GKN Driveline Birmingham Invites Queensbury School to See Inside Manufacturing

REDDITCH, England, October 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

A group of teenage students with special educational needs will be attending a See Inside Manufacturing day at GKN Driveline's factory in Birmingham next week.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131003/643593 )

The students will experience the manufacturing environment in action and gain a valuable insight into working life at the facility. The Birmingham team provide sideshafts and propshafts to transmit power to the wheels from the engine for vehicles such as the new Range Rover Evoque.  

They will have the chance to understand the importance of LEAN manufacturing techniques, used in the plant, via an interactive game designed to show how the operation reduces process waste.

The visit has been organised as part of the Government's 'See Inside Manufacturing' (SIM) campaign - an initiative aimed at encouraging young people to consider engineering as an exciting career choice - and give the students a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of the world of high-tech automotive design and manufacturing.

"We really value this opportunity for our students to get an insight into life outside of school," said Lynette Douglas, Word Related Advisor for Queensbury School. "GKN Driveline and Queensbury school have developed a bespoke programme together to suit this group of students and they are really looking forward to it."

"GKN Driveline is determined to reach out to all parts of the communities it operates in and we plan to build a long term relationship with Queensbury School," said Adam Nock, Plant Director. "Our team are looking forward to sharing their experiences with the students."

GKN Driveline in Birmingham, which is situated on Chester Road in Erdington, employs 725 people and produces 11,000 sideshafts and 4,000 propshafts every day, driving the wheels of 1.7 million vehicles a year.

Queensbury School, also in Erdington, is a secondary special education school, which caters for up to 265 pupils aged 11 - 19 with moderate learning difficulties.

The SIM  event starts in the morning with a tour of the operation. This is followed by lunch and the LEAN game. For more information on SIM visit: http://www.discuss.bis.gov.uk/seeinsidemanufacturing/

About GKN Driveline

GKN Driveline is the world's leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world's leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components - for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.

GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems and operates in 22 countries at 56 locations employing 22,000 people.

http://www.gkndriveline.com

About GKN Driveline Birmingham

GKN Driveline Birmingham was founded in 1925 and moved to its current location in 1956.  In 1966 it joined the GKN group.

Following the recent consolidation of GKN's driveline activities in the UK, GKN Driveline Birmingham is now a centre of excellence and produces an entire portfolio of sideshaft and propshaft solutions and associated components for front-wheel, rear-wheel and 4x4 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles from its base in Erdington, Birmingham, UK.

These products are tailored, tuned and harmonised to suit the characteristics and performance requirements of each customer application. They are supplied as original equipment products to the majority of UK based automotive manufacturers and also as original service parts where required.

Today GKN Driveline Birmingham employs more than 700 people.

About the GKN Group

GKN plc is a global engineering business serving mainly the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more than 32 countries, around 48,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of £6.9 billion in the year to 31 December 2012. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).

http://www.gkn.com

SOURCE GKN Driveline