Robolog is not intended to be a corporate plug although from time to time I will open the doors to the latest happenings at CKF. My overriding objective is to share knowledge and experiences; to stimulate interest in engineering and what it takes (from old fashioned logical thinking and brain power to latest technologies) for manufacturing industry to stay competitive.
Tel: +44 (0)1452 424565 Email: info@ckf.co.uk
Web: www.ckf.co.uk
It’s fair to say that Global trends over the last two decades have created huge competitive pressures for manufacturing industry and yet at the same time, major opportunities. Changing market circumstances and demand generated within new and emerging markets requires the ability to move quickly and seize the moment.
The news of the UK economy’s first double-dip recession since 1975 presented another negative story, something all of us have become accustomed to during the past four years.
Whenever the word ‘Robot’ is mentioned to somebody outside of the industry, it’s perhaps forgivable that the fantasist in them conjures up images of C-3PO from the Star Wars saga or the infamous mid-20th century video predictions of what life would be like come the year 2000.
News that half of manufacturing businesses are hiring older workers at the expense of school leavers does not surprise me. A recent survey of 500 managing directors shows that employers in engineering are far less likely to offer opportunities to inexperienced young people – whom they will have to train and supervise - than job-ready older people.
What incompetence by Francis Maude and his fellow cabinet ministers over the tanker driver’s dispute? If only there were more engineers in Government.
An engineer would have started by asking a few pertinent questions such as;
1. Is there a problem with supply of fuel from refineries in the UK? No, there’s a surplus.
2. Are the oil companies and independent fuel suppliers working to capacity? No, around 65-70%.
3. What is the value of an average fill-up? About £23.00.
4. What is the average cost of a full tank? About £70.00.
I recently asked the Project Engineer of one our customers, a family business with a great loyalty to its workforce, how he and his workforce reconciled the introduction of automated and robotic systems. ‘Easy’, he told me, ‘We all know that improving our production capacity and reducing our costs will enable us to meet our plan for growth. That secures the long term future of the business and increases jobs.’ It was refreshing to hear it, I know of course because I am seeing the impact first hand almost everyday of the week but it is not always that easy to convince others.
We recently contracted a photographer to capture some imagery of our premises, people and the robotic and automated systems we had up and running within our dedicated test area. He was a specialist industrial photographer who travelled down from Stockport for the occasion and it was interesting to watch him, a perfectionist, at work. On top of taking a good photo, he was very understanding of the demands of a very busy working environment and had taken the trouble to understand us and our objectives. He duly delivered everything we had requested.
On return from my holiday it was good to at long last see some positive indicators in relation to UK manufacturing. A Cips/Markit manufacturing survey reported a more positive outlook and growth, albeit modest, by UK manufacturers in February. It was the second consecutive month of growth but according to the survey there remains a major concern amongst manufacturers that inflation, largely as a result of higher oil prices, is eating into profit margins and that new orders are still no more than a trickle.
