Manufacturers are failing to take crucial steps to boost their productivity, according to a new report from Lloyds Banking Group and the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA).
The Understanding the Puzzle report canvasses the views of more than 1,500 businesses across the UK, highlighting a widespread concern about productivity levels in the UK economy and echoing worries that have been raised by government and industry bodies.
It raises an urgent need for investment in order to prevent UK output levels falling far behind other countries.
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The report found nearly three fifths (59%) of manufacturers recognise productivity is an issue for the UK economy, but little more than a quarter (28%) believe it’s a problem for their own businesses.
While two thirds (66%) say they have a plan in place to improve their productivity, nearly a fifth (19%) do not, and almost a sixth (15%) say they never will.
Lack of investment
More than half (54%) of manufacturers recognise that their own lack of investment was the main problem, and more than two-thirds (68%) intend to invest in their business in the next year – and of those, only three in ten (31%) are increasing their spend, while more than a third (35%) are freezing it and a tenth (11%) are making cuts.
Among those firms that are planning investment, only a third (32%) plan to do so with the specific goal of improving productivity.
The main priority for investment to boost productivity for manufacturers is reportedly production machinery (44%), with skills and training (37%), automation (30%) and robotics (12%) also important.
Of those reigning in investment, nearly half (45%) cite economic uncertainty; almost a sixth (15%) feel there is a lack of available skilled labour; and one in ten say they are simply unsure of the benefits any investment would provide.
Obstacles to productivity growth
Manufacturers cited a range of obstacles hindering their productivity growth, led by a shortage of skilled labour, cited by three-fifths, and the quality of management in their businesses (54%).
More than half said that concerns over regulation (51%) were an issue, while half cited inadequate R&D, and nearly two-fifths (37%) mentioned restrictive labour practices.
Innovation
The study also examines the issue of innovation, which is widely seen as key to increasing productivity.
Half of manufacturers say a lack of innovation is an obstacle to productivity for them and that innovation is being stifled by factors including a lack of ideas (26%); their firm’s culture (20%); their business’ attitude to risk (19%) and a lack of skills (16%).
Head of manufacturing, Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, Dave Atkinson commented: “Productivity is one of the defining economic issues of our time.
“The UK’s low level of productivity compared to its G7 peers remains an unsolved puzzle, and it is crucial that we seek to understand how businesses view the problem in order that we can try to fix it.
“It is hard to overstate the importance of productivity growth in securing the economic prosperity of our nation – and we must do everything possible to avoid the risk of getting stuck in the productivity slow lane. It’s encouraging to see investment in new technology and automation as a priority for manufacturers, as there is no doubt in the huge efficiency and productivity benefits this can bring for firms.”
CEO of the Manufacturing Technologies Association, James Selka noted: “Getting investment right is one of the biggest challenges manufacturers face.
“By investing in technology, especially new technology, manufacturers can grow their productivity and give their businesses an edge.
“We – the MTA, which represents the technology creators and suppliers; Lloyds Banking Group, which funds so much of UK manufacturing; and government, which helps set the economic landscape – need to help them to do that.”
