FEATURE SPRINGS & FASTENERS HOW THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IS FUTUREPROOFING AGAINST PANDEMICS
manufacturing is not going to go away, we may start to see more onshore production, meaning businesses can better future- proof themselves against delays and downtime. After all, they will be more in control of their products and won’t have to keep massive inventory, not to mention how they can get the right products to their clients in a timely manner. Automation and robotics have made it
easier to manufacture products locally, so it’s likely we’ll continue to see an increase in this, especially as it creates more resilience in supply chains.
The manufacturing industry, like all sectors, was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, from supply chains to the factory floor. Tim Parkinson, Airedale Springs’ Chairman, believes that something has to change now, so that manufacturers can prevent a similar situation from happening again.
H
e said: “Not since the imposition of the three-day week back in the
1970’s has an event forced business to work differently. Any good business should examine its operation, what it does and why; and is it beneficial to the business, its employees and the environment; not just for today but also for tomorrow. The world has changed and so must we.” So, Airedale Springs are taking a closer
look at some of the ways that businesses can protect themselves from being negatively affected by events like these in the future.
INVESTING IN SMART FACTORIES Automation has been a vital component of the manufacturing industry even before the global pandemic, but it’s now clearer than ever that implementing a smart factory can go a long way to prevent issues such as skills and raw material shortages, which are detrimental to productivity and the bottom line. This is because Industry 4.0 technologies,
such as the Internet of Things and autonomous robots, can offer better solutions to manufacturing businesses in the future. These include creating a safe workspace for staff, using virtual reality or
26 OCTOBER 2020 | IRISH MANUFACTURING
remote communication for training, helping to create a more flexible workforce and aiding in the development of innovative processes and systems. For those businesses that haven’t
invested in automation yet – or those that know they could be doing more – the pandemic has proved to be a catalyst for change. For instance, manufacturers need agile and flexible processes if they hope to survive an event such as the coronavirus outbreak. As spring manufacturers, automation is
a key feature at Airedale Springs, from the cutting-edge simulation software we use to the latest CNC machines that allows us to manufacture products to our clients’ exact specifications.
USING LOCAL MANUFACTURING While there has been an increasing focus on local manufacturing, especially after rising tariffs, the global pandemic appears to have accelerated this and Brexit may further compound this issue. More businesses are looking for local manufacturers, which are closer to them and capable of delivering a faster turnaround. These short lead times are vital for businesses and allows them to manufacture on demand. While relying on globalised
Tim Parkinson, Airedale Springs’ Chairman
BECOMING MORE FLEXIBLE The manufacturing industry is constantly changing and it’s important that manufacturers can keep up with it in order to be successful. Being flexible is key for this. As the pandemic showed, flexible businesses that were capable of adapting to the unique circumstances and challenges were also able to stay afloat. They were also capable of creating
different products, as seen by how manufacturers began to produce ventilators. This flexibility will continue to be just as important in the future. Stores and services are opening but operating in a limited capacity, which makes it more difficult for employees to put their children in daycare or school; this, in turn, leads to conflicts with work schedules. If your staff can work from home, you don’t have to worry about productivity, since they can still do their jobs. The pandemic has raised the talk about
flexible working and a business having a better work life balance. Airedale Springs introduced flexible working in 1998 and it has severed us well accepting that not all employees can work from home or wish too. For Tim Parkinson, it’s crucial that
Airedale Springs continue to value a seamless – and efficient – integration of employees and autonomous equipment. He added: “Airedale Springs has
remained open throughout the pandemic. Its wide customer base, supported by flexible operations and hardworking staff using the latest in CNC automation allowed the company to keep its customers going. We have learnt lessons and are planning for changes yet to come and will be as ready as we can be for anything in the future because of these measures. Change forces change and we have to embrace it.
Airedale Springs
www.airedalesprings.co.uk T: +44 (0) 1535 643 456
/ IRISHMANUFACTURING
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