The Annual Manufacturing Report 2017 has revealed the primary concerns UK manufacturers have regarding implementing or continuing to use forms of connectivity.
Respondents were asked for their views on the potential downside of factory connectivity – either in terms of barriers to adoption, or concerns regarding ongoing use.
Surprisingly few (36%) expressed concerns over cybersecurity, while just 12% found it hard to define the business case. Although, more than a third (36%) thought that the payback period for factory connectivity was either too long or too uncertain.
In fact, by far the greatest area of concern among manufacturers was that initial development costs were too high (64%), and that their business lacked appropriate expertise with which to exploit the opportunity offered by factory connectivity (52%).
While understandable, these are hardly insurmountable barriers. With its high levels of ongoing investment – just one in six (16%) anticipate spending less over the next 12 months than they had done in the previous year, coupled to significant revenue earning opportunities, the future of factory connectivity among Britain’s manufacturers seems assured.
You can download the full Annual Manufacturing Report 2017 here.
The Manufacturer Smart Factory Expo
Nov 15-16, 2017 – Exhibition Centre Liverpool
The UK’s biggest showcase for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – a revolution in manufacturng agility, innovation and thinking.
Highlighting the best solution providers and technology offerings, this unique FREE event is for manufacturing business leaders keen to adopt the relevant tools and knowledge to drive business growth.
New for 2017:
- Buyer Lounges – matching buyers and sellers
- Tech Zones – Industrial IoT, Automation & Robotics, Additive Manufacturing, Digital Transformation, and Big Data
- Solution Theatres – engaging expo attendees with case studies and cutting-edge developments
- Mentor Clinics – find the answers to your questions
- Innovation Alley – growing the expo ecosystem with hardware start-ups
