We know that small companies want to access high-level expertise to develop their business strategy and improve profitability, but cannot afford expensive consultancy rates or support large-scale, invasive projects. We also understand the day–to-day pressures facing small companies, particularly surrounding the difficulty of releasing employees for off-the-job activities.

The MICE SME Programme offers metals companies that have status a proven, cost-effective and practical route to achieving productivity, greater flexibility and better delivery performance. An SME is defined as a company that employees fewer than 250 people and which has an annual turnover not exceeding € 50 million and/or an annual balance sheet not exceeding € 50 million.

How does the SME Programme Work?

The SME Programme is delivered in the workplace in blocks of management and team time. The management meeting at the start defines the desired outcomes of the programme, ensures there is a common understanding of lean principles and confirms the company team participants. The company team, facilitated by the MICE Engineer, first undertakes a process diagnostic to establish current quality, cost and delivery performance (QCD). Improvement activities are then carried out and later reviewed, and the results quantified.

How will my company benefit?

The SME Programme will deliver measurable quality, cost and delivery improvements. It will also develop the practical knowledge and skills of your employees to implement and ongoing process improvement strategy to fully realise the profit raising opportunity identified and build on them in the future.