This doctorate research is sponsored by IMechE will explore how we can help companies achieve High Value, Low Impact manufacturing through benchmarking and a program of improvement leading to excellence. The student will be closely involved with the annual IMechE manufacturing excellence awards (MX Awards), will assist expert assessors, review documentation and provide high quality feedback reports to entrants. The student will make international comparisons in policy, methods and tools on manufacturing excellence and devise and appraise appropriate tools for UK companies.