Before the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, most industries could depend on the relatively smooth running of their supply chains. Yet, in just a few years, the global logistics industry has risen to the forefront of media attention due to widespread delays and disruption.
In the wake of pandemic lockdowns which led to halted production, widespread labour shortages and border delays, supply chain issues have become a common discussion point worldwide — especially within the manufacturing sector.
However, progress waits for no one. As digitisation accelerates in the post-pandemic world, technology is developing across many sectors at an extraordinary rate.
The lighting industry is no exception. Advanced light-emitting diode (LED) products and lighting control solutions such as TheisCraft’s Multiload Spectrum suite — our new take on non-commissionable DALI control — are still entering the market to meet the demand for automation and innovation.
As such, lighting product designers and manufacturers must face supply challenges head-on to mitigate the impact of recent disruptions on customers and ensure as many people as possible have access to the best and brightest lighting technology.
The outlook for supply chain management in 2022/23
It has been more than two years since we were plunged into the first of several lockdowns.
Although restrictions have since eased, and we are slowly returning to ‘normal’ life, supply chain issues are expected to persist as a perfect storm of problems accumulates to cause havoc. In today’s world, cheap, reliable shipping is no longer a given, and stock problems have exacerbated the limited supply of raw and rare materials integral to many modern devices.
Electronics component shortages have caused severe delays for most industries for several months and continue to impact the availability of a range of lighting and controls products. For example, the limited accessibility of materials and components such as semiconductors — crucial elements within many lighting control products — is likely to impact production and availability throughout this year and next.
Long-term backlogs have had an enduring impact on lead times, and coronavirus lockdowns in Shanghai, China, have only intensified this problem in recent months. Conflict in Ukraine is also having a marked effect on the supply of materials, with the rising cost of fuel and energy further compounding shipping delays and expenses. The war is impacting the petrochemicals market, which, in turn, has led to shortages of plastics and sheet metals such as aluminium and steel.
As prices continue to climb and suppliers struggle to catch up with order backlogs and unprecedented demand, these disruptions will likely persist well into 2023. Consequently, the lighting manufacturing sector faces various obstacles to the planned maturation of lighting technology.
So, for the lighting industry to move forwards amidst geopolitical tensions, rising inflation and labour and materials shortages, manufacturers must remain flexible and seek solutions to a problem that is not going away anytime soon.
Proactive solutions to supply chain disruptions
Demand for modern lighting designs and automated building control solutions has not waned in light of recent events. Instead, as energy prices climb and climate change dominates the news, businesses and consumers are increasingly turning to light control technology to manage energy consumption and minimise bills.
As a result, lighting control manufacturers must plan ahead to stay afloat. Many have diverted resources to redesign electronics using alternative materials or adapt materials sourcing and global logistics management with a primary goal: to manage the knock-on impact on customers.
With the cost of parts and services skyrocketing alongside inflation, it is more vital than ever to deliver products at a fair and consistent price. As such, we have taken adaptive measures to ensure we can continue to provide quality products for our customers within the time frame they expect.
The past few years’ events have demonstrated that UK manufacturers cannot remain overly reliant on the global supply chain and should focus on reinforcing local supply to ensure we are prepared for any unexpected disruption. TheisCraft is a licenced member of Made in Britain, demonstrating our commitment to quality and bolstering domestic production of our specialist lighting controls and modular wiring technology.
To minimise delays and fluctuating materials prices, TheisCraft has also acquired parts and additional stock to help ease our dependence on global trade and ensure we can provide realistic lead times. Additionally, we have chosen to bring some of our manufacturing in-house to continue producing and delivering the same high-quality products at a reasonable price.
TheisCraft is equipped to keep innovating and distributing next-generation lighting technology for customers in the face of supply chain disruption. Contact us at 01252 560 800 or email info@theiscraft.co.uk to discuss the timeline for your next project.