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Scoping Modern Manufacturing

The Manufacturing Forum is taking forward a programme of work to gain a deeper understanding of modern manufacturing in the UK. This project should help contribute to a better understanding of the role of manufacturing in the UK economy.

The project has three main strands:

1. Measuring Modern Manufacturing

This part of the project looks at how manufacturing shows up in the measured statistics, exploring whether data captures the real value of manufacturing. It also looks at the wider linkages between manufacturing and the rest of the economy, for example, the extent to which manufacturers have outsourced functions in the last two decades.

2. The Value Chain of Manufacturing

This part of the project looks at where companies choose to specialise in the manufacturing value chain (including production, research, design, and service provision) and why. This work includes survey and case study material to provide detailed firm level information.

3. Manufacturing Investment

This part of the project focuses on investment in intangibles such as software, design and training. Leading academic Jonathan Haskel is carrying out a specific project to estimate intangible investment for the manufacturing sector.

The aim is to finish the project, including survey work, by Autumn 2007.

Manufacturing Forum Key Contact

Stuart Barthropp