Interview with Clive Hickman – Chief Executive, The Manufacturing Technology Centre

On my recent visit to the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, I met with the Chief Executive, Dr. Clive Hickman, and asked him about his plans for engaging with India.

Tell us about the recent award from the World Bank?
The World Bank project is approximately $400m and will be used to upgrade the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) tool-rooms and reskill the workforce by training the trainers to get maximum benefit from the equipment by utilising its full capability.

Broadly, how would the MTC like to engage with India?
MTC and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult would like to help companies in India to fulfil their potential: everyone talks about technology transfer and it is clear that this technology transfer imparts the know-how; but it doesn’t impart the know-why [i.e. the knowledge of why things go wrong]. Consequently, when things are working as they should there are no issues. However, when things don’t progress as they should the problem solving capability doesn’t exist to correct the situation. By helping Indian companies develop their know-why, we believe they’ll be better placed when it comes to process problem solving. We believe this know-why can only be imparted through a deep technical understanding and recommend that this is delivered through in-depth training using the state-of-the-art equipment. This is available in the UK through us.

What can the MTC offer to companies in India?
The MTC is currently investing in a high value manufacturing training centre covering activities such as net shape manufacture (3D printing with metallic powders), intelligent automation, advanced joining technologies, laser processing and metrology.  Linking these technologies through advanced simulation capability will provide the companies in India, who work with us, the opportunity to develop their manufacturing processes and capabilities.

What does the future of manufacturing look like?
The future of manufacturing is extremely healthy and leading the economic recovery in Great Britain. It is about advanced manufacturing processes in extremely clean environments and with highly skilled ICT literate engineers and technicians. This provides a competitive advantage for Great Britain and consequently, we are seeing a strong resurgence of manufacturing here in Great Britain, with companies beginning to ‘re-shore’ manufacturing capability and capacity.

Any plans for a satellite campus in India?
We are continually assessing our business strategy and that is why we are beginning to take an active role in India.  It is too early to say that we would set up a satellite campus in India but we are not ruling out the possibility for the future.