Member Article

Paper Honeycomb Manufacturer Supports IFM Students

Students from the Institute of Manufacturing (IFM), part of the University of Cambridge, have been applying their technical skills to the real world, after working with St-Neots based Recycled paper honeycomb manufacturer, Dufaylite.

The team of post graduate students from the Industrial Systems, Manufacture and Management course were invited to Dufaylite’s premises and factory in St Neots to conduct a study looking at the efficiency of the businesses sustainable packaging and dispatch processes. The students focused on all aspects from storage to responsiveness. They were then invited to present their final report, findings, and recommendations to Managing Director Ashley Moscrop.

On the project, Ashley commented; “Working with the students was a really positive experience and we were very pleased to be able to have been able to open our doors to them, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

“The work the students have done is genuinely useful for us as a business. They have been able to take the time to look into the business with fresh eyes and offer insight which we can apply to the way we do things.

“As a business, we are continually striving to improve the way we do things, and the findings will go towards helping us to support our own customers achieve their sustainability targets.

“We are very much aware how this helps to pull together their learning experience with real life experience and equips them for their future roles in the industry. And as a local employer, we are always looking for new talent to bolster our business as it grows, and so it was a pleasure to support the students and to experience what skills they have to offer at the same time.”

John McManus, Industrial Tutor at the IFM said; “It means a great deal to have local businesses who are so supportive and our relationship with Dufaylite is invaluable in helping to provide hands on experience to our students. We are extremely grateful to Ashley and his team for welcoming them in, especially during these challenging times, and for allowing them an insight into manufacturing as an industry and career.

“This really does provide a fantastic opportunity for our students to understand how business works and offers them a practical insight into the industry and to put their learnings into practice.

“Having access to real products and businesses in the industry is invaluable and time within SME’s like Dufaylite enables them to see the whole picture rather than just a small section of manufacturing.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Claire@clairedavispr.co.uk .