UK chemicals sector to get aid to boost competitiveness

UK Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced a £2.25m (US$3.68m) package to improve the competitive performance of the chemicals industry. The sum will be made available over the next four years to help companies across the sector to exchange best practice and improve their productivity and manufacturing performance. It will enable the Industry Forum for the chemicals and process sector - the Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence (PICME) - to develop new services and reach more SMEs.

Speaking at the Chemicals Industry Association Business Outlook Conference, Hewitt said: 'PICME has achieved impressive results. The funding the Department of Trade and Industry is providing over the next four years will allow it to step up its efforts.'

In its operations to date, the forum has helped chemical and other process-based companies secure benefits of some £14m ($23m) by advising on such measures as eliminating costs, cutting out waste and increasing production capacity. One of the beneficiaries is Novartis. Team manager Jeff Cromey said: 'PICME gave us the opportunity to build on our developing continuous improvement culture using a structured and proven process ; the Masterclass. We are very pleased with the results and have plans in place to expand the learning throughout the plant.'