Chartered Engineer, Michael Fabricant, is urging local companies to join the
opening round of the annual Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards, which
closes for entries on 1st March.

Michael says: "The MX Awards are internationally recognised as the
pinnacle of achievement in UK manufacturing. Being a winner not only shows
the rest of the world where best practice is being established but, for the
local economy, it can result in increased sales and a boost in the number of
people employed. The MX Awards programme, which is free to enter, aims to
identify ‘best practice’ among UK manufacturers. The programme is conducted
by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), with support from the
Warwick Manufacturing Group and Durham Business School."

Each company taking part is asked over 230 questions – regardless of their
size, sector or location. In return, all companies are given free
individually-tailored benchmarking report – worth over £10,000 –
recommending ways in which to improve their performance, taking into
consideration each company’s size and its resources. Furthermore, all MX
participating companies are entitled to a free on-site diagnostic ‘health
check’ visit of up to five days from the DTI’s Manufacturing Advisory
Service (MAS) where it assesses productivity levels, providing further
feedback and advice.

Those companies judged to be employing best practice will then be invited to
the MX 2006 Awards Ceremony in June, where 10 category award winners are
announced as well as the overall MX winner.

Applicants to the MX Awards programme are required to fill out a
self-assessment audit which is sent to them on receipt of an MX entry form.
For entry forms, log on to www.mx2006.org.uk or contact Kate Jones at the
IMechE on 0207 973 1287 / k_jones@imeche.org.uk.

With a membership in excess of 75,000, the IMechE is the natural
professional home to all those involved in mechanical engineering worldwide.
Its members work in fields as topical and diverse as water refining in areas
affected by the Asian tsunami to the construction of the new Airbus A380.
Established in 1847 by George Stephenson, it is also the UK’s qualifying
body for Chartered and Incorporated mechanical engineers. www.imeche.org.uk