SF Engineering has completed a successful and innovative Best Practice Mission to Japan. The Sligo based company was one of a number of top Irish manufacturing companies taking part in the Mission organised by Enterprise Ireland. It coincided with the National trade mission, led by Taoiseach Brian Cowen, which brought home 46 million euro worth of business to Irish industry.

Investing in a trip like this is invaluable, said Seamus Farrell, Managing Director of SF Engineering We were exposed to many new ideas and innovations that have potential to increase the competitiveness of our company. The technologies we were exposed to and the business partnerships we forged on the trip, are set to play a key role in a 1 million euro research and development project currently underway at SF Engineering.

We studied state of the art food processing and packaging technologies, through visiting Ishida, Japan, a world leader in the food industry. Ishida Europe is already one of our strategic partners, and this trip provided the opportunity to enhance that relationship with the parent company in Japan. The benefits are numerous. SF Engineering supplies its products to Ishida and is also the distributing agent for Ishida in Ireland, so the trip to Japan increased our level of business through creating further manufacturing and distribution opportunities for SF.

Before meeting with Ishida, Japan, SF had already committed to investing 1 million euro in the research and development of a comprehensive profitability and food traceability system. The trip has added value to that, through a technology transfer agreement with Ishida, as SF looks at integrating Ishida computer software systems used for tracing the renowned delicacy Kobe beef. This visit significantly strengthened our relationship with a key international player in the industry.

The cost base of manufacturing worldwide is increasing all the time says Farrell. To remain competitive we must continually challenge the bottom line and ask how we can be more efficient. The reality is we all need to do more for less. It is important to see how other worldwide manufacturers are controlling their high tech costs to remain competitive and maintain profitability.

The importance of a Best Practice Mission for a company should not be underestimated. The whole culture of manufacturing industry in Ireland needs to change, if we are to stay competitive and succeed further in the current global economy. For SF, this trip has formed a key part in the development and launch of the most comprehensive food industry profitability and traceability system in Ireland, with major potential for export abroad. Working with Ishida, Japan as a strategic partner, gives us a leading edge in bringing further exacting standards to the Irish Food Industry.

Our current investment in Research and Development is a key to remaining competitive. By putting ourselves in a position where we can tell our clients what the need before they have to ask, we remain a step ahead of competitors. Support from bodies such as Enterprise Ireland in setting up trade missions and providing funding for Research and Development is a vital part of this process.

Another important aspect of the mission was the fact that we travelled with some of our clients and working partners, so they too got the opportunity to see the latest models of good practice in the industry internationally. This exposure will raise their demands of SF and we are ready for that challenge. Our philosophy is one of coming up with a solution in advance of a client identifying a problem.

SF Engineering acknowledges the opportunity given by Enterprise Ireland in organising this mission. The manner in which it was led, and the direction of the thinking behind the planning, demonstrates a keen awareness by Government of the direction manufacturing industry in Ireland needs to take to remain competitive globally. No matter what the brand, global, national or local, the same levels of productivity and yield control are required. We need to promote that in Ireland. These levels are a key indicator of the efficiency and competitiveness of a brand, ultimately dictating if it will survive a downturn.