Rather than stalling strategic investments in automation and digital technologies in order to control costs, some high-value manufacturers are accelerating such plans in a bid to gain market share or drive additional enterprise value in recovery.
But with the prospect of COVID-19 vaccines in the pipeline, are supply chain and procurement managers preparing to press the reset button, or have global supply chain strategies changed for good?
Some analysts believe the car ownership model could soon be back in the ascendancy due to COVID-19. Suddenly, ride-hailing and other shared mobility options seem less appealing to many of us. What impact is this having on the automotive industry and are there any supply chain implications?
The aerospace industry could never have predicted the crisis that has unfolded this year. With airlines grounded and international travel restrictions only now beginning to lift slightly, demand for replacement aircraft has plummeted and could take several years to recover.
With passenger numbers across UK rail networks still significantly below pre-pandemic levels, some bold changes are urgently required to increase usage of services and restore revenues.
In April the Department for Transport set out its intentions for decarbonising UK transport. However, with Government’s much-needed rail electrification programme on hold, what needs to be done to reach this ambitious goal?
Some massive changes have affected Britain’s rail network since the Government introduced Emergency Measures Agreements (EMA). Based on analysis of ORR and passenger revenue data, these EMAs are likely to be unsustainable. But what will replace them?
Many dealerships and independent service centres were finding it hard to make a profit long before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Now, as the post-lockdown pipeline starts to refill, there is still time to do things differently.
Onshoring could prove a rewarding post-pandemic recovery strategy for many UK-based OEMs, but are they ready to take advantage of this value-driving opportunity?
