Getting down to business at Warwick

Exchanging knowledge and skills to improve business management at a local company

The skills and expertise developed by one student at the University of Warwick business school have helped to rejuvenate the management techniques and company culture within a local manufacturing SME.

Strip Tinning Ltd (STL),a Birmingham-based SME turned to the business school in order to re-develop its strategic management processes and help change company culture. Through a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP), STL benefited from the research skills of Susanne Tanner, who was carrying out an MSc at the Business School. Working closely with Dr Charles Tennant, the lead academic for the partnership, Susanne was able to identify an appropriate management process for the company. Research in collaboration with the University suggested that applying a Western adaptation of a Japanese management technique, “Hoshin Kanri” would help meet the company’s goals.

The partnership resulted in the introduction of improved management techniques, more effective reviewing and assessment of progress, and an improved company culture which has made a real impact on performance: customer rejection levels have reduced to 14% of their previous levels; sales exports have increased 19% to 86% of turnover; and the company expects to significantly increase profitability over the next three years.