COFFEE BREAK FEBRUARY 2019
Coff ee break
Letter to the editor
Brexit confusion means manufacturers need robust technology
The lack of concrete information regarding our withdrawal from the
EU means that manufacturers need to be ready to respond rapidly
and appropriately to changing market conditions. They will need to be
prepared to adapt to new deals and regulations that could alter their
trade processes–and possibly aff ect their growth trajectories.
Now, more than ever, manufacturers need to have a technology
platform that is robust, responsive and fl exible–with the ability to
respond to changes within the supply chain. They need reliable business
software that will be able to supply ‘on demand’ information for business
performance data analysis, so that companies may plan, and revise plans,
accordingly to sector turbulence and not only maintain market share, but
thrive and grow in the global economy. For manufacturers who haven’t
already got up-to-date IT systems in place, these Brexit funds
could be used as an investment for a rock-solid IT infrastructure, which will
be essential in the coming months and years.
During periods of great uncertainty, when external factors are so
unpredictable, internal elements should be rock steady. Business IT systems
need to be utterly dependable, and create value—which is where manufacturers’
Brexit investment could particularly pay off . Modern enterprise resource planning
(ERP) systems, for example, can respond to changes within the supply chain,
adapt easily to new infrastructures, and deliver insights to inform decision-making
and strategy.”
Mark Hughes, regional vice president UK and Ireland at Epicor
Quotes of
the month
“It’s important to remember that we
could have picked anywere to open
this factory. Sheffi eld, though, has all
the right ingredients,” James Needham
manufacturing manager and site leader,
Boeing Sheffi eld (p18)
“All industries – not just manufacturing –
are in limbo,” Dr Jonathan Owens, senior
lecturer, Salford University (p32)
“For health and safety professionals, the
introduction of ISO 45001 is a cause for
celebration,” Wayne Dunning, head of
health & safety, ELAS (p34)
“The UK cannot – and should not – hope
to compete on low-value goods,” John
Eggerton, ops director, Mace Group (p40)
Do you want to speak out on a
burning issue that is aff ecting
UK manufacturing?
Send us your views and you
could appear here next month.
Write to us
Email: chris.beck@
markallengroup.com
MM team out & about
Amy Best, assistant editor, attended the
Jungheinrich press conference in Hamburg,
Germany, where the company launched three
new models of forklift truck.
Chris Beck
16 www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
Amy Best
MM editor, Chris Beck, attended EEF’s Future
Manufacturing Awards in Central London,
where the best of the industry were celebrated
for their contribution to manufacturing.
sompong_tom /stockadobe.com
/markallengroup.com
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk
/stockadobe.com