UK manufacturers need to pull together
Faced with unrelenting pressures from a variety of sources, UK manufacturers are coping with a plethora of problems. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, suggests that one way of dealing with these issues is to learn how manufacturers that are successfully weathering the storm, are managing to do so.
Manufacturers cannot afford to ignore climate change
The Government may have watered down its measures for achieving net-zero, but climate change remains a pressing issue which is having a variety of effects on manufacturers. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, examines some of them and argues that focusing on sustainability can deliver benefits.
Helping to bridge the academic-industry gap
The are many potential benefits for both sides from closer collaboration between industry and academics. As Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, explains, the organisation has been acting as an intermediary to help bridge the gap between these sectors.
Navigating around the digitalisation roadblocks
Many UK manufacturers are deterred from adopting digital technologies by a variety of fears and obstacles – some real, others less so. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, considers some of these issues and how to tackle them.
Invest now to save in the long term
Investing in appropriate new technologies can assist manufacturers in cutting their costs in the long run, and helping them to stay ahead of their rivals. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, argues that those that adopt technologies early will be in a better position to compete in the future and to take advantage of new opportunities.
A little acceptance goes a long way
If the UK automation industry is to thrive and expand we need to accept the inevitability of certain changes, argues Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation.
Young eyes throw a new light on Gambica’s activities
Gambica has set up a “council” of 16 young people to take a new look at the association’s role from a young perspective. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, reports on how this council is throwing a new light on the trade body’s activities.
Sustainability is no longer just a box-ticking exercise
In the post-Covid era, many manufacturers are changing the ways that they operate. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, argues that one major change in emphasis is the drive for sustainability which can result from adopting smart manufacturing practices.
Will 2023 be a good year for industrial automation?
The UK industrial automation sector performed remarkably well during 2022 considering the many pressures that it experienced. Can this continue into 2023? Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, looks at what lies ahead for the sector.
At Gambica, during our special interest group and council meetings, we usually talk about market trends and the outlook for the sector, and discuss where we think the industrial automation market is heading. The past three years have certainly been very unpredictable, with so many external shocks and pressures causing our member companies to feel a fair deal of uncertainty.
However, despite this, 2022 saw a significant increase in revenues for all categories of products in the industrial automation sector. Our categories include variable-speed drives, controlgear, PLCs, Scada software, terminals, soft-starters and many more.
This was a very positive sign for our industry. It was evident from the figures that the UK industrial automation market had managed to stay resilient despite the many external pressures, raising the value of the market to nearly where it had been before the pandemic.
But what does this mean for the year ahead? Will the market simply continue to do what it’s been doing? The honest answer there, is no. Instead of carrying on as normal, the New Year’s resolution for the industrial automation sector must be to use 2022 as a benchmark, with the aim of continually increasing the market value over the coming years. By encouraging end-users to automate and digitalise their processes, the knock-on effect will reap huge benefits for our industries.
We are certainly unable to predict what this year may bring in terms of external shocks. As it is, the cost of living and energy prices rises are continuing to impact both UK businesses and our personal lives. However, as an industry, we must prevent ourselves from becoming complacent based upon the successes of the past year.
Last year, I discussed frequently how automation was the “answer” to the pandemic, and how many Gambica members felt that their order books were gaining traction as a result of companies looking to “future-proof” their processes. This is a good sign for large projects, however it doesn’t always mean repeat business. That is another reason to ensure that, as an industry, we are not complacent, and continue to upskill our workforce and find ways in which we can add value to end-users.
Perhaps later in the year I will publish the official Gambica Index for last year, which demonstrates the overall trend of the market, without giving away any valuable commercial data. That would be a great way of illustrating the trends which I am discussing.
In general, I am trying to stress that we needn’t slow down our efforts to encourage businesses to automate, based on the fact that we had a good year last year. In fact, we should aim for 2023 to exceed those numbers, as hopefully inflation begins to balance out later in the year and perhaps the exchange rate fluctuations may start to steady, helping businesses with imports of components.
In six months’ time, I hope to be writing another article explaining how we’ve seen more consistent growth from the industrial automation market in the first half of 2023. Often, it can be the case that certain businesses lack the knowledge about where to get started on their journey to help contribute to this industry boost. This is why it is important for trade associations such as ours, as well as organisations such as the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Government-backed movements such as Made Smarter, to offer the best advice and to share knowledge to help end-users to embark on their journeys.
* Gambica is the trade association for the automation, control, instrumentation and laboratory technology sectors in the UK. For more information, please contact Nikesh Mistry on 020 7642 8094 or via nikesh.mistry@gambica.org.uk
Help to win over future engineers at an early age
There’s strong evidence that the best time to attract people into future careers in engineering is when they are very young. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, argues that practicing engineers and automation specialists can play a key role in helping to persuade youngsters to follow similar careers.
Make the most of what you already have
Digitalising a manufacturing operation does not necessarily involve making large investments in new equipment. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, argues that upgrading existing installations and upskilling your workforce can often achieve similar results at a much lower cost.
Help is at hand to guide you on your digital journey
It can be bewildering for manufacturers embarking on the journey to digitalise their operations. But, argues Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, expert help is available to guide them in the right direction.
What is blocking the path to the fourth industrial revolution
The UK lags behind other industrial nations in adopting digitised manufacturing technologies. Why is this? Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, reports on a recent gathering of experts to discuss the issue.
Manufacturers’ resilience is the key
Manufacturing industry has had to cope with a series of shocks in recent years, but most manufacturers have managed to survive – and, in some cases, to thrive. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, argues that a key element in this has been the resilience of UK manufacturers.
Equipping young people with skills for life
In the never-ending quest to boost the UK’s present and future engineering skills, Gambica is backing the Worldskills competition-based training and assessment scheme as a way of attracting and fostering new talent. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation, explains the background.
