The make-or-buy question: are you getting it right?

One-day workshop, Institute for Manufacturing, Cambridge, Thursday 17 May 2012

Choosing when to keep something in-house and when to buy from an outside supplier…

• presents a structured process
• illustrated by industrial case studies
• includes two course workbooks

The make-or-buy question is a fundamental dilemma faced by many companies. Should they keep technologies and processes in-house or purchase them from an outside supplier? Companies have finite resources that may limit the number of activities they can carry out in-house. In addition, global competition has forced manufacturing businesses to reevaluate their existing activities in order to focus on what is most strategically important.

These factors have led to an increasing awareness of the importance of the make-or-buy issue. The ability to make such decisions in a structured and rational manner is a key factor in sustaining a company’s competitive advantage.

The workshop

This workshop is designed to provide a sound background to the make-or-buy question. It presents a structured process to use when facing such choices. Practical tools help to ensure strategic issues are taken into account and guidance is provided on implementing decisions. The approach is illustrated by case studies describing the experiences of companies who have tackled the issue.

Who should attend

The course will be of particular benefit to engineers, buyers, managers and directors involved in the make-or-buy question.

The presenters

Dr Ken Platts is the Head of the Institute for Manufacturing's (IfM) Centre for Strategy and Performance. He joined the Cambridge staff in 1987 following 14 years in industry in production engineering, production management and consultancy. He is an active researcher in the field of manufacturing strategy and performance measurement and has published widely in these areas.

David Probert is the Head of the IfM's Centre for Technology Management. David spent 18 years in industry with Marks and Spencer and Philips, before returning to Cambridge in 1991. His experience covers a wide range of industrial engineering and management disciplines in the UK and overseas. He is the author of one of the course workbooks, Developing a make-or-buy strategy for manufacturing business, published by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Programme

• 08.30 Registration
• 09.00 Manufacturing strategy
  • Market/manufacturing link
  • Resource-based view
  • Make-or-buy strategy
  • Competitiveness/importance matrix
  • Group exercise
• 12.15 Plenary
• 13.00 Lunch
• 14.00 Make-or-buy process
  • Group exercise
  • Implementation issues
  • Applying the tools
• 16.30 Close

Executive education

IfM courses and workshops can be run as part of an executive education programme tailored to the specific needs of your business.

Location

The workshop will be held at the Institute for Manufacturing, 17 Charles Babbage Road (University West Site off Madingley Road), Cambridge. Parking is available on site. A map will be sent with confirmation of booking.

Cost

£425.00 plus VAT (£510.00 inc)

IfM member £382.50 plus VAT (£459.00 inc)

Earlybird rate - bookings before 17 April 2012

£399.00 plus VAT (£478.80 inc)

IfM member £359.10 plus VAT (£430.92 inc)

Booking

Booking

To book a place please complete and return the booking form

You will receive confirmation of receipt of your booking form by email, usually within 48 hours.  Final confirmation of your booking together with joining instructions, including maps etc, will be sent approximately one week before the start of the event, usually by email to the email address provided on your form.

For further information contact Ella Davey, at the address below:

Tel: +44 (0)1223 766141
Fax: +44 (0)1223 464217
Email: ifm-events@eng.cam.ac.uk