PSI July 2019

FIRE SAFETY
DOWNSIZING TECHNOLOGY TO MITIGATE
BIGGER SECURITY RISKS
Roland Martin-
Bessey, Operations
Director at Hochiki
Europe, looks at the
global component
shortage and what
this means for
manufacturers and
installers
To find out more about
Hochiki Europe, visit:
www.hochikieurope.com
The key issue affecting all industries today
is a simple but important one. Over the last
decade, there has been a huge rise in
demand for micro electrical components.
Manufacturers are having to find new ways
build devices, without increasing unit size. As a
result, producers of electronic components are
meeting demand by downsizing everything they
create.
Much of the technology we use today
incorporates similar components all fitted to a
printed circuit board (PCB) which determines
the function of the product. To correctly fit each
component and keep production moving,
manufacturing lines need to be equipped with
the right machinery.
As the miniaturization of mainstream
technology continues, manufacturers in all
industries must follow suit. This is especially
true in the life safety sector. Life safety
solutions are not as space-hungry as products
like mobile phones. This means there is no great
need for them to become smaller. However,
when these new, smaller components are
manufactured, the predecessors are usually
phased out, leaving a shortage for the rest of
the industry, a process known as component
obsolescence.
To keep production going in the face of
component obsolescence, life safety
manufacturers need to have a strategy that is
built with the future in mind, and this must be a
key focus for any R&D team. R&D divisions,
regardless of sector, should understand how
technology might change, or is changing, and
how their business may need to adapt to suit.
For example, at Hochiki Europe, we use various
Manufacturing for the future
There are a number of relatively straightforward measures manufacturers can
take to combat the risks posed by the component shortage. We have recently
invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in our production capabilities and
equipment to ensure we can handle the smallest of components. By being aware
that such an investment will be required for long term success we can plan our
operations more effectively, factoring in any costs as part of business planning.
We must always be looking for new ways to increase productivity, outputs
and everything in between, despite challenges like the global component
shortage. Getting ahead of the curve is key, and by maintaining close
relationships with suppliers and customers and investing in capabilities, our
industries will be able to continue to operate efficiently now and into the future.
software tools to ensure our R&D teams can
track such changes and use the data to develop
plans that will ensure the business can continue
to operate.
Manufacturers will have a quota of the
number of products they need to be able
produce to keep up with customer demand and
maintain a suitable level of stock, meaning
there should never be a product shortage.
Meeting this quota requires a certain number of
components, and if these are not available then
manufacturing processes can be very quickly
thrown out of sync, causing issues for the
manufacturer, customers and end users.
To address this risk, we need to be forward
thinking and more collaborative. This is why we
work closely with suppliers to ensure they are
top of the list for product deliveries.
Simultaneously, we are also planning well in
advance to ensure our component stock is
continually maintained. We are ensuring we
have enough components to maintain a steady,
constant stream of production.
As with any product, an increase in demand
drives costs up. When the cost of individual
components rises, so too does the cost of the
final product. Manufacturers then have to make
a difficult decision – how much of the cost do
they pass on to their customers and how do
they communicate the increase?
Essentially, there is no right or wrong way to
do this and it very much depends on the
manufacturer. One thing that is constant,
however, is the need for excellent relationship
and stakeholder management processes.
Another reason why manufacturers must
manage the risks of the global component
shortage effectively is for installers themselves.
If a company is unable to produce solutions,
installers could find themselves without the
products they need to fulfil a project. Being in
such a position could mean that installers then
have to turn down work, which is bad from a
reputation and business perspective. In
addition, there is another risk that customers
could re-specify projects to incorporate other,
less advanced systems. It is therefore essential
that, throughout the supply chain, risk is
managed, mitigated and communicated so all
parties can continue to operate as they should.
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