Rahul Chalisgaonkar, principal for Manufacturing at Infosys Consulting:
“A turbulent time lies ahead for the British car industry, as the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders warns production will be down by at least 18% this year due to Covid-19. As factories shut up shop and global markets close, this will inevitably make a significant dent to the world economy, with big impacts on manufacturing and supply chain dependent sectors.
“However, car brands have a significant part to play in the coronavirus outbreak. Many, including Rolls Royce and Jaguar Land Rover, are working with the government, converting their plants to manufacture ventilators and other crucial medical supplies to ease pressure on the NHS and help save lives.
“Agility is key for organisations during this time and beyond, both in terms of manufacturing and supply chains. Adopting digital technologies like 3D printing, which can be used to manufacture raw materials, or required parts, can soften the impact to the supply chain and ensure production doesn’t ground to a halt. Meanwhile, the logistics network can be managed more effectively through the use of AI, which can deliver automated insights in real-time on how to re-route fleets and make those all-important deliveries happen.”
