INDUSTRY NEWS LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE
Luke Smoothy, founder and director of Get It Made, is calling in manufacturers to make a ‘step change’ and leverage the opportunities offered by technology to increase supply chain resilience. According to Smoothy, improving supply chain
monitoring means manufacturers can identify, react to and better manage emerging issues. He argues that while volatility triggered by the pandemic has forced businesses to evolve their supply chains, there is a gap in technology investment which needs to be addressed before it is too late. This is reflected in the fact that 62% of businesses have not changed their strategy to invest in supply chain technology. He said: “Organisations must start to take back
some control amid an unstable landscape and actively seize the opportunities found in technology such as digitalisation and automation. We must learn to live with volatility in the same way we are learning to live with Covid and harness technology to
mitigate its impact and embrace its many game- changing benefits. After all, tech is here to stay and will change the face of business and industry. If manufacturers don’t make that step change now, then it will fall behind the curve compared to other industries in terms of transformation. “Further statistics by Make UK have revealed that
only 46% of organisations use dashboards and analytics, 14% have supply chain control towers, and 8% utilise AI and machine learning. Yet despite this, there seems to be a growing belief in the industry that data and cloud computing will positively impact productivity and efficiency. Now is the time for them to put the wheel into motion.” Other findings in the report show that 93% of
manufacturing businesses agreed that supply chains will remain under pressure through 2024 at least. While 82% of manufacturers stated that supply chain monitoring is critical to their business, around a
FORD AEROSPACE JOINS SPIROL GROUP
Ford Aerospace – which was founded at Tyne Dock in 1910 by Robert Ford and specialises in manufacturing high precision metal components and sub-assemblies for the aerospace, industrial, and high-technology sectors – is joining the SPIROL group of companies. With a legacy spanning 75
years as an expert in fastening, joining and assembly, SPIROL’s well-established global footprint will take the UK based
Ford Aerospace’s products to a wider international market. Ken Hagan, a division president at SPIROL, said: “SPIROL is an engineering,
manufacturing and sales driven company, and as such we seek to grow and expand in our product space... We are excited to have Ford Aerospace join SPIROL and to be able to offer a more complete solution to our customers in Europe and beyond. We anticipate running Ford as a standalone business unit within the SPIROL group of companies. By combining the capabilities of both companies, our objective is to enhance our value-added offering to our customers both in technical expertise and products.”
RARUK ACQUIRES DRIVE LINES TECHNOLOGIES
Drive Lines Technologies has been acquired by RARUK Holdings, joining the RARUK Group. The acquisition will ensure the future security of Drive Lines Technologies and will allow RARUK Holdings to explore new markets. Following the acquisition, Drive Lines Technologies has relocated to RARUK Holdings’ headquarters in Shefford, Bedfordshire.
www.rarodriguez.co.uk
quarter neither monitor up or down the supply chain, and although 47% have increased supply chain monitoring, this still falls significantly short. “More manufacturers would benefit from using
tech to track assets, by investing in automated asset management devices that allow them to track goods as they move through the supply chain. Internet- connected tracking systems streamline what could be a very labour-intensive, tedious, manual task by collecting data wirelessly from antennas or tags attached to containers, boxes, or even specific items,” continued Smoothy. “This data isn’t helpful unless it’s used to making decisions. For instance, collecting data on how long it takes to ship a particular component along a certain route can help a manufacturer look for ways to optimise its workflows in the future, increasing efficiency,” he concluded.
https://get-it-made.co.uk/
FIBOX ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES: THE ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY CHOICE
As the world becomes increasingly aware of the impact of human activity on the environment, it is important to consider the environmental impact of every product we use. In the electrical industry, one product range that stands out for its environmental friendliness are Fibox electrical enclosures. Fibox is a global manufacturer of high-quality polycarbonate electrical enclosures that are designed to protect sensitive electrical equipment from damage and ensure safe operation. But, Fibox is more than just a manufacturer of high-quality products – it are also committed to reducing its environmental impact in a variety of ways. First and foremost, utilising low-energy machinery, Fibox electrical
www.spirol.com
enclosures are made from high-quality recyclable polycarbonate that are designed to last for many years. This means that fewer resources are needed to manufacture new enclosures, reducing the environmental impact of production. Additionally, Fibox enclosures are fire-retardant and UV stable, meaning that they protect vital electrical equipment from the ravages of the weather, reducing maintenance costs and ensuring operational security. The Fibox in-house machining and customising service is another
example of its commitment to environmental sustainability. By providing custom solutions that minimise waste and optimise the use of materials, Fibox offers high-quality electrical enclosures that are both eco-friendly and tailored to the unique needs of its customers. www.
box.com
MAY 2023 DESIGN SOLUTIONS 7
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