Manufacturing News – Late April 2026
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Global supply chains are facing an unprecedented period of sustained disruption, with new data revealing record levels of concern among procurement and supply chain professionals as geopolitical instability and rising costs reshape the outlook for manufacturers.
The latest quarterly survey from the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) shows short-term supply chain anxiety has climbed to 5.69, up sharply from 4.59 in Q4 2025, marking the highest level recorded to date. Medium-term concern has also reached a new peak of 5.64, rising from a previous high of 5.03.
Sourced from The Manufacturer
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The High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult) has unveiled a new long-term technology strategy designed to help UK industry develop, adopt and scale the advanced manufacturing capabilities needed to remain globally competitive.
Developed in collaboration with more than 150 industry partners, the strategy outlines a 15-year roadmap for translating emerging technologies into market-ready products. It provides a framework to guide investment and capability development across HVM Catapult’s national network of centres through to 2040.
Sourced from The Manufacturer
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New analysis from FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics has revealed that the UK manufacturing sector has delivered sustained growth in both output and productivity over the past five years, challenging long-standing narratives of industrial decline.
Sourced from The Manufacturer