ELECTRONICS
CAREFUL INVESTMENT
PTC
Digital technologies hold the key to developing
the UK’s long-term reshoring strategy
Embracing digital technologies will
need to be a key component of any
UK reshoring strategy warns one of the
world’s leading industrial innovation
technology specialists.
Paul Haimes, European Vice President of
Technical Sales for Farnborough-based
PTC, believes the new-found desire to
manufacture more in the UK will have
to be supported by a willingness from
industry to further invest in automation
and adopt the digital technologies which
underpin the Industrial Internet of Things.
He feels that for domestic production
to continue its increasing parity with
traditionally low-cost counties, there will
need to be careful investment to improve
productivity throughout the full product
lifecycle, including the connected factory
and product in the field.
This means aiming for greater
manufacturing operational intelligence
by capturing and analysing data from
machines, processes and factories to
reduce lead times, shrink costs and boost
product throughput.
“The coronavirus outbreak, after all, has
highlighted the fragility of outsourcing to
offshore locations,” explained Paul, who
was central to PTC’s involvement in the
VentilatorChallengeUK consortium.
“While many UK manufacturers had
already experienced quality issues and
rising transport costs associated with
outsourcing, the virus has wreaked havoc
on extended supply chains. As a result,
the risks of over-reliance on overseas
supply of strategically critical components
and parts have come into sharp focus.”
He continued: “The challenge now, as
I see it, is for manufacturing companies
to figure out how to turn reshoring into
a long-lasting and sustainable trend.
In preparation for a post-Covid world,
companies need to start planning for a
fundamental shift in industrial production,
based on digital technologies that
leverage our proven strengths as a global
base of manufacturing skills and talent.”
PTC is playing a significant role in the
successful ramp-up of Smiths and Penlon
ventilators for use by the NHS.
The company has used its Vuforia Expert
Capture Augmented Reality (AR) technology
and Microsoft’s HoloLens to create a virtual
guide to building the different models and is
transferring it to the factories of consortium
partners through the power of AR glasses
and tablets. This is helping increase capacity,
whilst at the same time minimising the risk
of the virus spreading among consortium
partners.
Whilst many manufacturing leaders will no
doubt worry that this reinvention will involve
huge investment at a time when preserving
capital is paramount, Paul believes this
approach shows how you can achieve
operational intelligence on an incremental
basis.
He also underlines how through the
introduction of low-cost sensors - deployed
in limited sprints for example – small wins
can be generated that build into real savings.
Smart use of intelligent robotics could also
help factories redeploy a limited workforce
on higher-value activities.
Paul went on to add: “In the current crisis,
there are valuable lessons to be learned.
Over recent months, many manufacturers
have found themselves struggling to respond
to the changing situation, with demand
patterns and materials availability thrown into
disruption.
“However, if the Industry 4.0 trend is about
anything, it’s about moving away from a
traditional reactive state to a more predictive
one, which anticipates the availability of
materials, people and assets and constantly
reassesses and reschedules production
plans accordingly.
“As our involvement in the
VentilatorChallengeUK consortium has amply
demonstrated, a willingness to experiment
with digital technologies, combined with the
best of our nation’s manufacturing skills and
talent, can be a powerful combination.
“It’s a lesson that will hopefully be
remembered as we move towards a post-
Covid world, one in which the UK is able to
take full advantage of its innate strengths and
reinforce its domestic capabilities for future
resilience.”
PTC employs 163 people across its UK and
Ireland operations and provides a host
of technology solutions to help industrial
companies create value for themselves and
the rest of the world.
This is achieved through a combination of
Augmented Reality, Industrial IoT, Product
Lifecycle Management and CAD solutions.
For further information, please visit www.ptc.com or follow @ptc on twitter.
34 PECM Issue 45