LOCAL MANUFACTURING IS THE CLEAR ROUTE TO REVIVING THE UK ECONOMY
Frilly knickers reviving flagging UK economy!?
Central to the issues of reviving the UK economy and job creation is the need to repatriate manufacturing activity to the UK. In macroeconomic speak, we need to increase economic output. And we need something to output. Would you believe frilly knickers are leading the way?
On the day of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, 5th December, Channel 4 News broadcast live from the shop floor of Headen & Quarmby a long established women’s nightwear manufacturer in Middleton, Greater Manchester. Demand for the company’s ‘Kinky Knickers’ range has been boosted since appearing on retail queen Mary Portas’ show ‘The Bottom Line’.
Responding to Jon Snow’s opening remarks MD David Moore commented on the company importing 40 manufacturing jobs back from China: “The industry itself could create hundreds. Ourselves, we want a rapid expansion of growth. Our customers want it. There’s a public hunger and appetite for the product we’re producing. The sky’s the limit as far as we’re concerned.”
Apple to manufacture iMacs in the US in 2013
The following day, US broadcaster ABC News ran a similar story on the local manufacture of something which for some, anyway, will seem far less exciting. Tech darlings Apple are to invest $100 million in a move that will see the company’s iMac computers manufactured in the US (not just assembled) in 2013.
In an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Tim Cook, Steve Jobs successor said: “I think no one is looking at this as deeply as we are or going as deep in the supply chain. We’re back to the mines. We’re going all the way, not just at the first layer. And in addition to that, we’ve chosen to be incredibly transparent with it. I invite everyone to copy us.”
Monitor the situation with NetSuite and BlueBridge One
Not every business, like Headen & Quarmby, can enjoy a lucky break as a result of a TV show and it is beyond the capability of most businesses to be able to go “back to the mines,” like Apple. It may not suit every business to bring manufacturing back to the UK; however, with out access to the right data how are you going to know?
NetSuite’s cloud based ERP solution lets wholesale & distribution businesses decide if local manufacturing is viable for their business. Comprehensive end-to-end reporting across the supply chain keeps you on top of things in real time.
It might be that the time is not quite yet right to pursue a local manufacturing strategy. With NetSuite you can monitor the situation as it changes – monthly, weekly or at any interval you choose – to spot the tipping point.
As a leading NetSuite UK solution provider, BlueBridge One custom implements ERP to meet the needs of each individual customer business. The ERP solution can be deployed as a combination that includes CRM to drive and integrate sales force activity and the recently updated e-commerce engine SuiteCommerce to provide online shopping capability.
NetSuite ERP custom implemented by BlueBridge One provides the flexibility to reorganise your business and take advantage of emerging trends before your competitors can.