Check it out, make a comment and most of all enjoy it!
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electronics-weekly-blog/2010/07/only-connect-better-promoting-the-value-of-uk-manu.html
In partnership with Electronics Weekly I will be producing weekly Bogs on many subjects from Green Technology, UK Manufacturing and Great tips on successful manufacturing.
Check it out, make a comment and most of all enjoy it! http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electronics-weekly-blog/2010/07/only-connect-better-promoting-the-value-of-uk-manu.html
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Here at Nicab we’re all about saving you money, that’s rather than trying to be the cheapest we try to save you money in other areas.
How doest this work? We look at your existing cables and general supply chain and take out some of the costs. We do this by re-configuring existing harnesses and get you to consider changing your purchasing habits like ordering more but less often. There are so many things we can do to help you so why wait contact us now! I was lucky enough to recently visit Marshall Amplifications’ factory and they are an excellent example of UK manufacturing alive and kicking!
Everything is hand made on site. While they know they could build their amps cheaper overseas they are committed to the Made in Great Brittan symbol of quality and pride. This is partly why Marshall is world famous for quality and are to many a status symbol. For many guitarists the Marshall Amp is a badge of honour. All this is set against the plethora of low cost imported amplifiers. To resist going of shore really says something about the ethos of the company. What’s more business has never been so good! So the next time you think no one will buy your product if you make it in the UK because your competitors are getting theirs made off shore think again, think abut Marshall a truly great example! Rock on! In association with Electronics Weekly I will now also be posting Blogs with Electronics Weekly on-line!
Check it out: http://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electronics-weekly-blog/2010/07/only-connect-easy-ways-to-go-green.html#more When designing for interconnection take a little time to consider field repairs and ease if identifying cables.
Remembering repairs are very costly as you have to spend time doing work you’re not getting paid for! So with this in mind it would be worth spending a little time making repairs quicker if there anything that could be done at the design stage to enable the quickest and easiest repair? Yes there is and it’s simple. Here’s an example, Say you have two similar Multicore cables why not try using LIYcY for one and Def-Std for the other? Both come in Grey & Black with different non repeated colour cores. These different coloured cores make identification that little simpler. Be brave and be bold! Another great tip is to think about using more colours. Again with so much choice don’t just stick to standard grey & black use your imagination the more colours you use the easier it is to quickly identify cables. Another added benefit is a great looking product looks even better using modern colours so don’t be afraid to go for it and use your imagination. Famous designcritic Don Norman tells us about how things look can make us happy, I have seen deals go through just because the product looked good not because it was technically better! For any sceptics out there just think about how many PC’s with transparent cases and multi coloured cables are inside them! Again there is often no practical benefit of this but you know what they just look great! So why not give a little more thought to how things look inside as well as on the outside and remember this could in the long term save you money too! Today in the news manufacturing output in May had it’s sharpest increase for a number of years. This is great news, along with the governments agenda on re-balancing the economy we should all be thinking positively about the future.
The biggest battle can often be in our own minds. If we believe “there is no work out there” then you will find ways to prove yourself correct. This is a self fulfilling prophecy. Instead believe that there is plenty of work out there and we just have to go and get it. The one thing that is important is to remember to want to be one of the best at what you do. For us passion and ability go hand in hand. Constantly thinking about how things can be done better, faster & more customer focused. So lift your sprits and embrace the world out there! Soon we will be launching our free guide called “The Essential Top 5 Cable Assemblies Buyers Guide”
Yes that’s right it’s packed full of ideas on how to save money, get the best from your supplier and other secrets the industry doesn’t want you to know. This is just the first in a series of free guides we will be producing to give you more information and tips on getting the best deal for you. We genuinely believe in sharing information and ultimately giving you the advantage over your competitors. So watch this space! We live in a world of diminishing natural resources and environmental damage. New regulations such as RoHS, WEEE & Reach have come into force but what can we do to make a real difference right now?
To explore this further here are some ideas that really can make a difference and what’s more, easy to implement. The fist step is to be totally committed to making a difference as to make these changes necessary will require some effort but as with all things that require some work the rewards are massive! Firstly, think about what new and innovative products are out there right now. For example Alpha Wire have released a new range of hook-up wire EcoWire™ Non, PVC non-halogenic and contains no heavy metal pigments. So now we have a real alternative to PVC wire. Pace is another pioneer who has introduced their Diamond Tips for soldering Irons that last many times longer than traditional tips, a small thing that can make a real difference. Think about how many soldiering Iron tips are used in the UK alone each year! Something that we can all do is ask our suppliers if the materials they use are from environmentally responsible sources. For example ask your component manufacturer HOW they are committed to the environment. Yes the best suppliers will be more expensive because they are working harder for the environment but this can be an opportunity too. If you position your company as the “Eco Friendly Choice” you are adding value to your brand and demonstrating how you are different to the competition. Of course you will need to do more than have an environmental policy you will need to clearly show what you are doing that is really different. The idea of the environment is not going away and if they are not yet your customers will soon be asking you what you are doing about it! There is so much more we can all do and there are real business opportunity too if we are willing to work for it. We all know that we can’t compete with Asia right? No, in fact there is a secret method for beating the perception that we have not choice other than to use the Far-East because of price. Well here is an idea that might just work!
How about using the same model used in food marketing such as Organic and Free Range. How does this work? Most people associate the Far-East with low wages and poor working conditions. We then remind our customers of the excellent conditions of our workshops and factories and recognise that most people working in electronics assembly earn well above the minimum wage. This creates a link in the mind between the mass production and cheap labour of the Far-East and the local organic (yes more expensive) home grown product. So as a further illustration, in the supermarket all the battery chickens are very cheap, yet how many people prefer to buy Free-Range or Organic? So while some people will always just buy on price MOST people don’t, they just need an emotional driver to change their thinking. If we all give it a go we may just find more work in our local factories! When you need your cables labelled we’ve got it covered.
Any label for any cable in any colour. We have teamed up with Briben Ltd to bring you the very best in labelling technology. Briben can provide any label for any purpose. Being market leaders in labelling technology Briben can solve any labelling problem and offer one the UK’s biggest range in labels. From wrap around to security tags and labels to your own design. We only work with the best that’s why we want you to work with Briben. For more information visit www.briben.com and ask for Karl but don’t forget to tell them who sent you! |