Yorkshire Manufacturing 2012: Tough times drive innovation

MANUFACTURERS are innovating to reduce costs and open up new markets as they deal with challenging trading conditions.

Lean manufacturing techniques previously applied by many businesses to the shop floor have spread to back office operations and the supply chain.

Post sale services previously seen by some manufacturers as a ‘bolt-on’ to their businesses have in some cases become core activities.

The challenges facing Yorkshire’s manufacturers are considered in more detail in Yorkshire Manufacturing 2012, a new supplement from TheBusinessDesk.com in partnership with Deloitte and DLA Piper.

One significant trend in the region has been a significant investment in shared services centres.

“It not only takes cost out as there are potentially fewer people doing tasks but also you can become more efficient as you have unified policies and procedures across the business.

“Those companies with dispersed manufacturing across the UK and the world are looking at their policies and procedures to make them more efficient as well as maintaining global standards,” says Simon Manning, head of manufacturing for Deloitte in Yorkshire and the North East.

Major original equipment manufacturers are already securing significant shares of their revenues from aftermarket services.

“Rolls Royce invests heavily in supporting its customers through the entire product lifecycle. That ought to be possible throughout the supply chain,” says Dorrien Peters, of DLA Piper in Yorkshire.

“It’s something we will see more of and is crucial if UK manufacturers are to achieve growth in the future.”

Click here to download the free 19-page supplement Yorkshire Manufacturing 2012.