Diversity in manufacturing

Major automotive and aerospace manufacturers, such as Rolls-Royce, are important, support an extensive supply chain and make a valuable contribution to the UK, but they are only a part of a varied and diverse manufacturing sector. All too often, the equally valuable work, and major contribution, of companies in other industries fails to make the headlines. Following the finance sector's recent hiccup, manufacturing is back on the radar and there is to be a new Government plan for manufacturing (see http://bit.ly/eidwsK), which will show the ways in which it hopes to encourage growth in the sector. To be a success, it must recognise the diversity of manufacturing as a whole and the importance of the sector in terms of both jobs and productivity. There are areas of major growth and change across all parts of the sector, not just in the well known companies that make the headlines. Replacement demand in many parts of manufacturing, both in people and capital equipment, provides a significant opportunity for the economy in surprising areas. For example, the latest Brick plant built for Hanson, near Tamworth, is only second in its use of robotic manufacturing to the much heralded automotive production lines. Equally, the UK will probably always need an indigenous extractives industry – making sand, cement and gravel – as the costs and environmental impact of transport are so great. Yet, despite being a world leader in terms of productivity, the sector struggles to find good candidates to replace an ageing workforce. Achievements like this should be making headlines, but all too often they pass under the radar, ignored in favour of stories about the same few companies, again and again. Statistics taken from the latest Annual Business Inquiry show that the entire automotive, aerospace and space manufacturing sectors make up little more than 13% of the total employment for the manufacturing sector – seven out of every eight people that work in the sector work in industries other than automotive and aerospace. At CRDM (see http://bit.ly/eR7ZLQ), we do work extensively with automotive and aerospace industries. However, more than 50% of our work comes from outside these industries: for example, medical and consumer electronics. On this basis, why isn't there a greater focus on other industries within manufacturing and not just on wings and wheels? The printing, furniture and wood industries (which are just three out of the nine industries that make up the UK's process and manufacturing sector) employ more than the entire UK's automotive, aerospace and space manufacturing combined. However, these industries hardly ever get a mention. And the CBI noted in its 'Manufacturing in the UK' report (http://bit.ly/fOjCLt) that the paper and printing industries make more of a contribution to the economy than more celebrated assembly and engineering sectors. These facts never make the headlines. We are guilty as a country of not recognising the valuable achievements of many of our indigenous employers – achievements of which we should be proud. I believe that a cultural shift is needed, celebrating the importance of UK manufacturing in all its diversity. Recognition of this in the Government's new manufacturing plan will be a key step in galvanising industry and pushing our country forward. First published in Machinery, February 2011