Strengthening supply chains is a priority for nearly two thirds of manufacturing pros, according to new research.
Manufacturers also set out their digital ambitions for the new year, as advanced digital technology quickly emerges as an answer to supply chain afflictions – including businesses grappling with parts and materials shortages, sudden factory shutdowns and unfinished products, and consumers facing long queues, late deliveries and even empty shelves.
Manufacturing leaders selected supply chain crises as the top reason why manufacturers need to innovate their business models in 2022, while over half said that building more data-driven supply chains was the greatest opportunity to make their organisation more resilient and sustainable over the next 12 months.
The results were collated as 2021 came to a close – a year which exposed shortcomings in global supply chains and the wide-reaching impact of continuous supply disruption rose to the fore.
Tim Lawrence, Director of Digital Supply Chains at Digital Catapult, that conducted the research, said: “Amongst other factors, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made both industry and consumers keenly aware of global supply chain inadequacies. From empty shelves to petrol queues and driver shortages, bosses from across all industries are taking note that our brittle supply chains are longer fit for purpose.
“It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that UK industrial pros have highlighted overhauling supply chains as a top strategic priority in 2022.
“Exploring how advanced digital technologies can facilitate the smooth flow of goods and services will need to be top of the list in 2022, as manufacturers large and small make data transparency, sharing vital insights and predicting shocks their goal.”
Elsewhere, manufacturing leaders said their primary motivating factors for manufacturing to implement digital innovation initiatives across their organisation are the prospect of reducing operational costs, growing their business, or becoming more competitive.
The cloud, predictive analytics and Internet of Things came out on top as priority technologies for investment in 2022.