The start of a new year heralds more challenges and opportunities than expected in recent times. We’ve been through a relative period of calm since the Pandemic, but geopolitically and economically, whether it is Trump tariffs or simply the new trading dynamics, we’re seeing a slew of change in supply chain and global trade. Here’s our take and highlights on what it means for UK manufacturers in the first quarter of 2025.
The achievements and impact of UK manufacturing in 2024.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 6, 2025
More in the Make UK impact report ⇢ https://t.co/mWfYf1u7rA#b2b #ukmfg pic.twitter.com/A2xedk6iaV
Major themes on supply chain and manufacturing transformation, sustainability within your organisation, along with upgrading strategy and skills in our last quarter news round-up.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 10, 2025
⇢ https://t.co/rIob13OK8e pic.twitter.com/9xHSRThdqS
UK PMI for December drops to 47.0.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 13, 2025
— Manufacturing hits 11-month low: prioritise lean inventory & production rescheduling.
— Supply chains stressed by Red Sea crisis: buffer critical components & diversify routes & suppliers.
— Rising workforce costs & weak export sales pic.twitter.com/lxAun8kkRA
While companies race to implement AI, 47% of workers can't see the path to results. 77% say these tools have reduced productivity and added to workload
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 17, 2025
At Acorn we use AI critically for inventory/planning tasks, but still offer expert human service
⇢ https://t.co/bKAoTHVfLK pic.twitter.com/Jo3RwAP3oa
Digital logistics and use cases for AI. Interesting McKinsey article on state of play: hard to implement, longer to set-up, integrate and initiate, but with delivery of stronger results.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 20, 2025
More ⇢ https://t.co/ddYcOSt0Zi pic.twitter.com/rXrECcZsLH
The end for hyperglobalism?
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 22, 2025
The Economist is deeply sceptical of Trump's protectionist agenda & universal tariffs to revive the US economy & manufacturing.
It expects more supply chain disruption, diminishing global trade, and regional reorientation.
⇢ https://t.co/CMKvkBKMW6
Intelligent Manufacturing Supply Chains: Unlocking The AI Productivity Paradox
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) January 25, 2025
AI promises to revolutionise manufacturing supply chains. Discover how to bridge the gap from dream to reality and unlock AI’s full potential.
⇢ https://t.co/Ro6dZDV1Ic pic.twitter.com/ffW6aMDMtQ
Trump's US tariffs and retaliatory measures by Canada, Mexico, and China threaten to disrupt global trade, strain supply chains, and destabilise global trade.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 3, 2025
A new trade regionalism in process emphasises supply chain resilience.
Economist article ⇢ https://t.co/cvREvJaSsB pic.twitter.com/Uo8NHSPycb
Business motivations for applying GenAI in supply chain processes.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 10, 2025
Top reason:
Resilience and security.
Dive deeper into Intelligent Manufacturing Supply Chains on our blog⇢ https://t.co/Ro6dZDUtSE pic.twitter.com/mtIIaxJvE1
Has the recent PMI dip in manufacturing confidence bottomed out?
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 10, 2025
— Major manufacturers show positive growth in both production and new orders despite challenges.
— Urgency in supply chain resilience planning continues with port congestions and continuing Red Sea disruption. pic.twitter.com/nBSYHs3baO
Nearly two-thirds of manufacturing firms maintain positive outlook from 2024, viewing opportunities ahead of risks.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 12, 2025
The latest MAKE UK Executive Survey 2025 suggests the timing is opportune for transformative supply chain investment programmes.
⇢ https://t.co/AgvqVSNwML
Impacting supply chain roles with AI should allow more qualified workers to leverage value-added activity & expertise to be leveraged by qualified workers.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 18, 2025
A visual breakdown.
Accenture's Supply Chain Networks In The Age Of Generative AI report ⇢ https://t.co/0uLTT1N2Xu pic.twitter.com/66WRQaBlAh
Only 29% of supply chain organisations have built the key strengths needed to handle future challenges.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 20, 2025
This, according to a new survey by Gartner. More at ⇢ https://t.co/9xGmbc0ma9
Make UK's Executive Survey: Top 3 Findings For Manufacturing Strategy in 2025.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 26, 2025
92% expect employment costs to rise
69% intend to pass cost to customers
68% plan productivity improvements to tackle costs.
Want to lower direct employment costs? Seek out a logistics partner. pic.twitter.com/KW8kRFzRnv
Sustainability is the new baseline. Clients demand it. People expect it. Governments enforce it.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) February 28, 2025
FYI: MIT offers a free learning resource on Sustainable Supply Chain Management.
You can enroll for MITx's online course for later in the year ⇢https://t.co/GTp1PNVVDZ
With US flip-flopping over tariffs and a new regionalist trading perspective, firms are front-loading inventory with a renewed focus on logistic threats.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) March 7, 2025
Contact us if you require extra capacity in our new OEM-optimised expansion.
Further reading ⇢ https://t.co/lYandH375x pic.twitter.com/5rDhpkPZPy
Explore and monitor how Advanced Manufacturing is affecting economies, industries and global issues using the ETH Zurich curated WEF explorer.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) March 11, 2025
Delve into the factors and issues reshaping global manufacturing and supply chain ⇢ https://t.co/03sT2j1g4E pic.twitter.com/7uPTFhxzpE
Xi Jinping's 'assassin’s mace' and the new world of US-China trade and import-export battles.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) March 17, 2025
Are supply chains becoming weaponised? What are you doing to hedge and diversify?
Economist article ⇢ https://t.co/YNiTMiQkXw pic.twitter.com/7kXaCknPNL
The trust in global supply chains is being eroded by Trump's America.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) March 19, 2025
How should manufacturers adapt to this new reality?
7 possible outcomes.
What the End of the Post-WW2 Order Means for Manufacturing ⇢https://t.co/a13rSugnld
With the new trade regionalism: How rightshoring and fostering dynamic supplier relationships with the right logistics partner can turn tariff chaos into supply chain opportunity.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) March 21, 2025
⇢ https://t.co/ZDjWTnkSRC
Amid an unpredictable tariff strategy initiated by Donald Trump, the AI giant Nvidia is remodelling its supply chain away from Asia, and spending 100s of billions on reshoring supply chain within the US.
— Acorn IC (@Acorn_IC) March 25, 2025
⇢ https://t.co/usyNy2QsoQ#b2b #reshoring pic.twitter.com/kkmn7CwxXy
