most importantly, share best practice.

2. Finalists for the awards will be invited to a glittering awards ceremony on 26 June at The Dorchester in London where the winners and overall MX winner will be announced. 

3. Firms interested in entering should visit www.mxawards.org 

4. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) first established its Manufacturing Excellence Awards scheme in 1981. In 1999 the process underwent a major review when the Self Assessment Audit and Benchmark Report were introduced.  The IMechE now has around 78,000 members in 120 countries. It represents mechanical engineers involved in a diversity of fields such as the automotive, rail, aerospace, medical, power and construction industries to name a few.