Tell them: 'We have to be lean to be competitive. We will lose business and jobs if we don't keep up with the competition.

It's not just about costs it is also about improving delivery and quality as well.'

Better still, take some of the workforce (the sceptics) to a factory where lean is already established. They can see with their own eyes the cleaner, organised working environment, the visual aids and measures, the enthusiasm of the workforce for continuous improvement. Lean is not about creating a sweat shop, it is the reverse; cutting out unnecessary movement and effort.

Lean and continuous improvement are ways of making the future more secure and adding a sense of purpose and achievement to our working lives.

To find out more about following this advice contact your regional MAS. They can put you in touch with a local manufacturing network and the DTI sponsored programme run by Onsite Insights (www. onsiteinsights. co. uk).

Visit http://www.swmas.co.uk/ to see what MAS is achieving in the South West region.