Invest 2035: A Vision for UK Manufacturing
22 January 2025
22 January 2025
Paula Yarwood, Solutions Architect at Inforlogic explains why the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy needs a digital core if it’s to deliver on the ambitious goals outlined for manufacturers
The launch of the UK Government’s new Invest 2035 Modern Industrial Strategy has been met with a mixed reaction from those within the manufacturing sector. Undoubtedly a long-overdue step, this new industrial roadmap certainly addresses some of the sector’s most keenly felt challenges, with a renewed focus on key issues such as sustainability, decarbonisation, supply chain resilience and skills development. Coming seven years after its predecessor, which was widely seen as lacking the clarity and actionable steps needed to guide manufacturers through the evolving challenges of the global economy, this renewed commitment to manufacturing recognises the vital role that manufacturing plays in shaping the UK’s economic future.
As experts in digital manufacturing solutions and Infor SyteLine ERP systems, we wholeheartedly welcome this strategy. It’s rare for a day to go by, without us getting into a conversation which doesn’t touch on the significant challenges faced by the UK manufacturing sector. Whether it’s the Brexit hangover, ongoing supply chain disruptions, skills or the pressing need to meet decarbonisation targets, it’s a challenging market right now. Now, more than ever, manufacturers need this clear, long-term vision to guide them through the complexities of these issues and others.
There is, however, one essential element that we believe must run through the entire strategy: digital transformation. Without a digital thread connecting all areas of the strategy, none of the ambitious goals set out in Invest 2035 are truly achievable.
One of the key pillars of Invest 2035 is sustainability, accompanied by the promise of substantial government support for manufacturers transitioning to greener practices and net-zero targets. While the ambition is admirable, there’s a growing consensus within the industry that achieving these targets is simply not possible unless digital tools are incorporated into every aspect of manufacturing operations. For example, digitally transformative solutions and systems can support manufacturers in optimising energy use, reducing waste and ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Additionally, the strategy’s focus on enhancing supply chain resilience is another area where digital technology is critical. The use of advanced technologies like digital twins, predictive analytics and real-time monitoring is a key component of building flexible, adaptive and responsive supply chains, ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. At Inforlogic, we see how these technologies are already helping manufacturers streamline their operations, increasing efficiencies and reducing costs. However, to fully realise their potential, such potentially transformative tools must be integrated into the very heart of manufacturers’ supply chain strategies.
Skills development is another critical area within Invest 2035, an area where digital technologies can play a transformational role. As the need for highly skilled workers in data science, automation and AI grows, while the skills gap increases gets seemingly ever wider, manufacturers need to ensure that their workforce is equipped and empowered with the skills needed not only for today but tomorrow too. To successfully embed the right digital tools in the modern manufacturing organisation requires a deep understanding of how to optimise the deployment of these technologies, underpinning maximum return on investment as well as scalable benefits for the business.
We’ve been helping manufacturers embrace the power of digital for years and our customers are already seeing the immense value that digital transformation brings.
For manufacturing businesses to tackle pressing challenges while achieving ambitious goals, they need the tools and resources to help them optimise efficiency at the same time as deriving maximum value from the immense amounts of data available to them. This is why the solutions we deliver harness the power of digital, providing real-time data insights, increased automation and improved decision-making. Whether it’s through more efficient resource planning, enhanced supply chain visibility or watertight compliance with environmental standards, for the manufacturing sector, digital is the backbone of success.
Invest 2035 offers the kind of long-term vision the industry has been waiting for. Its success will ultimately depend on how effectively it is implemented and if manufacturers are able to turn the strategy’s ambitions into measurable outcomes. As UK manufacturers begin to explore what the strategy means for their businesses, it’s crucial that they realise the important role that digital has to play. Without digital transformation, any aspirational sustainability, resilience and innovation goals will remain unachievable. By unlocking the full power of digital, manufacturers can drive growth, boost efficiency and seize opportunities, helping to make Invest 2035 a reality not just a strategy.
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