A focus for manufacturing organisations reviewing their expenditure in this climate has become remuneration, not to downplay these salary bands, but to establish their selection criteria against market expectations for high performing human assets.

As this activity isn’t isolated to periods of downturn, and that it is important for organisations to conduct periodic market reviews, it is heartening that manufacturers are taking the opporutnity to recognise that their technical staff should be valued, based on performance, experience, competence and, let’s face it, rarity.