CRANFIELD HOSTS NINTH NATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEBATE
Hundreds of manufacturing leaders came together at Cranfield University to take part in the National Manufacturing Debate, where they discussed the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy.
Academics and business leaders from across the manufacturing sector attended the 2108 National Manufacturing Debate at Cranfield University, including Anna Keeling, Senior Vice President Business Transformation, GKN Aerospace; Andrew Schofield, Head of Manufacturing & Materials Engineering, BAE Systems; and Dr Clive Hickman, CEO, the Manufacturing Technology Centre.
As part of the National Manufacturing Debate, Cranfield University also released a white paper ‘Industrial Strategy & UK Manufacturing’. The white paper set out some of the challenges that the manufacturing sector faces. The paper notes that UK productivity has declined by 9% in the last ten years, at a time when its competitors have increased productivity.
Extensive interviews were also carried out with academics, CEOs, managers and journalists involved with UK manufacturing. Overwhelmingly, they pointed to a lack of R&D and innovation; skills shortages; and automation and robotics as the three largest factors impacting UK manufacturing growth.
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- Professor Rajkumar Roy, Director of Manufacturing at Cranfield University, addresses the Ninth Manufacturing Debate, hosted by Cranfield University.
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- Academics, CEOs, managers and journalists made themselves available for interview and discussion.
“The UK manufacturing sector faces many challenges, not least the uncertainty around Brexit,” said Professor Rajkumar Roy, Director of Manufacturing at Cranfield University, at the time of the debate. “Despite these challenges, our research suggests that industry leaders are optimistic about the Government’s Industrial Strategy as an important stepping stone towards greater UK productivity. The industrial leaders we spoke to are now crying out for specifics. How will the success or failure of the Industrial Strategy be measured? Will there be KPIs? What is the detail behind Sector Deals? These are the questions the manufacturing sector is asking.
“The National Manufacturing Debate is a perfect opportunity to bring together manufacturing leaders from global businesses to SMEs and academics to discuss how we can move UK manufacturing forward.
The 10th National Manufacturing Debate will take place on 22nd May 2019 at Cranfield University.
To register for the 2019 event and to read a full report of the 2018 National Manufacturing Debate visit https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/ events/national-manufacturing-debate/ national-manufacturing-debate-2018
