There was some good news from manufacturers organisation Make UK this week – it seems Britain’s manufacturing firms are finally starting to embrace the digital revolution.
The report, from Make UK and software company Infor, said more businesses in the sector are accelerating their investment in cloud-based manufacturing software and other digital technologies in an effort to improve productivity and to counter the serious supply chain issues caused by Covid and Brexit.
It also revealed that four out of five manufacturing firms are planning to boost their digital investment over the next two years, partly due to the current financial situation, in particular the cost of energy.
Nina Gryf, Senior Policy Manager of Make UK, said: “Manufacturers are undergoing a profound digital transformation with the potential to transform productivity, resilience, and sustainability. “The investments companies are making will play a key role in the future of manufacturing, powering them through the challenges that lie ahead with greater productivity, better skill levels and reduced emissions.”
As a business that has been very vocal about the urgent need for a digital revolution in manufacturing, this is music to our ears.
The message is clear: the best way to boost Manufacturing Productivity, cut waste, and future-proof your business is to invest in digital technology.
If this is indeed a sea-change in the UK manufacturing sector’s attitude to digital, it could help close the productivity gap with our G7 peers, which we’ve lagged behind for several years.
However, one note of caution in the Make UK report is that a third of companies cite a lack of technical skills as the biggest barrier to rapid digital adoption.
This has long been a challenge for manufacturing, but it doesn’t have to be a barrier if firms adopt a Manufacturing Execution System like POET.
POET is a cloud-based platform designed to maximise productivity on the shop floor. It captures and analyses production data in real time, prioritises activities, provides root cause analysis, and generates action plans to drive waste out of the business.
Manufacturers don’t need extensive in-house technical skills because POET’s team of experts guides them through a straightforward onboarding process, customising dashboards and key business metrics so the opportunities are clear from day one.
By leveraging POET, businesses can embrace continuous improvement processes, optimise operations, and implement lean manufacturing strategies without needing to worry about the technicalities of digital systems.
If you want to learn more about how POET can help your manufacturing business boost productivity and streamline operations, get in touch today, get in touch.
