Cost pressures are weighing heavily on manufacturers in the UK, with almost all having to offer higher salaries to attract in-demand talent, according to new research by
www.visualcomponents.com Visual Components, the developer of 3-D simulation software. The data which has shed light on the range of factors that is adding to the financial pressure for the sector in 2023. In the USA, all manufacturers surveyed have had to offer higher salaries due to a skills shortage.
The typical cost associated with downtime due to unreliable legacy equipment is between £10,001-£25,000 for a third of respondents (33%). Ineffective usage of robots has also led to one-in-five (20%) stating that between £25,001-£50,000 has been wasted due to a mistake when deploying them. Over one-in-ten (14%) report figures of over £100,000.
With almost one-in-five (19%) of manufacturers spending over £100,000 in robot deployments over the last 12 months, failing to use robots to their full capability is also a significant financial risk. Almost one-in-three respondents in the USA (28%) say that they have invested over $63,501 in robot deployments in the last 12 months.
In an effort to reduce costs, manufacturers have focused on reducing power usage (31%) in a time of spiralling energy prices, with this an even bigger focus among French companies (40%). Persistently high prices and stubborn inflation in the UK has likely lowered confidence among businesses that they will play a key role in helping the global drive for ‘net zero’ carbon emissions. This figure is down to 61% from 66% in 2022.
Visual Components CEO Mikko Urho said: “Economic factors such as skills shortages have driven up costs for UK manufacturers, but organisations are also losing money from ineffective technology deployments. To keep expenditure to a minimum, businesses can deploy simulation software to allow cost-effective and efficient decisions to be made in real-time, while enabling reliable and consistent automated processes that don’t incur any costly mistakes. Organisations can also avoid missing out on potential revenue by programming robots quicker to send items into production and down the supply chain.”