Week 44 in Manufacturing News

The Case for Bringing Home American Manufacturing; UK Manufacturing Invited to say What Financial Support is Needed; Manufacturing and Apprenticeships – a View From Germany; Australia-China Relations and Australia’s Manufacturing Industry.

The Case for Bringing Home American Manufacturing

Recently, there has been much discussion about bringing jobs back to America, by pursuing self-sufficiency in manufacturing. The goal carries numerous benefits for the country.

Manufacturing internally allows for the increased use of eco-friendly shipping materials, such as the plastic jerrican, poly drum, totes and shipping barrels. Such products are UN-certified and in compliance with 49 CFR (the U.S. code governing hazardous materials transportation), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations. The materials can help to reduce climate change by cutting back on the carbon footprint of the manufacturing and shipping industries.

Source: SupplyChainBrain

UK Manufacturing Invited to say What Financial Support is Needed

The organisers of an SME survey want to know what type of financial support the UK manufacturing sector needs to recover from COVID-19.

The Manufacturing Barometer, which is delivered by the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (SWMAS) and the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), is now open to manufacturers and is expected to generate in excess of 300 responses, covering anything from current and future sales performance, through to thoughts on job creation/redundancies and plans for investment.

Source: Production Engineering Solutions

Manufacturing and Apprenticeships – a View From Germany

Germany’s apprenticeship system has long been touted as a global success story and a view held by many in the UK is the UK should try hard to copy it. The data appears to back that up. According to figures released by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, more than half a million people completed an apprenticeship contract in 2018, an increase of just over 1% on the previous year.

It supports the view that apprenticeships will underpin the future success of the German manufacturing industry and that the UK could use the German model to help close the skills gap. The reality, however, is quite different according to Munich-based lawyer Kathrin Brugger. Commenting in Outlaw she says in Germany manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain apprentices, and young people find apprenticeships a less attractive career option compared with other options available to them. She says the UK should take note – the talent is there but businesses need to work hard to attract and retain it.

Source: Pinsent Masons

Australia-China Relations and Australia’s Manufacturing Industry

The Australia-China political and economic relationship has been under strain with attitudes toughening in Beijing and Canberra. Here China specialist Katie Howe explores what the deteriorating relationship means for Australian manufacturing.

“Australia and the People’s Republic of China, inspired by their longstanding friendship and growing economic and trade relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, have resolved to create an expanded market for goods and services in their territories”.

Source: AuManufacturing