UK manufacturers see security tech as productivity aid

Axis Communications has published research on how UK manufacturers use security technology in their operations. The survey found that more respondents expect its future value to lie in productivity than in incident prevention.

The study of 600 UK manufacturing decision-makers found that 39% said the greatest future value of security systems over the next three to five years would be in operational efficiency and productivity, compared with 33% who pointed to security and incident prevention. Rising operational costs were cited as a major challenge by 57% of respondents.

That cost pressure appears to be shaping where manufacturers want better insight. Some 26% said reducing operational costs was the area where improved visibility could have the greatest immediate impact, while 45% said network cameras or visual data had significant or some potential to improve operations beyond physical security.

Current use remains concentrated in traditional security roles. While 96% said they use security technology for security and incident prevention, only 18% said they use it for operational efficiency and productivity.

The findings also suggest a gap between collecting data and using it in day-to-day decisions. Only 16% of respondents said security technology data was fully integrated into operational decision-making, while 42% said it was used in some decisions and 27% said it was not used at all.

Cost pressures

Manufacturers are dealing with a mix of cost, quality and safety demands, and the research suggests visual data is being reconsidered as a source of operational evidence rather than simply a record of incidents. Areas highlighted in the findings include waste, rework, downtime, process variation, unsafe behaviour, manual inspections and delayed investigations.

Against that backdrop, the survey points to demand for more direct visibility into events on the factory floor. Better operational insight can help companies trace the causes of inefficiency and link process data with what staff and equipment were doing at a given moment.

Gabriele Mangiafico, Business Development Manager, EMEA, Axis Communications, commented on the shift in how manufacturers are viewing the technology.

"What is clear from the research is that for manufacturing to become truly smarter, it needs more context to better understand what is actually happening on the factory floor. The main challenges raised by manufacturers are context-heavy problems, such as reducing waste, where visual intelligence can connect operational data to real-world events, helping teams investigate faster and act with greater confidence. This points to a strong shift. While security technology is still overwhelmingly viewed through a traditional protection lens, it will move from the control room into the operational core of manufacturing in the near future," said Mangiafico.

Safety questions

The survey also identified uncertainty around health and safety uses. Only 14% said they currently use security technology to improve health and safety, while 37% of health and safety respondents said they were unsure or had not considered the potential of visual data beyond security.

This suggests a sizeable group of manufacturers still treat cameras and related systems mainly as retrospective tools rather than part of prevention efforts. The research highlights uses such as checking personal protective equipment, confirming access rights to restricted or hazardous areas, detecting non-compliance and triggering alerts.

These examples reflect a broader theme in UK manufacturing: companies are under pressure to improve output and quality without adding cost. Visual records can help managers review bottlenecks, verify whether procedures are being followed and investigate the source of stoppages or defects more quickly.

Maturity gap

The findings indicate that many manufacturers have not yet embedded this information into routine decision-making. With only a small minority saying security data is fully integrated, the sector appears to be at an early stage in using video systems as an operational input rather than a standalone security function.

This matters because the same installed systems used for site protection may already be producing information relevant to production, compliance and worker safety. For many companies, the issue is less about access to footage and more about whether the data is reviewed, connected to other systems and used by operations teams.

Linn Storang, Regional Director, Northern and Eastern Europe, Axis Communications, said the survey showed manufacturers still needed context alongside other forms of industrial data.

"The smart factory will not be built on data alone. Manufacturers also need context, and network camera technology can provide a vital layer of visual intelligence that many organisations have not yet fully explored. By connecting existing video data to operational decision-making, manufacturers can move beyond post-incident review and use visual insight to support productivity, quality, safety and resilience in real time," said Storang.