< PreviousWhilst the recently announced government roadmap is ambitious, it has given hope to many that we can soon be released from the confines of our own homes, remote working and Zoom… Like many, I have become far too comfortable with hosting my meetings, events and training sessions via online video platforms and whilst exciting, I’d be the first to admit I am also slightly anxious at what lies ahead, when the world reopens. When Friday’s arrive I often feel exhausted from all of the conversations and energy I have put into keeping connected through the screen and then the realisation hits me that I haven’t actually been in the physical presence of any one of the people I have interacted with - bonkers to say the least and a true example of how times have changed and how we as humans adapt so well and ‘just get on with it’. Yes, we may have gone through every emotion available to us this past year, felt like climbing the walls and had a little cry into our cuppa, but we have without doubt done amazingly well to adapt to this crazy thing we now call life - humans are brilliant at doing that aren’t they? So, let us give ourselves a pat on the back for how far we’ve come and dare to look ahead at what is yet to come in a positive light - the end is nye (the end of lockdown that is). Question: Have you considered how things may look in your business when we re-emerge? If not, then now is the time to do just that and to start prepping for your business come back. Here are 9 things to consider: 1. Reflection: Take the time to look back at what your business was pre Covid, what elements have changed since and how it looks now. 2. Make a list: List all the challenges you have faced and possibly overcome during this time, as well as the opportunities and positives that have occurred - I assure you there will be at least one! 3. Let go: What could you now let go of in your business? Things you no longer need, things that are no longer relevant, By Fiona Duncan-Steer, founder of RSViP Business Networking Agency 20 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk NETWORKING things that no longer serve you - strip it back. 4. What’s new? What have you introduced this past year as a result of your ‘adapt and overcome strategy’, or what new things do you plan to introduce into your business - perhaps a new product or service? 5. Your network: Look at your current network around you - your team, contacts list, customers, suppliers - are you still in talks with everyone or have you lost touch with certain people you need to re-connect with? Are you happy to move on from certain people or is it just a case of making an effort to rebuild that relationship? It’s time to reinforce your tribe; those you want to take forward with you and to let go of the rest who do not serve you. 6. Operations & infrastructure: Were you happy with how your business operated on a daily/weekly/monthly basis? Could things run smoother with a bit of time and effort injected into your processes? It’s time to get organised, re- look at systems, let go of what is no longer working for you, introduce automation for efficiency and sample new software and platforms where relevant. 7. Marketing: Have you changed your message and communication style this past year? If not, this should have been done yesterday, but do not panic it’s not too late - start putting together a new marketing strategy, integrating potential new communication platforms and campaigns. Don’t be afraid to get creative at this point and try new things. 8. Your audience: Relook at who they are, profile them, then ask yourself - are they your perfect customer? If not, how can you find your people, your audience? Change your message and seek them out! 9. Finances: Have they decreased this year? Do you know your numbers? How can you get it back on track and more? There is no one answer, it is a combination of the implementation of all of the above, plus good old fashioned hard work and determination - something you all have inside of you. Dig deep and bring it back to the service - you can do it! …9 steps to consider For assistance in planning your come back road map contact me: fiona@rsvipnetwork.co.uk www.fionaduncansteer.co.uk www.rsvipnetwork.co.uk Making your come back 20-21.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:46 Page 120-21.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:46 Page 222 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FACTORY AUTOMATION the future Engineering 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:47 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 23 FACTORY AUTOMATION In just ten years, the factory as we know it has radically evolved. As companies invest in ever more innovative technologies, the smart factory concept will continue to become the industry norm. Key to the smart factory concept is the internet of things (IoT), a cloud-connected network that brings together previously separate systems. In doing so, once disparate data streams are pooled in one place, where it can be turned into actionable insights. This allows manufacturers to see exactly where they can create a leaner, more efficient supply chain operation and highlight what areas require improvement. Far from a passing fad, IoT is already having a transformative effect. According to management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the impact of IoT could reach $11 trillion per year by 2025. What separates IoT from individual digital technologies is its interconnectedness. Yes, there’s processing machines, forklifts and the like, but it’s as much about creating a mapped network of an entire factory