London, 11th April 2018 – Manufacturing production increased by 2.5 percent in the last month, according to the latest U.K. Manufacturing Production index. The index measures the change in the total inflation-adjusted value of output produced by U.K.’s manufacturers.

Manufacturing accounts for approximately 80 per cent of overall Industrial Production and the reported increase in manufacturing production signifies increasing economic growth[1]. This expansion follows a trend of increasing demand over the last year, both domestic and export-driven.

According to the Bank of England, the sustained growth has resulted in manufacturers expanding their capacities to an extent not seen since 2007.[2] Manufactures are also working towards ensuring seamless delivery and improving efficiency within the system through technology.

But using automated factory equipment is not enough, warn BPM experts at Signavio. Manufacturers must not lose sight of how technology can improve human-to-human workflows such as reviewing quality at each production stage.

Dr. Gero Decker, CEO of Signavio, comments: “Demands on manufacturers are greater than ever, with pressure coming from competitors, regulators and consumers to ensure flawless service delivery. To ensure their organisations consistently meet these high expectations, manufacturers must have a solid grasp on how all their operational parts – from research and development to sales and services – fit together.

“To start with, one can break down the processes into easy-to-understand models, allowing organisations to identify and remedy bottlenecks. This approach can lead to reduced operating margins, faster time to market, improved product quality and rapid responses to changes in regulations or customer demand.

Dr. Decker continues: “Additionally, inefficiencies are difficult to recognise if processes are split up among fragmented legacy systems. Using the right process management tools, not only can these inefficiencies be detected but optimised processes can also be executed. The software can also enable a more collaborative approach, with all members of the workforce working towards performance improvement, hence significantly reducing waste and defects.”

Business Process Management tools are being employed to help manufacturing companies address global competitive challenges and economic pressures, by reducing costs and increasing their speed-to-market.