Kidderminster-based Beakbane, the bellows and machine protection specialist (www.beakbane.co.uk), is entering the next phase of its Six Sigma training programme for key employees.

The first phase took place last year, when manufacturing manager Roy Legg and team leader Stuart Marson completed the course.

Now, product development team leader James Mocroft and customer engineering team leader Sam Baskeyfield have completed their training and passed the baton on to three members of the manufacturing team: Steve Jinks, Mark Huxley and Gordon Love.

Each person on the course learns ‘on the job’, applying what they are being taught on a real project and getting real results. Sam Baskeyfield used his Six Sigma training in the design and introduction of a new metal telescopic cover for a machine tool customer; for James Mocroft, the focus was on a composite product for the rail industry.

Roy Legg says: “The main objective is to improve our overall manufacturing efficiency. We do this by examining and understanding data on our processes, so that we can take cost out of the business by reducing waste. We really want to understand the true yield from our production processes and the real cost of poor quality in the business. That allows us to use the data to improve our products and services.”