operation. This includes smoke detectors, thermometers for chilled environments, water meters, motion detectors and security systems. Take machine sensors as an example. They allow factories to measure and reduce energy and water waste leading to lower operating costs and more 24 Á © Shutterstock /PopT ika 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:47 Page 224 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk FACTORY AUTOMATION environmentally sustainable operations. Using smart sensors can also lead to better asset tracking, triggering orders when stock runs low so manufacturers can completely automate their inventory replenishment process. The same technology can also automatically identify potential equipment failures before they happen, saving on more expensive repairs and protracted periods of downtime. There will always be some resistance to new technologies, but the majority of companies in the industrial manufacturing sector are exploring this concept or at least looking into smart technologies. The downside, however, is that the right infrastructure is needed before any IoT system can be installed and this requires investment. Costs here can be steep – sometimes even prohibitive – but at a time when the future seems uncertain, investing in technologies that will help to future-proof the factory floor can be an attractive prospect. But there’s more to the smart factory concept than just IoT. The so-called “lights out” production concept, where manufacturing activities and material flow are handled automatically, is becoming a hallmark of modern manufacturing. Obviously, this can’t be achieved by a traditional workforce and so robots have become much more commonplace on the factory floor. Robots were originally introduced in the workplace for health and safety reasons, replacing human workers in dirty and dangerous jobs, and boosting production output. Robotic systems also help to improve product quality and uniformity and, crucially, cut manufacturing costs by replacing increasingly expensive people with ever- cheaper machines. After all, a machine doesn’t need a living wage or pension. It’s understandable that some workers fear robots will put them out of a job, especially in the manufacturing sector. Yet it’s the very nature of technology to eliminate jobs by expanding the scope of human understanding and by making our home and work lives easier. Complete automation is the natural next step for manufacturing. There’s been countless studies both confirming and denying the notion that robotics and artificial intelligence will steal 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:47 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 25 FACTORY AUTOMATION jobs. What we can agree on, however, is that these booming new sectors will themselves create jobs – though the exact figure is almost impossible to predict. Business Link has never been shy in asserting its opinion that there will always be a place for a human workforce in the manufacturing and engineering sectors, because machines and automated systems still need to be designed, installed, serviced and repaired. But it is inevitable that the robots are coming. As well as improving efficiency, lowering operation costs and boosting output, investing in robots makes sound financial sense. Over the last three decades, the average robot price has fallen by half in real terms whilst the cost of labour has continued to rise. Robotic systems also have the advantage over IoT as they’re comparatively easy to assemble, install and integrate thanks to overall advances in computing power, software development techniques and networking technologies. Whether working in tandem with robotic systems or as part of a wider IoT, augmented reality (AR) has a number of practical applications on the factory floor. Although the AR dates back to 1968, the technology is still in its infancy, but there’s a huge scope of what it can offer manufacturers. It can be used to train maintenance engineers on the specific environment they will encounter, making it a boon to hazardous environments such as food and drink and pharmaceutical manufacturing. For facilities managers and site operators, the technology allows off-site staff to experience the same view as a maintenance team on site. By projecting information on a heads-up display, augmented reality can also assist in complex assembly, something that’s already be used by companies like Boeing and will likely permeate the industry in the years to come. The smart factory concept is less a decision facing manufacturers and more like the industry in evolution. Companies resist this change at their own peril, but that’s not to say they must completely overhaul their operations. The addition of augmented reality or a robotics system may be enough to benefit from efficiency gains and, best of all, a reduction in operating costs. © Shutterstock /thinkhubstudio 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:48 Page 426 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk LOGISTICS The last twelve months have proved to be something of a trial by fire for the logistics sector and the myriad operators that keep these critical cogs turning. