News Article
Representatives are to visit the Far East to strengthen trade links between the region and Japan.
Specialist engineers from the North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA) programme will visit Honda, Nissan and Toyota as well some of their key suppliers to learn more about their manufacturing techniques and models of best practice, and to see first hand how the Japanese market works.
And on a separate trip, One North East, County Durham Development Company (CDDC) and the region’s universities will showcase the region’s world-class research strengths to senior scientists from Japanese companies, and highlight the acclaimed work of NETPark, the region’s premier science and technology park.
David Allison, Director of Business and Industry at One North East, said: “The North East’s links with Japan are already extensive, with the region home to some 50 investors employing around 10,000 people and producing a turnover in excess of £2.7bn.
“The next step is to help more of our businesses break into the lucrative Japanese market. The benefits of them achieving this are enormous.
“During the NEPA trip, engineers will be visiting eleven world-class manufacturers, to learn more about their successful methods of working and their impressive models of best practice. It really is a fantastic opportunity.”
Japan is the world’s second largest economy and because of its low unemployment it is seen as a positive environment for business investment – something One North East is keen to explore.
However, the country has its fair share of manufacturing problems, which are very similar to those experienced by manufacturers in the UK – an ageing workforce; a lack of raw materials which results in dependence on imports; energy supply costs; and high wage costs.
But what makes it the ideal learning base for companies from the North East is that it is still a growing economy with relatively low employment.
And that’s why representatives from NEPA, which works with manufacturing companies to improve their competitiveness, are to visit Japan next month.
The NEPA team, which is funded by One North East, has invited several leading regional companies on the trip with them, to see first hand how the Japanese market works. Those signed up for the trip are Greggs, United Biscuits, SSL, Sanofi, TMD Friction, Corus and SCA.
Colin Herron, Head of NEPA’s Best Practice Team, said: “The aim of the trip is to see what methods these companies use which make them as successful and competitive as they are.
“People will have the chance to ask the senior managers of the companies we visit what they are doing for the future and how they will implement their ideas. “There will also be time to observe how the daily life of Japan reflects their behaviour at work.
“We’ve already shown that our companies can really benefit from incorporating the Japanese way of working, but this trip will hopefully help regional bosses gain a greater understanding of the tools and techniques, and how they are applied in their country of origin.”
For more information on the NEPA trip please contact: Leanne English, press office, One North East, on Tel: (0191) 2296738, 07919 232678, or email:
Leanne.English@onenortheast.co.uk
To find out more about the NETPark event please contact: Catherine Johns, County Durham Development Company, on Tel: (0191) 3832000, 07795 563407, or email: Catherine.johns@durham.gov.uk.
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