< Previous East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT Automation is the answer to so many of the manufacturing sector’s problems, and yet few people are asking the question. A s manufacturers struggle with worker retention in a high- demand job economy, more and more are looking toward automation to solve the problem. Automation is big business, with an estimated 76% of manufacturers using it to improve the productivity of their factory floor. Automation can be used for assembly, but it has a host of other benefits including production planning, inspection, and inventory management. With the huge conglomerates such as Amazon not just utilizing, but innovating automation processes, it is important that manufacturers stay on top of the latest trends to keep up. Technological advancements mean that a single automation tool can often be used for multiple purposes, whereas traditionally they would be specialised instruments. Many automated processes are grouped into two fields - fixed automation and programmable automation. Fixed automation is also known as hard automation; it comprises of a system where a single product type is produced on individual machines. This solution is intended for large product quantities and is higher cost to implement. This investment must be considered as a single machine brings Automating the problems away Automating the problems away 20-22.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:42 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT together several sequences and operations, so changing production methodology post-implementation is challenging. However, for well- established processes such as assembly lines and material conveyor systems, this could significantly increase production load and product output. Despite the upfront costs, fixed automation reduces running costs in the long run. Integrating process into a single unit reduces energy and maintenance costs. Furthermore, it will lessen production waste as operations are streamlined, meaning that less material will be required and wastage smaller. Reducing product waste is also a more sustainable method of manufacturing, which is important to many consumers as well as manufacturers. However, fixed automation accounts for less than half of the most popular manufacturing solutions. The biggest area of growth for automation is in manufacturing process software. This would fall under programmable automation, which is a production system that requires a program to govern it. A program is comprised of a set of instructions which is read, interpreted, and executed by the system. Programmable automation solutions are flexible, and can be adapted should new formulations be required, or to produce other products, but require more care and attention to make sure they run properly, and to update the programs. Automated manufacturing systems are particularly useful for D2C (Direct to Consumer) businesses. As these manufacturers do everything in-house, there are many day to day processes to keep track of. Programs could be used to develop a master production schedule, which monitors material costs, necessary stock levels and fluctuations 22 Á © stock.adobe.com/ipopba 20-22.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:42 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MANUFACTURING SPOTLIGHT in demand. From this, inventory levels can be managed routinely, and ordering can be automated. This creates an easy overview of production, which allows manufacturers to rapidly identify areas of concern and focus on improving these weak spots, strengthening quality and output. These systems give real time data which means that information is always the most up to date. Businesses can immediately decide if production can begin or more material is required beforehand. This will increase fulfilment rate and enable manufacturers to reliably advise customers of delivery dates. This avoids disappointing expectant consumers with delays. Direct to consumer companies which operate on an e-commerce platform could also benefit with inventory integration (such as Shopify) within the manufacturing process automation. This allows the entire business operations to be centralised within one dashboard for ultimate oversight. Inventory integration is more important for rapidly growing businesses so that orders can be fulfilled as soon as they come in. These systems (such as Katana) can auto-allocate finished products or raw materials to a newly opened sale or manufacturing order. The automated process completes the cycle by synchronising with accounting software to keep track of manufacturing costs. This means that process automation doesn’t just increase product quality and quantity, it can help the business find ways to reduce operating costs. Process software is a cheaper investment than fixed automation and it does not require specialised knowledge or machinery to run. Businesses could train a group of employees to use it, meaning that no extra labour has to be taken on as a result. Although process automation is incredibly useful to improve running a business, it cannot account for skilled labour shortages. Employing certain fixed automation processes can counteract this somewhat (such as mixing robots) but this remains an issue for the industry. A study by Barclays revealed that the manufacturing sector is seen as unattractive to the vast majority of young people. This could result in stagnation, as targeting those born between 1995 and 2010 could bring in an extra £6 billion a year to the UK economy. Currently, only 6% of Gen Z are considering a manufacturing career, in comparison with 23% interested in digital and technology careers, and a further 22% who are interested in IT and computing. Technology is one of the fastest growing industries and areas of study. Investing in automation processes will attract the younger generation to the manufacturing industry, and those who are newly qualified to innovate, run and maintain these systems. A prescient East Midlands example is Space Park