A major initiative launched in London last week aims to provide a significant improvement to UK manufacturing performance. This will be delivered through a radical new approach to collaboration that is highly disruptive to the status quo.
The model being proposed represents a paradigm shift to current business practices and the goal is to create a successful template than can be copied by other manufacturing nations.
The UK manufacturing industry is closely linked with the growth of the UK economy, contributing more than £200 billion every year to the UK economy and providing 2.6m jobs.
But according to a recent report from the manufacturers’ organisation Make UK, the UK fell outside the top ten largest manufacturing countries globally, having dropped from 8th to 12th in terms of value of output. Although this is based on figures from 2022 (the latest year for which global comparisons are available).
Addressing attendees at the launch, the initiative’s creator, John Robinson stated that the UK’s ability to compete is being affected by a systemic problem that affects global manufacturing.
In solving this problem, the initiative proposes a two-pronged approach: enabling manufacturers to break down internal silos within their own organisation, and enabling solution providers to work together more collaboratively.
The initiative is the brainchild of John Robinson, a veteran of the global manufacturing sector and a recognized thought leader in Industry 4.0 and manufacturing transformation.
“Creating and retaining manufacturing jobs that contribute to the UK economy is essential,” states John, who has held senior roles at Kearney, SAP, EY, Atos and Aveva.
“But in addition to that, UK manufacturing faces a sustainability challenge. Finding solutions that are both economically and environmentally viable is therefore our goal, and this initiative and the new, collaborative way of working it proposes will help us reach that goal.”
The launch was attended by a large group of senior leaders from across the UK manufacturing sector, including manufacturers, solution providers, government bodies and industry bodies, many of whom have already lent their support to the initiative.
“Manufacturing in the UK faces a unique set of challenges to its ability to compete internationally and remain profitable,” explains Henry Anson, Director of The Manufacturer (part of Nineteen Group).
“Technology alone doesn’t provide a competitive advantage, because most technologies are available globally. The question, therefore, is what can manufacturers do differently to compete?
“Over the last four years, I’ve been involved with the collaborative approach that John advocates, and I genuinely believe that this is a unique approach with enormous potential for UK manufacturing.”
The launch marks the beginning of an 18-month campaign of industry events aimed at creating momentum for the concept, codifying the model and developing successful projects that will enable UK manufacturing to lead the way globally.
The next event taking place in the UK is the Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit in Liverpool in November, with registrations now open.
John concluded by outlining the initiatives short term objectives: “Between now and the Manufacturing Leaders’ Summit in November, the goal is to build on the amazing momentum created at the launch event and to double the number of organisations actively involved.
“If we can develop a successful model here in the UK it will be of huge economic and environmental benefit. It will also demonstrate that the UK is still at the forefront of innovation and thought leadership and create the inward investment we need for the future of our manufacturing sector.”
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