UK's Digital Supply Chain Hub Launches to Tackle Skills Shortages
A new digital platform, the Digital Supply Chain Hub, is set to launch, addressing critical skills shortages in the UK's industrial sector. The platform will offer a range of tools and services to enhance supply chain resilience, sustainability, and digital readiness.
The hub will provide bespoke educational modules tailored to tackle the most pressing skills gaps in UK industries. Additionally, it will host the supply chain resilience navigator tool from WMG, University of Warwick, enabling businesses to assess and strengthen their supply chain resilience.
To evaluate digital supply chain readiness, the platform will feature the Edge Digital Manufacturing Readiness diagnostic tool. This will help companies identify areas for improvement and drive digital transformation.
The Digital Supply Chain Hub will also foster collaboration and communication through community forums called Circles. These will bring together businesses to build more efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chains. Furthermore, the platform will facilitate connections between users and relevant businesses based on specific needs.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is at the forefront of this initiative, having developed a digitally supported strategy for product lifecycle management in its assembly plants. The company is also working with Tata Technologies to implement an updated ERP system, including cloud-based SAP S/4 Hana, to enhance supply chain visibility.
The demand for such a platform is high, with 86.5% of the UK logistics industry planning to invest in at least one digital technology packaging over the next two years.
The Digital Supply Chain Hub, with its range of tools and services, aims to facilitate collaboration, cooperation, and communication in the supply chain sector. By addressing critical skills shortages and driving digital transformation, the platform seeks to create more resilient and sustainable supply chains, ultimately benefiting both businesses and the UK's industrial sector.
