Buyers Guide 2023

News 0 8 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk Annual Buyers’ Guide 2023 The issue of leadership and management in manufacturing companies has never been more important. Good leaders and managers have a clear vision, can communicate that to their staff and can navigate the choppy waters to drive change. And right now the water has never been choppier. With short-term challenges including the energy crisis, on-going labour shortages and a looming economic downturn, it is now more crucial than ever for leaders in the manufacturing sector to step up and steer their businesses through these challenges. And this doesn’t take away from the longer-term challenges, and opportunities, of transitioning to a net-zero future as well as adopting greater technology and digitilisation in their business. Good leaders and managers also recognise that taking their employees with them on that journey is crucial to their collective success. Make UK and Rockwell recently carried out a survey of manufacturers to assess their views on leadership and management, the types of leaders and managers they are looking for and, what methods they use to train and develop leaders and managers of the future. According to the survey over two thirds of companies said that there was a shortage of management and leadership skills within their business. Conversely, however, companies were well aware of the critical need for these type of skills with three quarters saying they were key to improving productivity and almost four fifths saying they were key to increasing sales and orders. Furthermore, the need for managers and leaders to have a forward thinking outlook was backed by four fifths of companies saying they were key to implementing new and greener technologies and an equal number saying an effective leader was key to implementing diversity, inclusion and equality. This is especially important with investors looking to companies that have clear environmental and social governance goals while employees increasingly expect to see companies have firm policies on diversity, equality and inclusion. This can be key to attracting and retaining staff, especially important when the hunt for talent is so important. In order to drive change and address these issues, the survey also showed employers are placing less of a premium on technical skills, professional qualifications and length of service but are looking for ‘North Star’ leaders who are more human and empathetic, with an ability to take a more holistic view of the business. Instead, more than four fifths of companies said people skills were critical, a similar number referred to ambition and attitude and almost two thirds an understanding of the wider organisation and strategy. This compares to around half looking for technical skills and less than one in six looking for professional qualifications. The survey shows that companies overwhelmingly use external consultants to train the next generation of leaders with one in five using degrees, including MBAs, and a similar number using Apprenticeships. By MAKE UK chief executive, Stephen Phipson MAKE uk - the manufacturers’ organisation monthly news comment The development of Ayrshire’s new Digital Process Manufacturing Centre (DPMC), part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), hit a major milestone recently with its half a million-pound refurbishment kicking off. Last month Paisley headquartered Clark Contracts was awarded the refurbishment contract for the centre, which is a partnership between the University of Strathclyde as the operator of NMIS, North Ayrshire Council and CPI. Located at the Booth Welsh manufacturing space at i3 in Irvine, the DPMC aims to accelerate the adoption of digital technology for process industry manufacturers to help cut energy costs and achieve net zero by becoming more aware, predictive, and productive. Opening next year, the DPMC will also act as a beacon for ambitious global businesses as the region undergoes transformation as part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal. Speaking about the latest developments, Stuart Laidlaw, Head of Operations at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, commented: “Now is a difficult time for manufacturers as they struggle with rising energy costs and supply chain shortages. As one of the country’s fastest-growing research and development organisations, we’re committed to helping industry embrace technology and innovation to overcome these challenges and enhance their performance to compete globally. “The Digital Process Manufacturing Centre will bring significant benefits to UK process manufacturing businesses and the local community by attracting inward investment to Ayrshire through our world-leading research and development (R&D) expertise, training opportunities, cutting- edge digital demonstrators and supportive community of specialist technology centres, members and partners.” The new centre was announced in June and marked the first collaboration between NMIS and CPI, which are both part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult. Its refurbishment includes a lecture theatre and a large collaboration and networking space. It will be digitally connected to the new NMIS HQ in Renfrewshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS), also opening next year, which will include a Digital Factory, Manufacturing Skills Academy and open-access Collaboration Hub. Councillor Tony Gurney, Cabinet Member for Economy and Climate Change, added: “This is really positive news and another exciting step forward in the development of the Digital Processing Manufacturing Centre. “It will be a fantastic asset and we look forward to working closely NMIS and CPI to bring technical expertise and academic research and innovation right into the heart of North Ayrshire. It will help businesses and our workforce understand new digital ways of working and ensure they have the skills and expertise to develop and grow even further.” Works begin at Ayrshire’s new manufacturing innovation centre