1600: Rolls-Royce to 'gradually restart' operations at UK factories
The Unite union has said that Rolls-Royce is to begin restarting operations at its manufacturing sites in Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Barnoldswick, in Lancashire.
The engineering giant shut all of its factories on 25 March due to the coronavirus update. Unite has worked with Rolls-Royce to ensure all workers are protected from infection, with up to 60% of the workforce operating at any time on a rotation pattern.
Unite regional officer Tony Tinley, responsible for the union’s members at the 12,000-strong Derby workforce, said: “Our reps have worked really hard to achieve a stringent health and safety regime, with such features as a one-way system, which will enable the required employees to continue to work during the coronavirus emergency.
“Throughout the constructive talks with management, Unite has adopted a three-pronged approach: the vital importance of health and safety; protecting the jobs and incomes of our members in the short-term; and securing the long-term employment future of our members and the prosperity of the company.”
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1215: Supply chain faces 'profound' challenge, says IHMX director
Organisers of the largest exhibition for the UK’s logistics and supply chain sectors (IMHX 2021 – NEC, 14-16 September 2021) are confident that UK supply chains will rise to the challenge during these difficult times.
IMHX group director, Rob Fisher, says: “The extreme pressures on grocery, medical and pharmaceutical supply chains are unprecedented in modern times. But despite the challenges faced by supermarkets and pharmacies, with on-going peaks and surges in demand, the supply chains of our leading grocers are performing remarkably well, keeping high street and edge of town stores supplied.”
The implications for the intralogistics sector from COVID-19 are, according to Fisher, quite profound. “Over the next few months, supply chains will be tested to the limit, lessons will be learnt, and new requirements will emerge in response to changing customer demand."
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1145: NIKKEN boss helps Rosomac maintain production
In recent weeks, the UK government’s request for manufacturers to help with the fight against the Coronavirus emergency has led to Roscomac, global leaders in precision CNC Machining, experiencing a huge increase in demand for medical components. Rising to the challenge, the company has hired 10 new members of staff to increase production. Current staff members have expanded their primary role, including two CAD/CAM programmers who are now running machines.
With the need to maximise output, Roscomac have begun emergency 24 hours per day shift working, with machines being required to run with the minimum of intervention. Roscomac chose to invest in a range of NIKKEN products citing high reliability, level of quality and effective support as the deciding factors. These tools are currently manufacturing a variety of components for medical equipment including Syringe pumps.
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1100: Stark warning over manufacturers' cashflow
UK manufacturers are facing a precarious future according to insights from fintech business lender MarketFinance. Over two thirds (68%) reported their order books have halved in the last 30 days. To compound matters, the majority (67%) have less than £50,000 cash and without any support will run out of money before the end of the month.
Over half (51%) of manufacturers are interested in accessing funding through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS, which offers up to £5m interest free for the first year, over 6 years) to shore up their business for the medium to long term.
“Manufacturers are in urgent need of support," warned MarketFinance CEO, Anil Stocker. "All the industry indicators show orders are down and unlikely to recover much this year. They have been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. A number of firms have had to shut their doors and some that remain open are pivoting to make products that support the national effort to contain the spread of the virus. It’s imperative that we back these businesses.”
