How manufacturers are using technology to
predict and adapt

Complete the survey below

Thank you for engaging with our survey – by completing the survey, you will receive our analysis of the aggregated data with an exclusive preview of the findings and a copy of the finished report.

It should take around 10 minutes to complete the 12 questions.

In today’s ever-changing world, manufacturers need to keep up with demand, understand changing customer needs, increase their operational efficiencies and continually innovate.

In short, they need to become more AGILE*.

COVID has forced manufacturers to ask themselves: How agile are our production methods? How agile is our supply chain? How capable of absorbing shock is our operation?

We would really like to gain a better understanding of the strategies your organisation executed to mitigate the impact of COVID, the key benefits your organisation’s digital adoption aims to unlock, and the ways in which your customer and supplier interactions have evolved.

*In the context of this survey, an ‘agile’ organisation is one that is:

• connected (staff, customers, processes and technology),
• acts swiftly and decisively,
• and, responds proactivity to both challenges and opportunities.

By completing the survey you will receive our analysis of the aggregated data and a copy of the finished report. Also, all survey respondents will automatically be entered into a draw to win your choice of an Apple or Samsung Smart Watch!

Click OK to start the survey.

Question Title

* 1. How would you rate your organisation’s manufacturing agility pre-COVID-19? [Rank 1 - 5 where 1 is little to no agility and 5 is highly agile]

Question Title

* 2. To what extent have these areas of your organisation been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? [Rate 1 - 5 where 1 is not affected at all and 5 is significantly affected]

	1	2	3	4	5
Access to finance	Access to finance 1	Access to finance 2	Access to finance 3	Access to finance 4	Access to finance 5
Cash flow	Cash flow 1	Cash flow 2	Cash flow 3	Cash flow 4	Cash flow 5
Fulfilling orders	Fulfilling orders 1	Fulfilling orders 2	Fulfilling orders 3	Fulfilling orders 4	Fulfilling orders 5
Securing new orders	Securing new orders 1	Securing new orders 2	Securing new orders 3	Securing new orders 4	Securing new orders 5
Sourcing raw materials/component parts from suppliers	Sourcing raw materials/component parts from suppliers 1	Sourcing raw materials/component parts from suppliers 2	Sourcing raw materials/component parts from suppliers 3	Sourcing raw materials/component parts from suppliers 4	Sourcing raw materials/component parts from suppliers 5
Recruitment	Recruitment 1	Recruitment 2	Recruitment 3	Recruitment 4	Recruitment 5
Short-term business confidence	Short-term business confidence 1	Short-term business confidence 2	Short-term business confidence 3	Short-term business confidence 4	Short-term business confidence 5
Long-term business confidence	Long-term business confidence 1	Long-term business confidence 2	Long-term business confidence 3	Long-term business confidence 4	Long-term business confidence 5

Question Title

* 3. What strategies did your organisation execute to mitigate these impacts? [Rank your Top 5]

	1	2	3	4	5
Accelerated investment plans (in products, people, premises processes)	Accelerated investment plans (in products, people, premises processes) 1	Accelerated investment plans (in products, people, premises processes) 2	Accelerated investment plans (in products, people, premises processes) 3	Accelerated investment plans (in products, people, premises processes) 4	Accelerated investment plans (in products, people, premises processes) 5
Paused investment plans	Paused investment plans 1	Paused investment plans 2	Paused investment plans 3	Paused investment plans 4	Paused investment plans 5
Entered new region/territory	Entered new region/territory 1	Entered new region/territory 2	Entered new region/territory 3	Entered new region/territory 4	Entered new region/territory 5
Re-shore some or all of your Manufacturing operations	Re-shore some or all of your Manufacturing operations 1	Re-shore some or all of your Manufacturing operations 2	Re-shore some or all of your Manufacturing operations 3	Re-shore some or all of your Manufacturing operations 4	Re-shore some or all of your Manufacturing operations 5
Diversified to new sector/industry vertical	Diversified to new sector/industry vertical 1	Diversified to new sector/industry vertical 2	Diversified to new sector/industry vertical 3	Diversified to new sector/industry vertical 4	Diversified to new sector/industry vertical 5
Made use of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)	Made use of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 1	Made use of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 2	Made use of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 3	Made use of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 4	Made use of the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) 5
Made use of the UK Government’s funding support i.e. the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)	Made use of the UK Government’s funding support i.e. the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) 1	Made use of the UK Government’s funding support i.e. the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) 2	Made use of the UK Government’s funding support i.e. the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) 3	Made use of the UK Government’s funding support i.e. the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) 4	Made use of the UK Government’s funding support i.e. the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) 5
Precautionary stockpiling of inventory	Precautionary stockpiling of inventory 1	Precautionary stockpiling of inventory 2	Precautionary stockpiling of inventory 3	Precautionary stockpiling of inventory 4	Precautionary stockpiling of inventory 5
Produced healthcare equipment, such as personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser	Produced healthcare equipment, such as personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser 1	Produced healthcare equipment, such as personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser 2	Produced healthcare equipment, such as personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser 3	Produced healthcare equipment, such as personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser 4	Produced healthcare equipment, such as personal protection equipment (PPE), ventilators and hand sanitiser 5
Reduced headcount (FT/PT/temporary)	Reduced headcount (FT/PT/temporary) 1	Reduced headcount (FT/PT/temporary) 2	Reduced headcount (FT/PT/temporary) 3	Reduced headcount (FT/PT/temporary) 4	Reduced headcount (FT/PT/temporary) 5
Reduced product portfolio	Reduced product portfolio 1	Reduced product portfolio 2	Reduced product portfolio 3	Reduced product portfolio 4	Reduced product portfolio 5

