Major challenges in engineering: Can they be overcome?

Engineering firms often encounter multiple issues and problems in operations, hindering their ability to improve processes and efficiency. The industry as a whole, despite making up 18% of the UK's working population, is best at dealing with problems impacting operations, at worst facing damaging issues rendering businesses incapable of continuing to carry on.

Let's examine a few and consider how you can move past the theme to improve your engineering firm.

Skills shortage

The UK is currently facing a significant shortage of engineers, with between 39,000 and 59,000 positions unfilled. This shortage is not just a statistic; it's a pressing issue that costs the sector billions of pounds annually. Many firms are being forced to turn down jobs due to the lack of skilled engineers. The time to act is now, and the urgency cannot be overstated.

Increasing training options, adding incentives for new engineers, and working closer with educational facilities to support those interested in this sector can encourage a supply of workers wanting to join the field.

Rising energy costs

The country as a whole has overwhelmingly faced insurmountable energy costs, and for an industry that relies heavily on energy usage, this is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Many companies have had to go back to the drawing board, where their finances and consumption are cornered to help them identify savings that can be made and look for alternative wiring methods to accommodate the additional costs thrust upon them.

The only real way to combat energy price hikes is to assess how much energy you use and what you pay for it and look for the most efficient practices and cheapest suppliers to help you get the most for your money.

Inefficiencies

On average, engineering firms are cute, and 22% of their time is wasted. This can be down to various aspects of the intensity, from working with clients and poor communication, not having the right equipment, supply chain issues, and more. However, as a company, finding out where your inefficiencies lie and rectifying them can reduce this figure and help you become a more efficient business. Whether you use Engineering Contract Management Software, invest in more modern technology, or implement ongoing training and skills upgrades, finding out what you are wasting time doing and implementing effective fixes will be massively beneficial.

Not implementing the right technology

These days, if you're not continually investing in the right technology, you're doing your company a massive disservice. From the Internet of Things to AR, robotics, automation, and 3D printing, many new and emerging technologies can increase your abilities standards and results to help set your firm apart from others. Neglecting to embrace technology and looking at what is on offer to help you modernise what you do and improve will inevitably result in your business failing and falling behind industry standards. However, merging your skills, expertise, and knowledge with the best technology in the sector will enhance results operations and bring massive benefits to the company and your clients, paving the way for a brighter future.

Supply chain issues

New data shows that 16% of businesses are facing supply chain issues, which can be massively disruptive for some manufacturers and companies. Finding new suppliers, expanding your network, forging new relationships, and using supply forecasting can help you overcome supply chain issues and secure what you need when you need it with minimal disruption.

Energy saving initiatives

While energy-saving initiatives and transitioning to more sustainable methods pose challenges, they are crucial for the future of the engineering sector. We all share the responsibility of moving towards greener energy suppliers and upgrading tools and processes to reduce consumption. This requires you to stay informed about changes in legislation, energy usage rules, and green initiatives and to be proactive in your efforts to combat climate change.

Smaller export market

This is an issue unique to the UK since Brexit. Half of UK exporters are finding it hard to export from the UK. These challenges have been increasingly complex to overcome for any UK engineering business as the logistics and costs and a smaller market due to this is highly challenging. Sadly, the downturn does not show any sign of turning, and whether or not this can be overcome is down to more than just changes made by individual firms but a global effort to sustain UK businesses seeking to do business overseas markets.

As you cna see, engineering faces multiple challenges. Some can be overcome by internal changes and adaptations. Others, like the smaller export market, are part of a more significant problem that requires more than minor changes to rectify.