Leicester, part of the East Midlands Manufacturing Zones. Backed by the University of Leicester and government-funded, this is an advanced manufacturing hub for regional and national businesses with a focus on space technologies. The benefits to upgrading automation systems for manufacturing are endless. Ultimately, we are in a period of rapid technological growth, particularly where robotics and artificial intelligence are concerned. Once considered a little hit or miss, these processes can now run with over 95% accuracy. These tools help to eliminate user error, which improves both product output and quality. This improves the experience for the customer, thus improving the chances of repeat custom, and business growth. Investment in these technologies cements a business as forward thinking, which is likely to be attractive to young prospective employees, a desperately sought-after resource to the industry. As technology continues to evolve, those who choose not to invest are likely to feel behind the times. © stock.adobe.com/salman2 20-22.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:42 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link MATERIALS HANDLING The cost of materials handling accidents is high, as are the costs of recruitment and keeping staff. The region’s many distribution centres are having to contend with this and ever-increasing demand for their services. B usinesses across all sectors have had to become leaner in recent years, as problem after problem hits the economy. The lockdown played havoc with distribution centres in the region because of how integral staff are to their day-to-day operations. Delays from distribution inevitably cause delays further up the line, which leads to more and more problems. This was even harder during lockdown because of the reliance on deliveries for food and goods direct to homes, which pushed the country’s supply chain to the limit. The most obvious benefit of a materials handling system is it eliminates the damage and loss caused by human error. Yet, beyond this, a truly well managed system can increase efficiency, reduces handling costs, and facilitates stock management and process flow. Understanding how to increase efficiency with materials handling is useful to know, even if you intend to use a third-party warehousing partner, so as to make an Keeping up with handling 24 Á © stock.adobe.com/jdarius 23-25.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:43 Page 1 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk MATERIALS HANDLING informed investment. Key efficiency indicators include time sensitivity, storage temperature, the sealants utilised and accessibility of stock. All of these issues combine to determine the speed at which the materials can be processed, and the quality of the end product. Given that Unplanned Downtime, Yield, and Inventory Turnover are amongst some of the most common Key Product Indicators measured by food and drink manufacturers, it can be seen how efficiency with materials handling can improve these indicators. The concept of materials handling is traditionally about safety but has expanded to efficiency with the advent of technology that has further increased how much any one human can move at a given time. Forklifts, pallet trucks and fully automated conveyor systems have removed the human element, and the human limit, and continue to be attractive in a post-lockdown economy. Automated materials handling systems allow for flexibility within the supply chain, as when a new product is introduced, it is merely a case of recalibrating machinery. If flexible walls were installed in conveyor belts, this would allow for easy manoeuvrability around the warehouse if operations were to be moved, scaled up or scaled down, without significantly increasing downtime. Given the exponential demand for consumer goods direct to our supermarkets, or even our doors, this has necessitated efficiency within materials handling, as the long-lasting nature of some of these products means that businesses can expand their operations. With increased operations, increases the need for accuracy, safety, and cost-saving process. AGVs are expected to reduce workplace accidents significantly, as driving automated paths and the ability to inter communicate with other AGVs reduces likelihood of collisions. It is estimated that 25% of injuries in the workplace are caused by contact with objects and equipment and reducing the need for manual handling across the production process, underscores the impact of automated vehicles in reducing these incidents. Warehouse software and SCM (Supply chain management) software has also been under scrutiny of late, with lessons learned from the pandemic being that warehouses need ways to operate on skeleton staff and shortages. This has been a timely lesson, since the great resignation and a dearth of skilled workers has caused the problem to grow. Using computers alongside machines for materials handling purposes has long been the dream of companies operating warehouses, as it removes the risks for accidents and scandals, and machines can work longer hours with less breaks. However, the technology has always been inhibitive in the past compared to the traditional workforce, and however efficient machines may be, humans are more flexible, able to adapt to changes without the need for programming and keep working. This has slowly begun to change in recent years with robots becoming more affordable and widely produced, and employee wages have risen alongside this, slowly closing the gap between investment cost and sustained wages. The cost of living has put a stop to wage increases sadly, as the economy and many businesses are struggling to afford them, but it is unlikely to be something that continues. Once the economic troubles are over, whether it be through a recession or not, it is likely that employees will demand higher wages, and that the national wage will increase once more. With that in mind, it might be worth looking at automated materials handling sooner rather than later. At some point, it might be mandatory, or even the industry standard. 