SM Thacker and Associates

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Who are we

Formed in 1995 by Mike Thacker, we are a group of senior and practice manager level, international consultants, and professional trainers, who have researched, trialled and introduced leading edge thinking in best practice manufacturing, operations, IS/IT management, business process re-engineering, cellular manufacturing, programme management, strategic purchasing, and training in a vast range of both large and small client organisations, worldwide.

We have pioneered the introduction into the UK of MRP, ERP, BPR, World Class Manufacturing, Just in Time, Lean manufacturing, Continuous improvement, Kaizen, strategic purchasing, Advanced Planning & Scheduling, manufacturing control systems software, consultancy diagnostics expert systems, EDI, and recently Agile Manufacturing, and Lean and Agile Supply Chain Management.

Our uniquely stable relationship and friendship (rarely found in large consultancy firms), has allowed us to build up over multiple projects and 15 years a unique single set of values, methodologies, programme management processes and a strict code of professional ethics and conduct (available to potential clients).

Professional updating is a significant problem to many consultants which we have solved. Over this time we have been involved in collaboration with a number of UK Universities on several major research projects in manufacturing processes selection, best practice materials and capacity management, benchmarking, measures of performance, and ERP software selection and implementation, the result being the continuous incorporation of leading edge thinking into our consultancy and training. One of our recent research projects is illustrated in "Featured Malpractice", and there are several articles on the site resulting from other research.

Our experience

Breadth of knowledge

We have, in our team, a unique blend of up to date technical knowledge in the wide range of specialist areas shown on our website and have applied this in a vast range of industry types, around the world.

As an example we have implemented about 80 BPR projects in companies as diverse as aerospace and insurance in 5 countries, and in all areas of these companies, from Sales to Purchasing.

Depth of our specialist knowledge

We have spoken at a number of conferences, and on the site are a selection of our articles previously published in authoritative and peer reviewed journals as well as many articles which are not published elsewhere.

As two examples we have run training courses for consultants in Manufacturing Control Systems Design & Implementation, and IS/IT strategy.

Range of Clients

We have undertaken many large multi-site projects in blue chip companies and smaller projects in medium and small companies, government & military organisations.

As an example we have implemented an ERP system into 14 divisions in a multinational company, the biggest site employing 2000 people and the smallest 50 people. Our largest clients are multinational and our smallest, small. We feel this gives us a unique insight into how to make large companies less bureaucratic and small companies more structured.

Geographical locations

We are based in the United Kingdom but have also worked in Ireland, USA, Mexico, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Holland, France, and India.

Many overseas clients attend our UK based training courses.

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Featured Malpractice

To discuss your consulting or training needs with one of our independent consultants or trainers please Contact Us.

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Ó SM Thacker & Associates  (Consultancy and Training Specialists) November 2009