Question Title

* 4. In light of the past 12 months, what are the key business areas your organisation has worked on improving or has plans to improve in the near-future? [Rate all options from 1 - 5, where 1 is not a priority and 5 is already being worked on]

	1	2	3	4	5
Customer order management, configuring, quoting and pricing	Customer order management, configuring, quoting and pricing 1	Customer order management, configuring, quoting and pricing 2	Customer order management, configuring, quoting and pricing 3	Customer order management, configuring, quoting and pricing 4	Customer order management, configuring, quoting and pricing 5
Customer engagement/service	Customer engagement/service 1	Customer engagement/service 2	Customer engagement/service 3	Customer engagement/service 4	Customer engagement/service 5
Field service	Field service 1	Field service 2	Field service 3	Field service 4	Field service 5
Finance, invoice processing, billing	Finance, invoice processing, billing 1	Finance, invoice processing, billing 2	Finance, invoice processing, billing 3	Finance, invoice processing, billing 4	Finance, invoice processing, billing 5
Health & Safety	Health & Safety 1	Health & Safety 2	Health & Safety 3	Health & Safety 4	Health & Safety 5
HR, staff training/upskilling, recruitment, employee engagement	HR, staff training/upskilling, recruitment, employee engagement 1	HR, staff training/upskilling, recruitment, employee engagement 2	HR, staff training/upskilling, recruitment, employee engagement 3	HR, staff training/upskilling, recruitment, employee engagement 4	HR, staff training/upskilling, recruitment, employee engagement 5
Maintenance and asset management	Maintenance and asset management 1	Maintenance and asset management 2	Maintenance and asset management 3	Maintenance and asset management 4	Maintenance and asset management 5
Marketing and sales	Marketing and sales 1	Marketing and sales 2	Marketing and sales 3	Marketing and sales 4	Marketing and sales 5
New product development / introduction	New product development / introduction 1	New product development / introduction 2	New product development / introduction 3	New product development / introduction 4	New product development / introduction 5
Production infrastructure	Production infrastructure 1	Production infrastructure 2	Production infrastructure 3	Production infrastructure 4	Production infrastructure 5
Production processes	Production processes 1	Production processes 2	Production processes 3	Production processes 4	Production processes 5
Purchasing and procurement	Purchasing and procurement 1	Purchasing and procurement 2	Purchasing and procurement 3	Purchasing and procurement 4	Purchasing and procurement 5
Reverse logistics / returns management	Reverse logistics / returns management 1	Reverse logistics / returns management 2	Reverse logistics / returns management 3	Reverse logistics / returns management 4	Reverse logistics / returns management 5
Supply chain management	Supply chain management 1	Supply chain management 2	Supply chain management 3	Supply chain management 4	Supply chain management 5
Transport and logistics (distribution)	Transport and logistics (distribution) 1	Transport and logistics (distribution) 2	Transport and logistics (distribution) 3	Transport and logistics (distribution) 4	Transport and logistics (distribution) 5

Question Title

* 5. How would you rate your organisation’s manufacturing agility* at this point in time? [Rank 1 - 5 where 1 is little to no agility and 5 is highly agile]

*In the context of this survey, an ‘agile’ organisation is:
• connected (staff, customers, processes and technology),
• acts swiftly and decisively,
• and, responds proactivity to both challenges and opportunities.