23-25.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:43 Page 2www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link MATERIALS HANDLING © stock.adobe.com/Pixel_B 23-25.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:43 Page 3I was recently asked to deliver both a keynote and a workshop around communication for a large organisation and one of the main topics of discussion fell around how we currently communicate with our audiences. I asked the question: “How do you currently communicate with your audience?” From there a discussion evolved surrounding the various forms of communication used within various sectors and job roles, leading to the differentiation of those said forms of communications and platforms, finalising with what people’s preferences were and why. Many spoke about email being the main way they communicate, whereby messaging can often be misconstrued or mistranslated compared to being in the room with someone, having a face-to-face conversation, or even by telephone. This then led to the interesting notion and realisation in some cases that communication isn’t just about the words that we speak, but a whole host of other things such as body language, including mannerisms, handshakes, body positioning, eye contact, facial expression, and hand gestures amongst others. Email also removes the detail that we get from verbal expression, such as linguistics and speech patterns, not to mention story content, and if we really delve in deep, we can look at other forms such as self-comforting gestures, how to spot a liar and the power behind a smile. Knowing how to read people in this way certainly helps you to be able to diagnose issues that are apparent with perhaps a client or staff member who is struggling but not being honest, or to identify a team member who is facing a challenge or to assist when in negotiations in business. Being equipped with the tools you need to not only help you to communicate better, but to read other people Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency, discusses the importance and the many different forms of communication. East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk NETWORKING Lead the way by communicating better when they are communicating is a fast track to getting ahead in not only business but in life and could save you a lot of stress and heart ache in the long run in many scenarios. Now I’m not against communication by email or text, in fact I use it daily and it has its place – it’s quick, convenient, and easy. However, for something like for example, a coaching session, one to one with a staff/team member, or business discussion, I would always advise taking it offline and giving yourself and the other person the opportunity to use communication in all its forms. This could not only save time in the long- run, but also help to prevent any ‘mis-communication’, and you never know, this could lead to a discussion or confession that you least expected, but that in turn helps you to move the situation forward in a positive way. My two hour interactive workshops cover three key areas of communication including: ‘Communication in all its forms’, as discussed in this article, ‘Language’, which will see us discuss the relevance of understanding both verbal and body language within your career, which will give you the transferable skills to help overcome and manage stressful and challenging situations. The final segment delves into ‘The art of conversation’, and through a simple visualisation tool we will look at how you can become the perfect conversationalist, touching on the relevance of small talk, creative questioning, and more. Investing time in bettering your communication will result in nothing but positive outcomes for you and those you encounter in life and business, just think how many world problems could have been solved by now with better communication, but it’s not too late - it all starts with ourselves. 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:44 Page 1Fiona Duncan-Steer, RSViP www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk www.fionaduncansteer.com 26-27.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:44 Page 2 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk BUSINESS SERVICES Serving the business 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:45 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link BUSINESS SERVICES Some business services are essential, and others not so much, but think twice before you decide to ignore the potential they offer; non-essential services may well be the answer to the problems many companies are facing. B usiness services may well be one of the first things a business looks to cut down on when economic problems hit; insurance, banking, business cards, telephone lines and IT are all nice targets when a money needs to be saved at the end of the month, and it’s well worth taking a look at them to see if there are better offers and suppliers out there. That said, looking at these services as unfortunate extras a company “needs” to have but doesn’t really want to is by far the wrong way to go about it. Many of these may seem necessities by law only, like insurance, IT and Telecoms. Businesses need these things to operate, and thus have to pay for them. Others, such as business cards, promotional material and consultants, are not necessary, and can therefore be safely cut. Such may be the philosophy, but it’s worth remembering that if any of this were true then these business services would have never existed in the first place. What has been forgotten is how to best use these services to a businesses’ advantage. It’s said that there are two types of business service: intangible and tangible. The old joke about these is usually how employers speak to their employees, stating that while the wages might not be the best the “intangible benefits” © stock.adobe.com/sebra 30 Á 28-31.qxp_Layout 1 31/10/2022 10:45 Page 2Next >