South West manufacturers have suffered their toughest three months in the past 10 years with the General Election and Brexit being blamed.
The latest South West Manufacturing Barometer report reveals a reduction in sales and staff numbers than recorded in any period across the past decade.
And 45% of businesses experienced a fall in profits in the past quarter too.
Simon Howes, managing director of SWMAS, the manufacturing support organisation and author of the report, said: “With both Brexit and a potential change in government causing ongoing uncertainty the Manufacturing Barometer shows manufacturers are finding their ability to recruit, invest and increase sales is ever more restricted.
“So finding technological solutions is increasingly important.”
He was referring to robotics, with the report showing that just 18% of SME manufacturing businesses have adopted robots, with another 13% saying they plan to start using them.
But almost 70% have no plans, or are unsure about, introducing robots.
Mr Howes said: “There is an opportunity to do more with robots: you can see this in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the continuing drive to increase productivity, and the need to find new ways to operate with fewer staff.
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“Although the 海角视频 ranks as the eighth largest industrial nation, we are 22in the global league of robot adoption – we must ask why that is, and this is what we set out to explore in our study of the South West’s SME manufacturing sector.
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“Three important things came out of our research. The first is the simple truth that so few SME manufacturers in the region are using robots in their businesses.
“Secondly, a belief that low volume, variable or difficult to handle products make robots unviable.
“Thirdly, more than one third of SME manufacturers who do not use robots are unsure if their competitors do, raising questions around awareness of what is actually possible for them.”
Mr Howes said manufacturers in the South West must look again at robots and at how their competitors are using them.
“We also ask robot suppliers to look specifically at SME manufacturers’ concerns and provide better awareness of the latest solutions,” he said.
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Business Live's South West Business Reporter is William Telford. William has more than a decade's experience reporting on the business scene in Plymouth and the South West. He is based in Plymouth but covers the entire region.
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“If we fail to develop and communicate cost-effective solutions for the large group who make low volume or difficult to handle products, the adoption of robots will continue to stall.
“It also seems to be true, as the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy highlights, that a lack of awareness around robots is harming the productivity of businesses, particularly for SMEs.
“For the potential of robots to be realised, the South West’s SME manufacturers need much better awareness, tailored advice and flexible support to help them plan and integrate robots into their businesses - this is a huge challenge, but one we can overcome.”