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, logistics operators experienced a massive increase in demand from consumers and clients alike. Successive lockdowns, and the closing of bricks and mortar retailers, led tens of thousands of consumers to purchase online, whilst social distancing measures and self- isolation saw just as many – if not more – order their grocery shopping online. For consumers, it’s a simple matter of clicking or tapping and selecting a delivery date, but for logistic operators, it’s a lot more complex. Consequently, operators were forced to upscale recruitment to draft in the numbers needed to meet this demand. As if this wasn’t already enough, uncertainty regarding the UK’s trading future with the bloc cast another shadow over 2020. Now that we’ve officially left the EU, logistics operators trading overseas have experienced a rise in red tape leading to delays and bureaucracy related headaches – not to mention some rather farcical occurrences that not even The Thick of It could have predicted (remember when ham sandwiches and other foods were confiscated from UK drivers by Dutch officials?). However, with the government having launched its “irreversible” roadmap out of lockdown and towards economic recovery, and the March Budget removing some of the stress, things are looking up for the logistics industry. This is especially good news for our region, as the East Midlands is the beating heart of the UK’s road, rail and air logistics industry. The Golden Logistics Triangle, which stretches from Northamptonshire up the M1 to East Midlands Airport, and West as far as Tamworth area, is filled with major logistics names. As well as proximity to the massive distribution centres of supermarkets and high street names, operators in this area also enjoy access to over ninety per cent of the UK population within four hours drive. Here, giants of UK haulage rub shoulders with smaller independent logistics companies offering a truly diverse and flourishing sector that has proved fundamental to the British economy over the last year. As well as serving the entire UK, many of these logistics are also involved in trading with the European Union and, therefore, have been forced to contend with more red tape. Yet this state of affairs also affects those logistics firms looking to supply the UK with goods that local firms often provide last-mile services for in a symbiotic trading relationship. However, the government has extended the deadline for the customs declarations and other formalities on imports to the The Golden 28 Á During the pandemic, the logistics industry has been one of the nation’s great unsung heroes – meeting an upsurge in demand as well as navigating increased red tape when exporting to the EU. The Golden 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:50 Page 1www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 27 LOGISTICS © Shutterstock /Aniczkania Triangle Triangle 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:50 Page 228 East Midlands Business Link www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk LOGISTICS UK from the EU, easing some of the bureaucratic burden. New checks (known as sanitary and phytosanitary checks) on products of animal origin and plants, as well as full customs declarations at the point of importation for goods coming from the EU are to be postponed by six to nine months. It’s been welcomed by Logistics UK, the business group representing the sector. According to the group’s European policy manager, Sarah Laouadi, this delay will ease the administrative burden on logistics organisations currently working to supply the UK through COVID-19 lockdowns. “Alleviating pressures on the supply chain caused by the current pandemic remains the priority for our sector,” said Ms Laouadi. “[The] announcement acknowledges the challenges and mounting compliance pressure created by multiple COVID-19 lockdowns and regulations across different European nations. By moving the deadline for the introduction of extra import formalities on goods coming to the UK, the government is providing more time for businesses and authorities to adapt to the upcoming extra requirements, for example by training staff, designing robust business processes to interact with new IT systems and agreeing a new allocation of roles and responsibilities with their supply chain partners. This will protect the UK’s highly interconnected supply chain to keep the nation supplied with the goods and services it needs. “It is imperative that governments and industry now work hand in hand to make the best possible use of this extra time, to raise the level of readiness for checks both in the UK and in the EU. In particular, Logistics UK is pushing the UK government for a much bigger focus on end-to-end provision of guidance to ease the import process and enhanced engagement with traders, but also hauliers, on both sides of the UK’s border.” © Shutterstock /Simon Annable © Shutterstock /Shutter .B 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:50 Page 3www.eastmidlandsbusinesslink.co.uk East Midlands Business Link 29 LOGISTICS Initially, the UK government intended to phase in new sanitary and phytosanitary import formalities for a large number of products of animal origin on 1 April. Full customs declarations for all imports without any deferment option were to be required from 1 July, as would physical checks at border control posts on so called agrifood products. As Ms Laouadi says: “[The] announcement will mean that businesses have an extra six to nine months - depending on products - to prepare for these two deadlines while fast-moving COVID-19-related rules hopefully stabilise and are phased out.” Logistics operators continue to acclimate to increased demand and red tape from both the pandemic and the formal divorce of the EU. But, as can be seen with how the sector is improving its carbon footprint, it will adapt and endure and continue to flourish. Who knows, the Golden Triangle might just become platinum. © Shutterstock /Ian Francis 26-29.qxp_Layout 1 06/04/2021 08:50 Page 4Next >