UK MANUFACTURERS BRACE THEMSELVES FOR ANOTHER BUMPY RIDE
UK manufacturers expect 2017 to be another year of risks but are gearing up to hit its challenges head-on, according to this year's annual Executive Survey from manufacturers' organisation EEF. While 46% of companies see more
risks than opportunities in the year ahead the sector is far from apprehensive. UK manufacturing is striding into 2017 with firms focused on delivering ambitious growth plans and feeling positive about productivity, employment, investment
and sales for the year ahead. Manufacturers are realistic about the challenges ahead but appear to be quietly confident about conditions in their industry. The same cannot be said of broader conditions however. While a quarter of firms expect UK
economic conditions to improve, these are outpaced by those steeling themselves for a decline (47%). The view is similar when it comes to global economic conditions where 24% anticipate improvement and 36% predict deterioration during
2017. This more pessimistic outlook does not taint manufacturers' views of their own future performance though with many still expecting to pack a punch. In the year ahead 56% of firms expect to increase their productivity while half expect to boost UK sales. Over four in 10 firms expect to see improvements in export volumes; 43% in non-EU and 41% in EU exports. Permanent employees and investment levels look set to be stepping in the right direction this year. These predictions are not empty
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Autodeployment or using a complex decision making algorithm to decide the best resource to carry out a piece of work without the need for human involvement might sound like something from the future but it’s available right now. Real Time Location System might
AUTODEPLOYMENT TO DELIVER BEST RESOURCE FOR JOB Think about the potential of using
sound like a something from another dimension and you may be thinking: how on earth is this relevant to me? After all, the majority of factories and facilities will probably be struggling to get the most out of existing assets and systems and in reality have very
little or no new investment available. However, just based on the work SoftSols Group has done, the scope for including autodeployment as part of everyday working practises is huge. Simply by using Agility software, work can automatically be deployed to your team saving you time and money, quietly and cleverly in the background so you can just see the improvements and savings, says the company. Something as simple as a leak can
be dealt with in a sophisticated way; the priority is to make the area safe, the leak then needs investigating and fixing and finally the area cleaning down. This could involve multiple skill sets and individuals so rather than the cleaner hanging around and twiddling their thumbs for an hour they receive their work request only when the leak is fixed.
T
his, the first issue of 2017, includes a new feature for
Factory Equipment, reflecting all that is happening in terms of IoT, Integrated Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing. Technology is moving at a
rapid pace and while embedding intelligence in systems and machinery is not new in itself, manufacturers are in danger of being left behind if they fail to fully embrace the high level of connectivity required. Not to be forgotten is a
continued need for the skills needed to take industry forward and our opinion piece this month argues that the Apprenticeship Levy will help close the gap.
Susan Deane Editor
4 DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 | FACTORY EQUIPMENT
autodeployment with the Internet of Things (IoT) where sensors are capturing building, asset and environmental readings and information. These are then read and interpreted by intelligent systems such as Agility and actions automatically triggered. That leak would be prevented as increased moisture levels would be detected by an IoT sensor, resulting in a job being autodeployed to a plumber. Autodeployment will be available
in the next version of SoftSols Group’s Agility, launching early 2017 to sit alongside its existing IoT capabilities. The company says it is on a very exciting journey, harnessing new technologies, streamlining workflow and bringing efficiencies to organisations.
www.softsolsgroup.com
HSBC FINANCES ENGINEERING FIRM
A leading manufacturer of materials handling equipment has secured a £1 million finance package from HSBC to renovate and install equipment at new premises in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. Partington Engineering which makes trucks and trolleys for cash and carry and garden centre customers around the world is using £350,000 of the funding to install a state-of-the-art production line at the business’s second unit which will bend and coat the steel that forms the main part of the products. The remaining £650,000 has been refinanced from a previous funding arrangement Once the new
premises is fully operational the business will have created 11 new jobs for the local economy. “Partington Engineering has been
growing rapidly over the past few years and as a result has been operating at capacity at its current premises for some time,” says HSBC area director for South Wales Phil Sargeant. “However, the unit couldn’t begin operation until it had funds in place to carry out further renovations and install a new production line. “This deal will allow the business to take its next steps to ensure that their ambitions become a reality.”
www.hsbc.com
pipe dreams but firmly grounded in manufacturers' business plans and growth strategies. Despite or perhaps because of the unpredictable economic conditions, firms remain focused on long-term and broad- based actions. Their priorities and direction of travel is very clear; 56% intend to increase productivity through process innovations while 50% aim to increase investment in technology and innovation. Full report available on the website.
www.eef.org.uk
SKILLS AND APPRENTICESHIPS
Seventeen apprentices aged 17 to 21 are working on a project to transform a 43-year-old Terex Trucks hauler back to its former glory. The R17 dump truck weighing 13.5 tonnes will go on show at the Motherwell, Scotland factory on completion. Recruited through the East Kilbride Group Training Association, the apprentices spend one day a week at college and four days in the factory over their four- year apprenticeships. They will graduate to become fully qualified fabricators, CNC operators and maintenance technicians.
Pledging its commitment to bridging the engineering skills gap, Rotech plans to recruit three new apprentices into its rapidly expanding business over the next 12 months. Currently employing 15 people, demand for its online and offline coding machines is rising and having doubled its production footprint in 2015 the company feels that the time is right to invest in its future talent.
Three engineering apprentices have won awards at Linde Material Handling’s annual Apprenticeship Awards. Liam Mann, Callum Armour and James Middleton were each recognised as the best in their respective year groups and James was named overall ‘apprentice of the year’. Nine of the company’s 54 apprentices were shortlisted this
year.The trio are currently studying for apprenticeships in engineering in the UK’s first certified apprentice scheme for the forklift truck industry established by Linde in 2011 to address the skills gap for qualified engineers.
Barcoding, Labelling & Packaging • Warehousing, Handling & Storage • Health & Safety • Facilities Management • PREVIEWS: Maintec • Pro2Pac • Southern Manufacturing
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