MAY 2019 OPINION
A century
of change
Since its inception 100 years ago, the Manufacturing Technologies
Association has witnessed significant developments in the industry
BY JAMES SELKA, CEO, MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATION
T his year marks the 100th
anniversary of the formation of
the Manufacturing Technologies
Association (MTA).
A lot has changed in those 100 years.
The first thing of note to mention would
be the name. The Machine Tools Trade
Association would later become the MTA.
The change of the name is a vital part of the
association’s history and speaks to why so
many companies from the manufacturing
technology sector feel at home here.
Manufacturers, importers and equipment
suppliers come together, in a way that
few of our international competitors have
embraced, to represent the whole spectrum
of manufacturing technology – from metal
cutting and metal forming machine tools
to software, tooling, controls, automation
and new technologies such as additive
manufacturing and smart systems.
Throughout its history, technologies
have changed, the companies have changed,
the nature of the UK machine tool sector
has changed and even the name of the
Association has changed, but one thing
has remained constant. The Association’s
determination to represent its members’ best
interests and help them do more business.
To mark our centenary, members past
and present have contributed to a book,
titled At the Heart of Manufacturing, which
charts the history of the association from
Long-term thinking is
needed from government
and policy-makers.”
inception to the present day. Over that
time, our members have made a significant
contribution to the world around us and the
country we live in.
The book is also a great record of how
much technology has changed the industry
over the past 100 years; some of the
manufacturing techniques of then would be
unrecognisable today.
Those who have survived, changed and
prospered, are those who have reacted to the
world around them, changed their business
models and embraced the new opportunities
that have been presented to them.
We can’t look back without looking
forward; right now we are on the cusp of
yet more change: the Fourth Industrial
Revolution is here. Digitalisation will
dominate the future and our members have
the technology, skills and vision to lead this.
At the MTA we believe that it is vital that
we help SMEs find cost effective ways to
get their businesses digitally enabled if UK
manufacturing is to fully embrace the Fourth
Industrial Revolution. With the technology
that is available – and increasingly affordable
– every business should be thinking about
getting digital.
It is time to embrace the opportunities
that are available, from the smallest
SME to major international companies,
the technology of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution can have a real transformative
effect on the UK manufacturer sector.
Data enables businesses to make informed
decisions and not educated guesses, about
their processes and engineering capabilities.
The next 100 years will see the way we
manufacture and consume change even
more. Long-term thinking is needed from
government and policy-makers. Through a
modern industrial strategy, we must embrace
these new opportunities and ensure that
the UK changes its culture to one of longterm
of investment. The MTA will push
this message, we will continue to ensure
the UK manufacturing technology sector
has a strong voice and we can be sure our
members will continue to push boundaries
and shape the world around us in every more
fascinating ways.
How has your organisation changed in the past 100 years? Do you have plans for the future?
We want to hear from you. Email: chris.beck@markallengroup.com
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