On Wednesday 8 February 2017, a group of 33 AS business and economics students visited the New Holland manufacturing plant in Basildon to examine a range of business and economic concepts.

The students looked at branding, lean production methods, automation, specialisation of production, raw material sourcing and employment motivation techniques in the work place.  The production facility visited is an excellent example of a successful large scale local manufacturer who is ranked within the top 10 UK exporting businesses and is seen as being one of the most highly performing production centres in the country – and one that is highly concerned with sustainability. New Holland are an energy leader – a very environmentally friendly firm, where their ‘built to order’ tractors use bio mass as a new energy source. Their carbon impact is zero. The trip had been arranged to enable the students to see a production plant in full operation and to ‘bring to life’ aspects of their courses.

Students were split into two groups and after an introductory presentation where they learnt about the history of the company and other interesting economic facts, they were taken on a tour, where every aspect of production was observed and explained. After this the group were given a free buffet lunch, followed by the opportunity to visit the company showrooms, where some of the tractors produced were available to see and sit in. There was also a simulator where students were able to see if they had the necessary skills to use a tractor in the field. Students thoroughly enjoyed what they saw and conducted themselves well throughout the day, gaining positive comments from the guides. Students left with a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding manufacturing and were overwhelmed by what they saw. Year 12 student, Nabil Butcher said “that was the most incredible thing that I have ever seen in my life” and when asked why he said “the sheer scale of the operation and how precise the whole process was considering how many moving parts were involved in the assembly of the tractors, each of which was unique and different to the next one.” The students received a free pack, containing company information, plus a free notepad – a perfect end to the day.

Mrs J Usher-Letch
Business Studies Teacher