Funded through the government's Train to Gain initiative, BIT is an NVQ qualification designed to achieve real business improvements within a short timescale. Using techniques originally developed in lean manufacturing, BIT creates a culture of continuous improvement. Likely outcomes are reduced waste, improved productivity and cost savings.

Team Valley-based TDR is providing BIT for a range of companies throughout the region large and small. Specialising in engineering and manufacturing, TDR is fully endorsed by the Learning and Skills Council, and the Science Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA). OfSTED Inspectors recently described TDR's adult training as 'outstanding'.   

Barkston Plastics in Hebburn is a specialist plastic engineering, fabricator and branded plastic product supplier. It services both industrial and commercial sectors. Barkston specialises in the fabrication and machining of plastics to customer specifications. Barkston supplies products to a wide variety of industries including automotive, retail display, electrical and building products.

Barkston is a busy company with sites in Leeds and Hebburn. The Hebburn factory has eleven multi-skilled employees. Being so busy, there is rarely an opportunity to pause to take an overview or introduce new systems that support continuous improvement.

However, following contact made through the South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum between Barkston's Manager Les Waters and TDR's Adult Learning Manager, TDR trainers were invited to Hebburn to meet and explain the BIT programme to Barkston employees. Enrolment took place shortly afterwards.

The team first gained an understanding of the underpinning knowledge and techniques of BIT including: Health and Safety, '5S', Team Working, Visual Management, Kaizen and Problem-solving.  They then identified three key challenges for Barkston: to improve the workflow, recycle waste products more effectively, and to improve CNC programming.

Under the guidance of Darren and Steve they set to work and within two months had made significant and demonstrable changes, especially in workplace organisation and visual management. Significant improvements were achieved in the layout of the shop floor. It now looks very different from how it did six months ago; much better.

Fabricator Marc Waters said that after some initial uncertainty, the team really took to the challenge:

"Once we got into our stride, we began to understand what could be done and how we can continue to improve the business. We found the programme useful and enjoyable."

Manager, Les, recommends BIT to any company.

"We made huge progress in a short timeframe. It was hassle-free and hugely beneficial to the business in ways that we can measure. I would recommend it to any business"

TDR's Managing Director Ian Young is delighted at the outcome:

"We are really pleased to have been able to help Barkston. We want our training to be tailored to fit the needs of local businesses. We are here to help improve business performance"

The next step for Barkston is an Awards Ceremony when all eight employees will be presented with their Level 2 Certificates. Progression to BiT at Level 3 is a possible option for future progression.

With a Train to Gain contract TDR delivers BIT to businesses throughout the region. As well as the shop floor, BIT can be delivered across the whole business including the 'Lean Office'. The programme will always be designed to fit the particular needs of the business.

For more information, contact:

Les Waters at Barkston Plastics on  0191 428 6543, les.waters@barkstonltd.co.uk

or Ian Hunter at TDR on 0191 491 6333.

ianhunter@tdrtraining.co.uk

Left to right: Chris Batey, Paul Cox, Marc Waters, Andrew Archer, Les Waters, Mark Jerry, Steve Hepplewhite, David Clerkin.

As part of their work experience, they visited TDR to learn about what it would be like to be a real Scientist.

Here they met the Science team, donned their lab coats and embarked on a programme of kitchen chemistry, slime-making, bath bombs and exploding volcanoes.

At TDR we are convinced that science offers inspirational career paths for young people. And it is a critical time.

Last year, the number of science students continued to fall in the UK, prompting serious fears that the UK will soon lose its place as a centre of high-tech innovation.

Figures show that, in the past 20 years, the number of students studying physics A-level has fallen by 56%, and the number of chemistry students by 37%. High-tech industries will need 2.4 million new workers by 2014 to fill skills gaps, but last year only 32,000 undergraduates achieved degrees in physics, engineering or technology.

So that's why we are working with the region's primary schools to create a lifetime of curiosity and the habit of scientific discovery