Question Title

* 6. If your organisation’s manufacturing agility has increased, what areas have been improved? [Tick all that apply]

Configuring, quoting and pricing

Customer engagement / service

Distribution

Internal data collection, sharing and analysis

External data collection, sharing and analysis

External communication / collaboration

Internal communication / collaboration

NPD/NPI

Production

Sales

Supply chain management

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. Please indicate which of the following benefits are considered in your organisation’s digital strategy in the coming 12 – 24 months [Tick all that apply]

Automation of physical processes (including robotics)

Automation of repetitive administrative processes

Customer behavioural insights

Data-led decision making

eCommerce

Enhanced data analytics

Enhanced integration with customer processes

Enhanced sales and pipeline management

Enhanced traceability (e.g. Blockchain)

eProcurement

ERP replacement

Hybrid working practices

Improved planning and/or scheduling

Stock holding optimisation

Supplier-partner integration

Systems supporting Integrated business planning (IBP) or sales & operations planning (S&OP)

Question Title

* 8. How has the way your organisation interacts with customers changed as a result of COVID-19? [Tick all that apply]

Increased engagements through eCommerce

Introduced value-added services (outcome-based offering)

Provide customers with greater self-service capability with gated access / visibility to select systems

Changed distribution channel to market (i.e. increase/decrease wholesalers, distributors or direct to customer)

Increased digital communication to engage with customers more frequently

Use social media platforms for market research, marketing and customer interactions

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. How has the way your organisation manages its supply chain changed as a result of COVID-19? [Tick all that apply]

Changed relationships with suppliers to be more open and collaborative

Greater visibility via combination of deeper supplier communication and real-time information

Increased risk awareness / management

Introduced multisource supply for key raw materials/component parts

Reshored / onshored production within domestic supply chain

Reshored / onshored production within own operation

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. What is your organisation’s appetite for reshoring or onshoring over the coming 12 months? [Tick all that apply]

We have moved some production in-house

We have already moved a significant number of suppliers more locally (50+%)

We have already moved a moderate number of suppliers more locally (up to 33%)

We have already moved one or two suppliers more locally (up to 10%)

We will be moving some production in-house

We will be moving a significant number of suppliers more locally (50+%)

We will be moving a moderate number of suppliers more locally (up to 33%)

We will be moving one or two suppliers more locally (up to 10%)

We have looked at more local supply, but it is currently not feasible

We do not intend to source more locally

Question Title

* 11. What business goals are you working to over the next 12 -24 months? [Tick all that apply]

Become more environmentally sustainable

Diversify into a new sector

Diversify into a new region/territory

Foster deeper relationships with customers

Foster deeper relationships with suppliers and partners

Increase investment in people, premises and processes

Increase manufacturing agility

Increase R&D spending

Introduce an e-Commerce channel

Introduce predictive maintenance and asset management

Introduce value-added services (outcome-based offering)

Reduce time and costs to develop and launch new product

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. What do you see as being the main obstacles to achieving those goals? [Tick all that apply]

Availability of new premises

Brexit and concerns over future trading tariffs

Cash flow

Constraints of existing premises

Global economic conditions

Lack of digital infrastructure and connectivity

Lack of real-time information / visibility

Recruiting/retaining appropriately skilled staff

Skillset of current employees

Ability to manage change

Working capital constraints

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 13. Please tell us about yourself and your company [We will use the contact information provided to inform you of the prize draw results]

First Name

Surname

Job Title

Company

Country

Email address (so we can send you the findings)

Approximate turnover (GBP)

Industry vertical (i.e. automotive, aerospace, chemicals etc)

Question Title

* 14. Thank you for completing the survey. We will share the findings and a copy of the report prior to publication. We will not directly reference you or your company/employer in any published materials.

Would you be happy to be contacted about your responses, to participate in an interview or focus group?

Yes

How manufacturers are using technology to predict and adapt

Question Title

* 1. How would you rate your organisation’s manufacturing agility pre-COVID-19? [Rank 1 - 5 where 1 is little to no agility and 5 is highly agile]

Question Title

* 2. To what extent have these areas of your organisation been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? [Rate 1 - 5 where 1 is not affected at all and 5 is significantly affected]

Question Title

* 3. What strategies did your organisation execute to mitigate these impacts? [Rank your Top 5]

Question Title

* 4. In light of the past 12 months, what are the key business areas your organisation has worked on improving or has plans to improve in the near-future? [Rate all options from 1 - 5, where 1 is not a priority and 5 is already being worked on]

Question Title

Question Title

* 6. If your organisation’s manufacturing agility has increased, what areas have been improved? [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 7. Please indicate which of the following benefits are considered in your organisation’s digital strategy in the coming 12 – 24 months [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 8. How has the way your organisation interacts with customers changed as a result of COVID-19? [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 9. How has the way your organisation manages its supply chain changed as a result of COVID-19? [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 10. What is your organisation’s appetite for reshoring or onshoring over the coming 12 months? [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 11. What business goals are you working to over the next 12 -24 months? [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 12. What do you see as being the main obstacles to achieving those goals? [Tick all that apply]

Question Title

* 13. Please tell us about yourself and your company [We will use the contact information provided to inform you of the prize draw results]

Question Title

How manufacturers are using technology to
predict and adapt