Matt: If you are supported by government's money you are in the same boat as
a university which operates as a service bureau, in my humble opinion.
At 03:30 PM 5/26/99 +0100, you wrote:
>Dear List,
>
>It's great to see the old academia vs bureau industry debate raising its
>ugly head again!
>
>As someone who has managed both an academic facility and an industrial
>facility over the last 6 years, I have a very good understanding of both
>sides of this particular debate. Rather than give my views now I would like
>to expand upon just one point: THIS ISSUE HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THE RPM
>CENTRE AT ALL.
>
>It is neither a bureau nor an academic group, but rather a rare type of
>manufacturing consultancy that combines an in depth understanding of
>management issues in manufacturing with a very high level of technical
>expertise in all aspects of RPM. Their expertise in RPM is not confined to
>the technologies themselves, but also encompasses a thorough understanding
>of the way in which the European service provision industry works.
>
>This combination of skills will enable the Centre to help their clients reap
>significant benefits through the coherent introduction of more efficient
>management techniques ALONGSIDE the effective implementation of technology.
>
>I am involved as a consultant with the Centre, and will be managing much of
>the technical RM work. This work will involve:
>
>1. Increasing the level of awareness within general manufacturing by seeking
>out those potential users not yet exploiting RM technology.
>
>2. Helping existing / potential users:
>
>a) select the correct technology for the job
>b) implement that technology in the most effective way alongside strategic
>management improvements
>c) and thereby generate maximum commercial advantage
>
>This will ultimately expand the user base and therefore the potential market
>to be exploited by the bureaux.
>
>3. Provide a project management service for the clients.
>
>As the Centre has a good understanding of the RM industry we will be able
>to lead clients through the process of selecting the appropriate technology,
>finding the best service providers, requesting and assessing prices / lead
>times, placing orders, managing delivery etc.
>
>Through this work we will manage our clients' expectation of the technology
>(in terms of numbers off, quality, price and lead time etc), leading to
>increased customer satisfaction and repeat orders
>
>So what impact will this have on the industry?
>
>Bureaux:
>
>1. More work without any sales effort
>
>2. Bureau staff will deal with RPM Centre consultants in conjunction with
>the client. This WILL make their life easier because:
>
>a) Our consultants are expert in the service provision industry and
>therefore understand issues key to bureau operation
>
>b) Good quality data will be supplied in appropriate format
>
>c) They will only have to meet realistic expectations in terms of quality,
>price and lead times
>
>d) Where appropriate we will manage multiple supplier projects eg (bureau +
>foundry) or (bureau+ toolmaker + moulder)
>
>3. The value of bureau services to the client will be enhanced when
>offered as part of a coherent time compression strategy
>
>Systems Manufacturers:
>
>Increased awareness and application of RM technology can only serve to
>increase the potential market for RP systems.
>
>Academia:
>
>Not much impact at all but
>
>1. we may trip over the odd research concept which Unis could follow up
>2. we may be useful in identifying collaborators
>3. a larger user base of RM technology means more potential jobs for the
>graduates
>
>In summary:
>
>If the RPM Centre does well then everyone benefits - particularly the
>bureaux!
>
>
>If anyone has further questions about the RPM Centre and its activity then
>please address them to:
>
>
>David Hood (office@rpmcentre.com)
>Martin Gibbons ( martin@rpmcentre.com )
>Matt Murphy ( mattmurphy@ccons.freeserve.co.uk )
>
>
>We would also welcome any comments that may help us define our role in the
>RM industry more clearly. We want to complement the services offered by
>bureaux rather than compete with them.
>
>
>Best regards,
>
>Dr Matt Murphy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ~ David J. Hood ~ <dhne02235@pop.cableinet.co.uk>
>To: rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi <rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi>
>Date: 24 May 1999 17:26
>Subject: Europe's New RPM Centre now open!
>
>
>Just a short note to advise fellow list members that our new RPM Centre is
>open for commercial
>business. The list members have helped in our research of the subject and
>enabled us to fit in the
>remaining gaps in our knowledge, completed our portfolio, and to build up a
>network of like-minded
>organisations and individuals.
>
>To all list members who helped, I thank you all. For all who contributed,
>but were perhaps unaware
>that they were as I read the posting, I thank you also.
>
>The RPM Centre, far from being simply another "bureaux" takes RPandM
>processes, methods and
>activities further, incorporating them with firm methods and techniques to
>develop the overall strategy
>of the company and how it can achieve the goal of competitive advantage.
>The two Directors of the
>company have studied the rp and m processes and have been instrumental in
>developing a strategic
>business development practice for the past five years; in addition to this
>they have helped set up the
>Chartered Institute of Marketing's Technology group, CIMTech International
>that is a trade organisation
>specialising in the commercialisation of technology and the use of new
>technologies in marketing.
>
>To see what the RPM Centre is all about : http://www.rpmcentre.com
>
>To join our e-Zine list, please e-mail david@rpmcentre.com
>
>David Hood
>Director
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>....The Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Centre....
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> RPM Centre Ltd., Enterprise House,
> 1 Dalziel Street, Motherwell ML1 1PJ, Scotland
> Tel: 01698 327 100 Fax: 01698 26 93 28
> office@rpmcentre.com
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
>
>
>
>For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
>
>
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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