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GRG Best Practice Guide

The General Rubber Goods (GRG) Sector of the UK Rubber Industry, which has annual sales of over £1.8bn and employs over 33,000 people, comes within the orbit of the Chemicals Directorate of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). A survey and report produced by the Chemicals Directorate in 1996 highlighted three particular facts regarding the GRG Sector as defined by Standard Industrial Classification Code 25130 - Manufacture of other rubber products:-
  • The Sector had turned from a net exporter in the 1980s to being a net importer in the 1990s (in 1999 £31m more imports than exports);
  • The penetration of imported GRG products into the UK market, i.e. percentage of total UK consumption, was increasing, being 14.9% in 1981 but 36.3% in 1993 (and then 38% in 1999);
  • 60% of GRG products went into vehicle manufacture, which was, itself, a significant attraction for inward investment funding.
It was recognised that the UK GRG manufacturers could benefit from assistance to improve their competitive performance and it was proposed that the DTI should fund a project as a means to provide such assistance through the Sector Challenge programme. The British Rubber Manufacturers' Association (BRMA) submitted proposals to the DTI requesting funding to mount such a project. The BRMA were, in late 1997, awarded a three year contract to manage the GRG Sector Challenge Project and to bring assistance to the GRG manufacturers.

The Project will be completed at the end of 2000. It is appropriate, therefore, to collate the experience gained during the Project so that it may be shared with all UK GRG businesses. Many GRG businesses have contributed their time and experience to the Project, which has been much appreciated. Many GRG businesses have participated in, and benefited from, the various activities. Particular assistance was received from non-sector organisations in the form of the Industry Forum of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Management Best Practice and the Automotive Directorates of the dti as well as the Chemicals Directorate.

This Guide to Best Practice endeavours to collate the experience gained from the activities undertaken but particularly from the DTI Benchmark Index, which is provided with the support of Winning Moves Limited, the managers of the DTI Benchmark Index Database.

John Gerrard

Project Adviser to the BRMA Sector Challenge Project

January 2001

CONTENTS

Introduction

1. Potential for improvement - Section 1

2. The need for measurement - Section 2

3. Critical measures and performance targets

  • Introduction
  • Profitability
  • Finance Management
  • Productivity
  • Investment
  • Growth
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Innovation
  • Suppliers
  • People Management
  • People Satisfaction
  • Manufacturing Ratios - Set 1
  • Manufacturing Ratios - Set 2

Others - Based on All-Sector Sample

4. External Advice and Assistance
5. Best Practice Advice
6. Quality Management Systems
7. Sustainability