How to overcome Brexit challenges in your production line
Manufacturing output has fallen in recent months, with the combined causes of Brexit and COVID-19 disrupting supply chains. As such, many businesses have had to adapt.
As we prepare to emerge from lockdown, manufacturers will be focusing on what they can do to assist their post-coronavirus recovery and post-Brexit adjustments.
There are actions you can take to minimise the implications on your production. As with COVID-19 challenges, addressing any obstacles from Brexit and identifying adequate solutions will ensure continued output and productivity.
Below, we have outlined the issues you may be facing and what measures you should take to solve them in your plant.
Skills shortages
Brexit coincided with a change to a points-based immigration system in the UK. The new policy focuses on skilled labour, with those wishing to move to the country having to achieve 70 or more points through their qualifications, salary and ability to speak English.
Brexit also brought about the end of the free movement of people from the EU, with EU citizens living in the UK required to apply for settlement status by 30th June 2021 to remain. Immigration has also fallen from the EU to the UK since 2016. With around 11% of the manufacturing workforce comprising EU citizens, this could change how the industry’s employees look.
If manufacturers do find themselves facing a skills gap, they may need to consider increased automation. Using automated equipment reduces the manual labour required in production, leading to lower labour costs and often increasing output speeds. In this sense, such equipment could help manufacturers address skills shortages in their business without compromising productivity. If you are implementing automated solutions, make sure that they are compatible with your applications to allow for continued quality and value for money.
If you can fill any gaps in your workforce with recruits from within the UK or increased immigration from outside of the EU, they must be fully trained on your processes and in-house systems. This will help them safely and efficiently carry out their jobs, as well as enable you to keep up standards and prevent user error disrupting production.
Increased downtime
In the face of supply chain disruption stemming from Brexit and COVID-19, as well as potentially reduced demand and social distancing requirements, you may be experiencing increased downtime in your plant.
While no manufacturer welcomes downtime, it is essential to use the time wisely to facilitate productivity when demand picks up. This could include managing stock, carrying out machine maintenance, conducting performance audits or deep cleaning the premises. These actions will set the foundations for uninterrupted, high-quality output later on.
Another way to counteract downtime is by ensuring you have high-speed, high-efficiency machines installed in your production line that can facilitate a quicker turnaround of products once you can carry out work. This is significant if you experience delays in receiving supplies, which may extend your timeframes.
By utilising effective machinery, you will recoup potential time lost and meet your targets quicker. This will help you maintain customer satisfaction, with customers able to get their products on time and meet demand during busy periods, enabling your post-pandemic, post-Brexit recovery.
Supply chain disruption
Another issue that many manufacturers may be facing is supply delays as imports and exports undergo bureaucracy and border checks. This has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with hauliers and mail services experiencing slower delivery times. Lack of supplies will inhibit your ability to process lines.
If you are struggling with supply issues, it will be a case of waiting out the storm or switching to new suppliers. You should seek to find suppliers who can provide adequate turnaround times and meet the requirements for your own deadlines.
When using new suppliers, it is worth remembering that the quality of products they offer may not be the same as your previous partners. Due to this, you must carry out diligent product inspection to ensure that your output continues to meet standards and customer expectations.
The best way to carry out product inspection is to have a system that is compatible with your line and covers the potential risks to your products. This will vary depending on what products you are working with. For example, food products tend to need more comprehensive checks due to increased compliance required and the threat of customer harm if a contaminated product is consumed. It’s therefore essential to consider the requirements across your lines and identify an appropriate solution to install.
Quality assurance
Quality should be at the heart of every manufacturer’s objectives. As we attempt to adapt to Brexit and COVID-19, delivering quality will be vital in keeping customers happy, increasing demand and generating sales.
Some businesses have experienced increased costs resulting from Brexit, particularly those that import and export products from the EU. If you have to increase your prices accordingly, providing consistent quality could be the difference between your overseas customers sticking with you or switching to a new supplier. Similarly, it can help you to win new clients, whether it be domestically or abroad.
Creating a culture of quality assurance across your plant will help you maintain high output standards. It can also help you reduce costs by eliminating the need for waste or re-processing faulty lines. When used in conjunction with quality control, such as product inspection, you can further reduce the threat of costly recalls, non-compliance and low-quality output. Instead, you will create products that meet customer expectations every time, encouraging people to buy from you in the post-Brexit landscape.
Building resilience
Although manufacturing production is on the rise, the obstacles presented by Brexit and coronavirus will not disappear. We must adapt to the new normal while preparing for future barriers that may affect the industry. Due to this, manufacturers need to build resilience that empowers their plants to overcome any threat.
Many of the factors we have discussed already in this article are essential for resilience: strong supply chains, quality deliverance, trained workforces and effective systems. The key is creating an optimised environment across your plant.
This means:
- Using machines that are fit for the requirements of your applications, boasting accuracy, speed and appropriate handling
- Ensuring machines are commissioned and installed correctly within the production line to prevent future issues
- Having a machine maintenance plan and inventory of spare parts that allows for prevention of breakdown, fast repair and uninterrupted production
- Appropriate quality assurance and control processes that improve and maintain quality
- Selection of partners that fit your specifications and can provide continued support
- Establishing strong supply chains with contingencies in place when issues occur
- Training staff on relevant processes and equipment to their roles
- A factory cleaning plan that minimises machine build-up and contamination risk
- Data insight and performance analysis that indicates the efficiency of your production lines and flags areas for improvement
On top of this, you need continual assessment plans in place to monitor threats to your production. This will help you enjoy increased resilience.
Conclusion
The last year has been challenging for everyone but adjusting for the consequences of the pandemic and Brexit can get manufacturing back on track. There is already optimism for the future, particularly if the government roadmap for recovery is followed, and continuing to overcome challenges will assist recovery for the industry.
By assessing the impact on your plant and putting appropriate solutions in place, as listed above, you can minimise the strain and build your resilience to these and future challenges. This will enable the industry to recover as output increases and ensure optimisation across your site.
To find out more about the implications for manufacturers from Brexit and COVID-19, specifically in the food processing sector, please download our whitepaper, which explores the topic in-depth.
If you need support in overcoming struggles in your production line, Yamato can help. We provide a range of machinery products and services that enable manufacturers to maximise results, improve durability and meet output targets. We can discuss your situation with you and find the right solutions to enhance efficiency in your plant.