Why Customers Now Expect More Than Just Price and Quality
In automotive manufacturing, cost and quality have always defined good suppliers. But today’s volatile world demands more. Customers expect automotive supply chain resilience and strong manufacturing risk management, particularly in the UK automotive sector.
Disruptions are no longer rare events; they’re the new normal across industries, and nowhere is this clearer than in resilience in UK supply chains. From the recent cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover to raw material shortages and global shipping delays, every link in the chain is under pressure. The suppliers who thrive are those who can keep delivering when circumstances change. This is particularly important for UK automotive suppliers, who face constant pressure to balance cost, quality, and resilience.
Why automotive supply chain resilience is critical for UK manufacturing
Supply chain resilience is the ability to withstand and recover quickly from disruption. It’s not about avoiding challenges altogether; that’s impossible. Instead, it’s about having the systems, people, and culture in place to adapt without missing customer commitments.
For automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, this means being confident that parts will arrive as scheduled, regardless of external shocks. For companies like Pressmark Pressing, it means planning ahead, investing in infrastructure, and embedding resilience into day-to-day operations.
Lessons from recent disruptions
The last few years have shown why resilience matters.
- Cyber threats: The recent Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack halted production and proved how digital risks ripple through supply chains.
- Logistics challenges: Brexit border delays and port congestion have made shipping less predictable.
- Material shortages: Global steel and energy markets remain volatile, creating uncertainty in cost and supply.
Each disruption highlights the same truth: those without robust resilience plans are exposed, while those with systems in place protect their customers.
How Pressmark embeds resilience
At Pressmark Pressing, automotive supply chain resilience is central to our role as trusted automotive suppliers in the UK.
- Standards and systems: Accredited to IATF 16949 and ISO 9001, we apply structured manufacturing risk management. Continuous improvement is built into every operation.
- Contingency planning: We maintain proactive risk assessments and business continuity processes to ensure we are prepared for the unexpected.
- People and training: Resilience comes from both our team and our technology. We invest in skills so our workforce can adapt quickly when situations change.
- Digital readiness: From IT security to data-driven monitoring, we recognise that resilience now includes the digital world as much as the physical.
Why resilience gives customers confidence
For customers, resilience translates directly into confidence. It means fewer supply chain surprises, more reliable deliveries, and stronger long-term partnerships.
OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers face their own pressures, ranging from ESG reporting to just-in-time delivery commitments. By working with resilient suppliers like Pressmark, they can reduce risk in their own operations and focus on meeting their customers’ needs.
In short, resilience is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a competitive advantage.
Conclusion
In short, price and quality remain essential, but customers expect suppliers who can deliver consistently, and that means building automotive supply chain resilience into every operation.
Pressmark Pressing, combines cost efficiency, proven quality, robust resilience, and proactive manufacturing risk management.
