5 ideas to strengthen British manufacturing over the next decade

British manufacturing has a proud history, but it needs to change to ensure it has a strong future. Over the next decade, automation, AI and new skills will continue to shape how manufacturers work, bringing challenges but also plenty of opportunities.

As a British manufacturer, we see these changes first-hand. We design and manufacture electrical systems and assemblies here in the UK, and we're always looking for ways to make our processes better, faster and more reliable. 

So, rather than focusing on what's wrong with British manufacturing, we wanted to look at what could make it stronger. We asked our Managing Director, Gareth Bruce, to share five areas he believes could make a real difference to UK manufacturing over the next decade. 

1. Reward UK R&D and UK Production

The UK has a strong reputation for innovation. We have talented engineers, world-class universities and technology businesses developing some genuinely impressive ideas, but developing an idea is only part of the journey. The real value comes when we can turn those ideas into products and manufacture them here in the UK. 

Manufacturing supports skilled jobs, strengthens supply chains, creates exports and contributes to the wider economy. Encouraging businesses to keep more of that development and production in the UK could help those benefits go even further. 

"This is something we've been thinking about at Brucom. Earlier this year, we submitted a proopsal to HM Treasury suggesting that future R&D incentives could put greater emphasis on keeping manufacturing in the UK. We were pleased to recieve a considered response acknowledging the proposal and recognising the values of industry feedback in shaping future policy."

Gareth Bruce
Managing Director

2. Keep investing in manufacturing automation

"At Brucom, we've made a conscious decision to keep investing in our future. Over recent years we've consistently reinvested around 10% of our annual turnover into new machinery, automation and process improvements."

Gareth Bruce
Managing Director

Will this benefit our customers?

Automation helps us produce our products more quickly, improves consistency, reduces errors, and creates the extra space we need to take on new work. For us, automation isn't about taking people out of manufacturing. It's about removing repetitive tasks and allowing our team to spend more time on the parts of the job where their skills and experience really matter. That's why we believe continued investment in automation will be an important part of keeping UK manufacturing competitive. 

3. Give modern manufacturing the skills it needs

Manufacturing is changing faster than ever, and the skills needed to work in it are changing too. Engineers will have to adapt to these changes, as they won't just need traditional engineering knowledge. They will also have to understand automation, robotics, AI, machine vision, and digital manufacturing systems. 

That's why we think technical education needs to keep up with the industry. It's not simply about creating apprenticeships; they are an important part of the picture, but people also want opportunities to keep developing their skills throughout their careers. 

At Brucom, we see the value of this first-hand. As technology advances and our manufacturing processes become more sophisticated, our team needs to evolve alongside them. That's why, when we use new automated machines, we allow staff to develop their skills, as they will be able to learn how to use new machinery and technology. Gareth explains, 

"If we want British manufacturing to make the most of new technology, we need people with the skills and confidenced to use it. That means industry, education, and government all have a part to play in preparing the next generation of manufacturing talent."

Gareth Bruce
Managing Director

4. Use AI to improve manufacturing, not replace people 

AI is becoming a bigger part of manufacturing, and it's not difficult to see why. When it's used in the right way, it can help improve quality, spot problems earlier, and give people better information to work with, but there is often a lot of talk about AI replacing people. We don't think that's where the biggest opportunity is.

At Brucom, we are introducing AI-powered vision technology into our quality processes to work alongside our team. The systems can continuously monitor production and help to identify potential defects, giving our team another layer of quality control. 

It is not there to replace people who know our products and processes inside out; it's there to support them. By using AI, it can spot issues earlier; we can reduce rework, improve consistency and make sure we are delivering the quality our customers expect.

For us, that's what AI in manufacturing should be about giving people better tools to do their jobs, rather than taking people out of the process.

"AI investment allows us to redeploy our people into higher value activities where they can develop new skills, contribute more to the business and earn more through increased capabilities and responsibilities."

Gareth Bruce
Managing Director

5. Think long-term about UK manufacturing

Manufacturing isn't a short-term business. The decisions we make today can have an impact on the business for years to come. Investing in new machinery, technology, facilities and people doesn't always deliver an immediate return. Sometimes it takes time to see the full benefit, but that doesn't mean it's not worth doing.

At Brucom, we're constantly looking at where we can improve and what we'll need to support the business in the future. That means thinking beyond the next project and making decisions that will help us continue to grow. 

For us, long-term investment is about building the skills, technology and processes that allow us to keep delivering for our customers as their needs change.

If UK manufacturing is going to remain competitive, businesses need the confidence to plan for the future. That means embracing new technology, developing people and being prepared to adapt as the industry changes.

Looking Ahead

British manufacturing has a lot to be optimistic about. We have talented engineers, innovative businesses and a strong history of making things here in the UK. The next decade will bring plenty of changes, from automation and AI to new skills and technologies. Rather than seeing these changes as something to be concerned about, we think they give UK manufacturers an opportunity to improve, adapt and grow.

At Brucom, we’re proud to be a part of that. We’re continuing to invest in our people, our technology and our processes because we want to keep improving what we do and provide the best possible solutions for our customers. 

The future of British manufacturing won't be shaped by one technology or one big decision. It will come from businesses being willing to keep learning, keep investing and keep looking for better ways of doing things 

That's exactly what we’ll continue to do at Brucom.