Coventry, UK – Tom Bouchier, Managing Director of FANUC UK, urged government officials and political leaders to collaborate on a cross-party strategy ensuring the longevity of UK manufacturing. Speaking at the FANUC Open House event in Coventry, Bouchier emphasized the urgency of a unified approach, citing a recent Make UK report indicating that 99% of manufacturers desire an industrial strategy, with 87% believing it would provide their businesses with a long-term vision.
The FANUC Open House event, held at FANUC’s UK headquarters in Ansty Park, Coventry from November 14-16, showcases the latest advancements in automation and robotics. Bouchier stressed the need for a cohesive strategy, stating, “What we need now is a coherent, joined-up strategy for manufacturing, with cross-party consensus, to give businesses the certainty they so badly need. As the only developing country without an industrial strategy, we’re in danger of being left behind if we can’t deliver this soon.”
The event aims to address the increasing need for productivity and efficiency improvements in factories, particularly to address labor shortages. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, attended the event and encouraged businesses to embrace automation for long-term competitiveness. He remarked, “Automation solutions such as those on display at the FANUC Open House can help UK companies to remain competitive in the long term. What’s happening here is really important for the future of our economy.”
The FANUC Open House includes panel debates, case studies, live robot demonstrations, and the finals of the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition. The morning’s panel debate highlighted the importance of overcoming barriers to automation, with industry leaders emphasizing the need to shift focus from cheap manual labor to long-term gains, including increased efficiency and sustainability.
In addition to showcasing innovations, the event aims to inspire future talent in engineering. Mayor Andy Street commented on the opportunities for young people, saying, “Engineering offers a very vibrant career pathway for our young people, stimulated by events such as FANUC’s Open House.” The event continues with a focus on sustainability and education in the coming days.