Page 12 - Industrial Technology EXTRA - Brexit Briefing

BREXIT BRIEFING

Reshaping post-Brexit Britain

MARK YEELES, vice president of industrial automation at Schneider Electric, argues
that universal automation will be an industrial necessity for post-Brexit Britain

The tumult of 2020 has underscored the Manufacturers will need to welcome a new
importance of contingency planning. With era of universal automation with open arms,
Covid-19, countries have revealed their moving the industry from a hardware-centric
unpreparedness when managing novel to software-centric model to succeed in
scenarios. With the reality of Brexit now these turbulent times.
upon us, UK industry, particularly
manufacturers, need to act fast to minimise Looking ahead
long term impact. Reshaping post-Brexit Britain will deliver
huge benefits if it’s coupled with greater
Early 2021 will see British manufacturers ambition from industry. While manufacturers
begin to action specific strategies. It will be may find this challenging, it’s the perfect
the first opportunity to assess the true impact environment for universal automation to
of Brexit on production and supply chains. In come to the fore and prove critical for those
the wake of a pandemic, and in the face of willing to adopt it.
political uncertainty, how can the industry
adapt, survive and thrive? Universal automation describes the adoption
of a common standard for all automation
How will industry be impacted? systems, making them easy to pick up,
2021 will see a levelling of the playing field. implement and share. It removes the
Even established manufacturers, historically dependence that many manufacturers
immune to market fluctuations and supply currently have on a one vendor system,
chain disruptions, will suffer the impact of OEMs and integrators, enabling end users to transform and embrace the value of software
uncertainty. New global dynamics and fully build the architecture they need with the best innovation. As automation systems become
digital newcomers, poised to embrace digital ‘plug and produce’ solutions from multiple more flexible and capable of providing end
technologies, will challenge the status quo. providers. user value, we will see the beginnings of a
virtual circle where investment in automation
The double-edged sword of Brexit means UK To fully realise the next generation industries systems will increase.
manufacturers will have more visibility – and alongside the new challenges that Brexit will
more competition – on the global stage. For bring, manufacturers need to fundamentally New business models will be enabled, new
our industry to succeed, agility, sustainability, change their technology model. The customers reached, and new markets
productivity and profitability must be the adoption of universal automation will enable served, reshaping post-Brexit, post-
standard. In 2021, the reality of Brexit’s effect manufacturers to create a step-change in pandemic Britain for the better. This
on the cost of business operations, the operational improvements capable of approach will bring changes across the
optimum locations for plants and factories, keeping up with the speed of doing business entire operational lifecycle of industrial
as well as the retention of staff and resources and remaining competitive in the global enterprises and will ultimately leverage
will be revealed. market. digitalisation to fully realize the potential of
Industry 4.0.
As Britain’s trade deal with the EU takes a With manufacturers facing ongoing changes
different direction, our success will actually as a result of political uncertainties and Readiness through innovation
be more reliant on an extended ecosystem constantly shifting consumer needs in the After the year we’ve had, many of us are
of partners. 2021 will see workforce wake of Brexit and the 2020 pandemic, the eager to see the back of 2020 and welcome
management become critical to operations. adoption of universal automation will provide 2021. However, with the uncertainties that the
There will now be a pressing need for safety and certainty to the sector. Industry next year brings, it could be a daunting time
businesses to find alternative ways of siloes and vendor lock-in must be eliminated, for industry.
performing tasks for which they have a with equipment interoperability and data-
shortage of either staff or resources, to driven insight boosting the industry’s agility, We have little control over the implications of
guarantee that their business continues to profitability and resilience. At a time when the Brexit and other crises, nor can we predict
thrive. This is where automation comes in. manufacturing industry is in desperate need what the next challenge may be. However,
of future proofing, resilience building the opportunity to prepare and build
After January 1st, businesses will have a technologies, industrial automation offers a resilience is very much in our control and has
clearer understanding of which operations much-needed solution. the power to make or break us. By moving
need automation, the level of automation the industry from a hardware-centric to
required, and which technologies should be Over the course of 2021, as we see more software-centric model, universal automation
prioritised for success. Introducing and businesses move from a proprietary world to will usher in a new dawn for industrial
adopting next-generation industrial universal automation, the benefits will be far automation. With challenge comes
automation will make this possible, ensuring reaching. It won’t just be end users who reap innovation and with innovation comes new
interoperability and breaking free from the the rewards of an automated approach – it opportunity.
propriety locked-in model currently in place. will give an edge to all who are willing to www.schneider-electric.co.uk

12 WINTER 2021 – INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA