Feature: Semiconductors
supplier, it can be a complex and expensive process. But, there is a way to get ahead of onshoring and adapt to
a shifting market. At Forterro, the businesses we work with that are finding success in the disrupted supply chains we see across Europe are those with the perfect balance of data analysis and training and development in order to remain competitive. As the sector develops its capabilities to understand and
utilise data more quickly and efficiently, increased data flow between different processes and operations can support wider improvements in production planning. Using internal and external data sources to identify trends, helping to solve previously unsolvable problems and identify the unknown ones, too, means that manufacturers can locate hidden congestion and operational inefficiencies. Adding another layer of automation using artificial
intelligence (AI) and machine learning to forecast demand and service quality can help to identify solutions to problems before the problems even appear. This ongoing digitalisation is vital for manufacturers to become more resilient, agile and responsive, and the intelligent use of data and automation will help prepare the sector for any trend towards onshoring.
Into the future Another big problem in the semiconductor sector experienced globally is talent shortage. Intensified competition for engineers and technicians has already begun, and is likely
to continue if policymakers focus on a strategic approach to the semiconductor industry through onshoring. Deloitte predicts that by 2030 over one million additional skilled workers will be needed to meet demand in the semiconductor industry – that’s over 100,000 people entering the sector annually. In the UK, there are fewer than 20,000 students studying computer science at A level – demonstrating the clear gap within the UK workforce. Whilst the UK can’t compete with the likes of the
US or China, which benefit from a much larger pool of resources and established supply chains, onshoring gives its manufacturing sector a welcome boost. Looking ahead, whether at the UK’s semiconductor sector
or its manufacturing sector as a whole, there’s little doubt that more reliable supply chains with closer connections between manufacturers and their customers will be more than a growing trend. It’s a decision that can’t be made overnight and for every manufacturer; whilst anchoring may work for one, focusing on design may be the better option for another. What’s clear, however, is that it’s never been more
important to know what’s happening across supply chains, leading to data-driven processes and personalised enterprise resource planning systems becoming vital in the UK’s manufacturing sector, helping it navigate economic headwinds and keep the industry moving in the right direction.
www.electronicsworld.co.uk June 2023 37
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