Members Events

The Sussex Pump Cluster has provided over 20 training/workshop events for its members, and the feedback from attendees has been extremely positive. We are conducting a review of our event offerings and are looking to develop them further to help member companies address current business issues.

Keep an eye of these pages for further developments

COMPLETED RECENT EVENTS

Wednesday 3 April 2006:
Engineering Education Scheme: University Facilities
As part of the Engineering Education Scheme members were invited to a networking lunch and a tour of some of the School of Engineering's facilities.

• Flight Simulator: A quick flight from Shoram Airtport was undertaken by some of the participants
• The work being undertaken in the Automotive Labs is at the leading edge of engine research and design
• The High Voltage Labs contains specialist equipment matched by very few facilities within the UK. "Lightening" was made!

Wednesday 5 October 2005:
Visit to Southern Water at Brede
Southern Water presented some issues relating to the water industry, including energy costs and the impact on pumps, operational issues, and procurement. It was a very interactive session with questions and discussion from both sides.

As part of this event members had a tour of the "Giant Pumps of Brede". The scale and the quality of the engineering of these magnificant pumps has to be seen. The pictures below provide just a taste of what is on show. They are open to the public on some Saturdays, further information is available at: http://www.southernwater.co.uk/homeAndLeisure/daysOut/bredeSteamEngines/default.asp

Wednesday 19 January 2005:
Discontinuous Innovation facilitated by CENTRIM
How can companies move into a new technology frontier or a new and
unexplored market? Will existing capabilities enable or hinder successful
radical innovation? Research shows that the things companies are good at now
may actually prevent them from seeing new opportunities.

Managing discontinuous innovation requires a break from the past. But how
can small and medium size companies undertake this leap given the limits
placed on  human and financial resources. Join Professor John Bessant (with
Jeff Readman) on 19 January for a half day exploration into the realm of
discontinuous innovation.

Background to John Bessant

John Bessant is Professor of Innovation Management at Cranfield School of
Management. Prior to joining the faculty at Cranfield, John was Director of
Brighton University's Centre for Research in Innovation Management which he
set up in 1987.

John was awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Advanced Institute for
Management Research in 2003. He is also an Honorary Professor at SPRU,
Sussex University and a Visiting Fellow at several UK and international
universities. In 2003 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy of
Management. His areas of research interest include the management of
discontinuous innovation, strategies for developing high involvement
innovation and enabling effective inter-firm collaboration and learning in
product and process innovation.

Wednesday 12 January 2005:
BPMA Training (Note: Date Change)

Morning: Standards

BSI , CEN and ISO, what are they ?

How do they work and how you can influence standards affecting your business. Come along to hear about the current pump related standards in development and how the system works It will also cover some of the implications of what can happen if you leave this work to others!    

Afternoon: European Directives

Update The tidal wave of European legislation continues to baffle industry and increase the amount of paperwork required for each product made in Europe. Come and hear about existing and proposed legislation that will have an effect on the pump industry and its suppliers.  Also find out how legislation is introduced and how you can effect the final outcome.

Wednesday 10 November 2004:
Creative Design
Richard Morris is the Course Leader of the Innovative Product Design Group at the University of Brighton. He brings a combination of traditional design and the emotional aspects of design together, both being underpinned by sound engineering and commercial principals. Richard has developed a unique methodology of the design process which has benefited students and companies alike.
This is the final sessions on product development and will focus on the design process and how to be innovative and creative without loosing sight of reality.

Wednesday 3 November 2004:
Session on ‘Customisation’ facilitated by CENTRIM

Customers in many markets are demanding a greater say in the way products are defined before they are purchased and this demand would be revealed as a significant value criterion.

But what type of customisation do you want?

And how can you turn a value strategy into something viable at the operational level?

CENTRIM is completing a 3 year research project on the strategies supporting mass customisation and we would like to share some of our findings with the Sussex Pump cluster.

Please join CENTRIM on 3 November for an informative discussion on:

- Why customisation strategies can be used against low cost product strategies?

- Selecting the right type of customisation,

- What are the trade offs?

- Can you move to the next level?

Facilitator: Jeff Readman

Venue: Freeman Centre, Falmer

Start: 12.15 for lunch

Wednesday 27 October 2004:
Visit to BCUC Rapid Prototype Facility - CRDM
This will be an engineer’s visit to this unique facility that boasts some excellent rapid prototyping equipment: -

• Stereolithography
• Vacuum Casting
• Rim Moulding
• Selective Laser Sintering
• Rapid Cast-Metals
• Direct Metal Laser Sintering
• Rapid-Tooling
• Injection Moulding
• CNC Machining
• CAD Design
• Micro Modelling
• Blow-Moulding
  

We will look at their facilities and the techniques they adopt in their RPDG strategy.

Tuesday 12 October 2004:
Supply Chain facilitated by Centrim & MAS
This all day event is aimed at the pump cluster members and their suppliers, and will focus on the pressures and challenges facing all companies in our competitive global market.
The first half of the day will be led by CENTRIM and will look at the challenges facing companies and the strengths that successful companies exhibit.

The afternoon session will be led by Glen Sword (MAS) who will look at the techniques that can be used to meet these challenges. This will look at lean business and will be equally beneficial to manufacturing and non manufacturing companies. This will also include the mechanisms to obtain subsidised funding to look at ways of improving business systems.

Tuesday 21 September 2004:
Marketing Follow up
Keith Perks will address how marketing plans can benefit businesses of all sizes and the process to create an effective one for you. Experience by a cluster member will be presented and a Marketing Template will be provided for member companies.

Thursday 16 September 2004:
Cluster Development facilitated by CENTRIM
This is the first of the second series of CENTRIM workshops and will focus on the development of the cluster and identify the key initiatives that will help member organisations. It will include a presentation of the experiences from the creation of the Cowes Marine Cluster.

For more information on any event please contact Paul Sayers at University of Brighton P.J.Sayers@brighton.ac.uk or 07958 515 500.