Will this virus change our manufacturing habits long term?

[SausageCrush]

One of the problems highlighted in this crisis has been the poor state of our manufacturing industry.

Countries like Germany have faired better as they were pretty much self sufficient in PPE, testing kits, etc.

Do you think we will learn lessons from this and manufacturing will increase in the long term?

[Rainbowqueeen]

Yes I think so

I’m in Australia and it’s already been raised as an issue here.

[Alkaloise]

I hope so. In the long run and with Brexit still happening, we will need to start our own manufacturing up again, and very soon, too. It will help our own self-sufficiency, provide a way in for young people just out of schools, create jobs, put many of the service sites potentially now going bust under lockdown to good use once all of this has subsided a bit.

[Lifeisabeach09]

I certainly hope so too but with Brexit and establishing trade agreements with countries who manufacture loads, I'm not sure the UK will be able to.

[Hazelnutlatteplease]

I hope so. I dont think free trade has been a positive thing for any of our industries from farming to cars. We're now dependent on service industries, which have no real geographical link to anywhere so you cant really penalise them else they just threaten to hop it abroad.

[Teabaseddiet]

I hope so.

[FloraGreysteel]

I hope so.

[zsazsajuju]

I don’t think so. Manufacturing can generally be done much cheaper elsewhere. It’s basic comparative advantage. We would be best to focus on the service industry.

[zsazsajuju]

Manufacturing things here if it didn’t make economic sense (and it usually doesn’t) would make us poorer. As will brexit.

[Ozgirl75]

It might do. On one small note, we run a manufacturing company and some of our parts come from China. We have always had U.K. back ups in case of delays etc which are a little more expensive but not too bad. We’ve basically decided to go to U.K. suppliers full time now.

I know we are only one small company and we already have quite good profit margins so will only pass on some of the price increase but we might be indicative of other companies too.