Pros and more pros of manufacturing in the UK | Trifibre

Time zones

Even a simple matter such as being in the same time zone as your customers can assist in the successful conduct of a contract, regardless of size. Start, finish and even lunchtimes are second nature, to the point that they are barely mentioned and the need to carefully co-ordinate lengthy meetings is minimised. Even across the continental United States with four time zones, an issue discovered at 9am in New York might not be discussed for several hours with a manufacturer in Seattle, for example. And the issue only multiplies when you cross continents; far easier to conduct business with a supplier where 3pm is the same for all involved. What’s more, the UK’s proximity to Europe means that its own time difference puts it within one hour of over a dozen countries; certainly not the case in other parts of the world.

 

Cultural sensitivity

Sensitivity to cultural nuances can be a huge bonus in the conduct of business relationships. The well-known instance of the delicate etiquette involved in conducting business in Japan is just one example of the pitfalls that can await. Navigating them successfully can make an excellent impression but as always, the return on the effort must be borne in mind. Appreciation of national holidays, closure periods, work ethic and even family life can all add to the bonds that tie working relationships together. Working internationally certainly provides the opportunity to learn about these differences but ultimately, they still add work and potential complications to negotiations and operations. Within the UK they are pretty much universal and can simply be taken as read. Furthermore, the UK’s multicultural make-up has strengthened its capabilities in this area, taking the best from that blend of peoples and cultures to reinforce its position.

 

Faster and cheaper shipping

Just by virtue of manufacturing in the UK, shipping costs are reduced, both in terms of the associated bureaucracy and the actual transport costs. Fuel is a global commodity and whilst there are price variations among countries, especially those who produce oil, and by virtue of different taxation policies, these very rarely add up to a reason to shift an entire manufacturing operation to those countries. And even more so when the added bureaucracy and competition amongst international shippers often iron out the original differences in costs, and savings, if any, become minimal. For all its glitches, the UK’s internal transport infrastructure is reliable, robust and sophisticated. By manufacturing in the UK, there are simply fewer things to go wrong in the transport and logistics chain.

 

Easier quality control

The quality of overseas manufacturing, in particular from China has increased significantly in recent years as their own economy and systems have developed but as in any country there are wide variations in quality and very few companies have time or money to spend on finding the right supplier through testing or pilots so managing the quality of output from the outset and throughout is vital to any project’s success. Obviously, this kind of management is much simpler within the same country.

 

Adherence to UK and EU regulations

For many years, EU regulations provided British media with plenty of ammunition to ridicule the organisation, but once you cut through the noise and hubbub it’s undeniable that many of the benefits that we enjoy today have stemmed from the collective agreements around EU legislation. The standards set relating to employment statutes, environmental regulation, safety laws and materials legislation are the benchmark for numerous other countries and have added to the reputation of the bloc for quality and ethical production. What’s more the UK has been a major contributor to the wording and focus of these regulations, giving us a greater understanding of their function and operation. We may well see future governments attempt to steer away from these precedents but expectations have been set and it will be some time, if ever, before those are compromised. And for the foreseeable future, those standards continue to enhance British manufacturing’s reputation and output.

 

Support UK jobs and economy

It is typically British to be somewhat self-deprecating about ourselves. But we’re also the first to complain about jobs and work being offshored or moved wholesale to other countries. We’ve also seen a reversal of this trend over recent years as initial apparent benefits were outweighed by unexpected consequences or simply failed to materialise.

There is a genuine advantage in looking to support UK jobs, the UK economy and the UK in general, and not just because of the specific topics discussed here. The creation and maintenance of jobs in the UK has a ripple effect that benefits us all. Once scaled up it increases GDP, increases tax revenue for the Government and boosts the profitability of UK plc.

As well as the obvious economic benefits, there are secondary pluses to be had as well. For example, keeping and creating jobs in the UK is always a positive and genuine PR story and in a world of noisy social media, any story that gains attention and traction can add to your company’s profile and image. Similarly, being able to add ‘Manufactured in the UK’ as either a metaphorical or literal label to your products is undoubtedly a badge of honour.

 

Face-to-face customer service if required

Even with the recent boom in remote video calls thanks to advances in technology and the Covid-19 pandemic, the value and impact of a face-to-face conversation to resolve customer issues can never be matched. The convenience of a Zoom call will always play a role thanks to its speed and low-cost, but when a major issue arises, the ability to be sitting in the same room as a client with all the additional social cues that are lost on a video call, is unmatched. Especially if that visit can be made within hours rather than days.

Similarly, for matters such as after-sales support, it’s often vital that both parties are sitting in the same space examining the manufactured ‘widget’ by hand, looking for where errors might have occurred or improvements can be made. The kind of interactions that absolutely cannot be equalled through a laptop with a 2D image.

 

British reputation for good quality

Lastly, but by no means least, Britain still boasts an enviable reputation for high-quality manufacturing. At times, that might come with a premium and it’s certainly not for everyone, but when the client specifications require it or the end-user experience demands it, there are few that can match the build quality we offer, especially when coupled with all the benefits outlined above.

In conclusion, despite repeated rumours of its decline, British manufacturing is still alive and well. We may not be the powerhouse that we were during the Industrial Revolution but many generations have passed since then and we still have solid foundations on which to build and expand. If you’d like to discuss how Trifibre might be able to help with your manufacturing needs, contact us by phone or completing our enquiry form.