SMMT Member Services

Certification and Training

Improving Manufacturers Competitiveness

What is SMMT Industry Forum?

Established in 1996 by the UK government, the SMMT and vehicle manufacturers to improve the competitiveness of the UK’s automotive supply chain.

SMMT Industry Forum provides:

  • Training & Certification. Delivery and certification of courses, either in person, or virtually to ensure that supplier workforces have the skills and knowledge to service the sector, cementing change and pushing growth.
  • End to end manufacturing business competitiveness Assessments using its deep expertise in international manufacturing sector standards.
  • Manufacturing consultancy, delivering the strategy to deliver results. From “light touch” coaching and mentoring to fully resourced implementation.

As well as their focus on automotive, SMMT Industry Forum is also active in the aerospace, rail, FMCG and pharmaceutical sectors.

With over 150 specialist consultants and trainers, working in more than 30 countries, across 5 continents, Industry Forum has proudly serviced the manufacturing industry on a global scale.

What is SMMT QMD?

In order to strengthen the services we provide to the UK’s automotive quality management specialists and to further underpin the competitiveness of UK manufacturers, SMMT Industry Forum created SMMT QMD, its Quality Management Division.

SMMT QMD aims to ensure that the UK automotive industry plays an active role in the development and governance of national and international automotive standards.

SMMT QMD is a community of practice which directly supports UK quality professionals, ensuring standards are effectively implemented and improving competitive performance.

SMMT QMD provides:

  • An industry association for automotive quality professionals
  • Automotive specific training, professional development and resources
  • Publications
  • Practical help and support

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  • Our unique order winning philosophy helps companies to understand their basis of competition using six dimensions of competitiveness: Quality, Cost, Delivery, Flexibility, Products/Technology and Customer Experience.

    Once the basis of competition is clearly understood we help companies develop their organisational capabilities to be able to compete on their chosen dimensions ultimately delivering “order winning” performance.

    We specialise in developing our clients’ capabilities using our unique model to convert customer demand into customer satisfaction underpinned by one, or more, of the competitive dimensions.

    Our expertise is entirely focussed in the four capability areas of, Competitive Strategy & Management Systems, New Product Introduction and Lifecycle Management, Manufacturing Operations and Supply Chain Management; and we have a track record of over 20 years delivering measurable performance improvements across all dimensions of competitiveness.


  • When Liberty Pressing Solutions acquired Cov Press, it was losing over £3 million a year and in catastrophic supply status, meaning it was unable to quote for new business.

    Historically, Cov Press had suffered what Liberty described as a serious lack of investment across all areas of the business, but particularly in the training of its employees, who were disengaged from the organisation.

    Liberty Pressing has now turned around its fortunes by developing the Liberty Manufacturing Operating System (LMOS), which Industry Forum and its People Development Programme has been a fundamental element.

    Find out how Industry Forum worked with Liberty Pressing Solutions to make a “big difference” and why the programme is the “most successful turnaround project” that Plant Director, Stephen Hemming has ever been involved in.

    Not only that, but how the programme delivered net savings in the first 12 months totalling over £300,000.


To contact SMMT Industry Forum please e-mail enquiries@industryforum.co.uk or telephone 0121 717 6600.