UK MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY INDEX
A QUARTERLY LOOK AT THE UK'S MANUFACTURING PERFORMANCE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Q3 2024 UPDATE
UK manufacturing output increases in Q3 despite smaller workforce
According to our analysis of the latest ONS data, a smaller workforce helped UK manufacturers produce goods and materials worth £150.9 billion in the third quarter of 2024. This was £1.9 billion more than in Q3 2023, an increase of 1.2%.
FourJaw’s quarterly analysis, reveals that the value of output produced this summer was 1.2% lower than Q2 2024. Much of this was due to a 0.7% decline in the price of goods leaving factories in September. Adjusting for price fluctuations shows that Q3 2024 production levels were broadly similar to Q2.
With more manufacturers operating today than in 2023, output per manufacturer was down 0.3% year-on-year. However, this output came from 25,000 fewer workers. Output per manufacturing employee has increased by 2.2% over the last year.
Q3 2024 UK HEADLINE PERFORMANCE
Source: Office of National Statistics & FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics 2024.UK MANUFACTURING PRODUCTIVITY INDEX
"Manufacturing output and productivity are up compared to last year despite global economic uncertainty and businesses delaying investment decisions pending the general election.”
Subsector output and productivity
- Coke & refined petroleum products declined by 1.2% between Q2 and Q3 2024 but remained 10.0% ahead of what the industry produced in Q3 2023. This sector is estimated to have achieved productivity gains worth £224 million in the last year.
- The output value from UK chemicals & pharmaceutical manufacturers was 0.8% higher in Q3 2024 than in Q3 2023, despite significant downward pressure on prices over the last year. This sector is 2.0% more productive than a year ago, improvements worth £197 million, despite a 4.2% quarter-on-quarter decline in output value during Q3.
- Output in the motor vehicles & transport equipment industries increased by 1.1% year-on-year, totalling £312 billion in Q3 2024. However, this was 5.0% down on Q2 2024.
- Metals, metal products & machinery output in Q3 2024 was down 6.3% year-on-year, a decline of £758 million
Subsector Productivity Performance
Manufacturing Productivity Index | CEO VIEWPOINT
Chris Iveson, CEO and Co-Founder of FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics provided his thoughts and perspective following the release of Q3's manufacturing productivity index.
"There are more manufacturers in the UK than a year ago, and while they would like to be busier, data indicates the industry is leaner and more efficient, producing more with a smaller workforce.".
HOW MUCH MORE PRODUCTIVE COULD YOUR FACTORY BE?
Manufacturing productivity can have a huge impact on a business's overall operational performance, competitiveness and profitability.
It is a key performance indicator that is just as important a 'health barometer' to an individual business as it is to the UK manufacturing sector as a whole.
There are various strategies that manufacturers can employ to increase productivity. One approach is to invest in technology and automation, which can streamline processes and lead to a reduction in manual labour, fewer errors, and increased production speed.
In addition, efficient supply chain management, minimising waste, and adopting sustainable practices all contribute to overall productivity. Regular evaluation and optimisation of workflows, along with fostering a positive work environment, can also have a significant impact.
When manufacturers proactively use FourJaw’s technology, they can achieve productivity gains of anywhere between 10-20% which can increase output capacity by as much as 30%.
Across the entire UK manufacturing sector, that would be a productivity boost of £61bn.
For a manufacturer producing £4.5m worth of goods this year, that means the ability to get £1.3m more output in 2024 from their existing machines, people and production lines.
Methodology
FourJaw Manufacturing Productivity Index
FourJaw’s data team analysed a range of data provided by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to create a rolling five-year picture of output and productivity for the whole UK manufacturing sector and at the subsector and company level. Sources included the ONS’s Index of Production and producer price inflation datasets, and UK business activity, size and location statistical bulletins. FourJaw calculated productivity levels by adjusting output figures in line with the corresponding inflation rate. Company and employee level figures are averages based on the value of output and productivity per assumed active UK manufacturer at the time. Performance where indexed is indexed to Q1 2023 levels.