Celebrating a team spirit in lean times.

A TOP-level Dutch business delegation has visited the Wearside Nissan car plant as part of an international initiative designed to promote the best in lean manufacturing techniques.

The 19-strong party, including organiser of the trip Dr Warse Klingenberg, of the Dutch Lean Manufacturing Network and Business and Christian Hicks, Newcastle University Business School's Professor of Operations Management, spent the day on tour at the car plant, which is the company's most productive in Europe and the largest car plant in the UK.

Dr Klingenberg said: "The Lean Manufacturing Network is designed to help Dutch manufacturing companies exchange of knowledge and experience on Lean Production. The trip to Nissan arose from longstanding contacts with industry, leading academics such as Prof Hicks at Newcastle University Business School and Dr Colin Herron of One North East.

"Given the tough economic climate we are now in, the importance of sharing best practice between educators, businesses, universities and the public sector across national boundaries cannot be overstated."

The delegation included executives from manufacturing businesses such as joint venture Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift Europe, Clean Air Group and Weir Minerals.

And although this visit is not directly connected to any university projects, the international contacts have also led to other initiatives such as the recently awarded European Regions for Innovative Productivity (ERIP) project which will receive a 3.3 million euro grant over the next three years from the European Union, of which Newcastle University Business School will receive 428,000 euros.

ERIP creates six Innovative Productivity Centres throughout the North Sea region of Europe including the North East of England, Holland, Flanders, Norway, Sweden and Germany.

Prof Hicks said: "The Lean Manufacturing Network is an excellent initiative, which we hope to replicate in the North East of England. Manufacturing companies can dramatically improve their competitiveness through implementing Lean Production.

"The visit by the Dutch delegation is an excellent example of the importance of international collaborative work," said Prof Hicks.

CAPTION(S):

MEETING OF MINDS Business School delegation with Dutch visitors. From left, Frans Maarse of Mitsubishi Caterpillar, Prof Christian Hicks, Dr Warse Klingenberg and Dirk Spithoff of Dutch car manufacturer Impress.