Northern Ireland has, for the most part, had a long and sustainable manufacturing history. This has been challenged in recent years, with many companies coming under extreme pressure due to rising costs and international competition.

There are plenty of opportunities for Northern Irish manufacturers to gain a competitive edge, as individual organisations and as a collective industry.

The movement towards more automation, digitisation and new materials ("Industry 4.0") is expected to have significant opportunities and challenges; UK manufacturers will need to change and invest to keep pace with global competitors. The pace of change over the next five to ten years will be rapid, requiring new thinking as to how best to use the different techniques that will be developed through industry 4.0. This is likely to have short term (pressures to automate, digitise through the supply chain, reduce costs) and long term (education, skills, training) implications. 

BDO Northern Ireland assists clients with their own cost review and best practice advice which brings tangible bottom line benefits to their own business and sector. 
 
For clients with established overseas operations or those seeking new opportunities we can provide them with valuable advice and guidance on conducting business in export markets. Through our international network of offices, in more than ninety countries, we have an established information network of local business experts from which we extract quick and accurate information which can be tailored to a specific country and its economy.

Our consultancy experience ranges from Board level advice given to major multinationals, to advising the management team of professional partnerships. We offer advice based on first-hand experience in all the main business functions and work with our clients to implement the recommendations in a cost effective and practical way.

Our services include:-

• Strategic business development plans

• Implementation of marketing and sales plans

• Overhead reduction advice

• Supply chain management

• Feasibility studies

• Finance and Management Information Systems

• Project Management

• Raising and managing finance

• Skills and salary reviews

• Export sales development

• Advice on opportunities for joint ventures, alliances, acquisitions and subcontracting in overseas markets