Agent47 Posted December 9, 2020 Posted December 9, 2020 Honda has paused production at its Swindon factory due to transport delays causing a shortage of parts, the BBC is reporting. The Japanese firm has told employees that congestion at UK ports is causing a "transport-related parts delay". Like most manufacturers, Honda operates a just-in-time production method, whereby parts are delivered exactly when they are required. "The situation is currently being monitored with a view to restart production as soon as possible," Honda said in a statement. Reports claim one last-resort alternative could be to air freight parts from the source countries. UK container ports, including Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway, are said to be heavily congested. An increasing number of consumer orders for Christmas and companies filling lockdown-induced backlogs are listed as two reasons for the delays, while it's also suggested companies are stockpiling goods before the Brexit transition period ends on 1 January. Last May, Honda announced it would be closing its Swindon manufacturing plant, where the Civic is currently produced, in 2021. It claimed an acceleration in electrification plans means that "resources, capabilities and production systems for electrified vehicles will be focused in regions with a high volume of customer demand". Since September, the country’s biggest container port, Felixstowe, has been struggling to cope as firms rushed to replenish stock after lockdown ended while simultaneously building stockpiles before the final Brexit deadline. Last month, the Guardian revealed that 11,000 containers of government-procured PPE were part of the problem at Felixstowe. That backlog has since been reduced to about 4,000 and should be cleared by Christmas. Congestion at Felixstowe is a problem for the whole country as it handles about 40% of all the containers coming into and out of the UK. However, the congestion has spread to other ports including Southampton and London Gateway. Honda is to pause production at its UK plant on Wednesday because of a shortage of car parts caused by delays in getting parts into Britain in the run-up to the end of the Brexit transition period, according to reports. The car company, which relies on “just in time” and “just in sequence” supplies, told the BBC on Wednesday the decision was “due to transport-related parts delay” as ports are hit by Brexit demand and coronavirus restrictions. “The situation is currently being monitored with a view to restart production as soon as possible,” Honda said. Honda’s Swindon factory in south-west England built just under 110,000 cars last year but is due to close permanently next year. Advertisement The company is looking at alternative arrangements, such as flying parts in, but production could grind to a halt as early as Wednesday. The carmaker joins a growing number of businesses complaining of disruption that can be traced back to the ports. Builders are reporting shortages of power tools, timber and roof tiles while retailers are struggling to get stock into stores in time for Christmas. Roads in Kent were hit by lorry queues on Tuesday for the fourth day in two weeks, with the congestion caused by a combination of Brexit stockpiling and a reduction in the number of ferries because of Covid. Ten days ago five-mile tailbacks developed on the M20 after France started to test its new immigration system. Operation Brock contingency plans for Brexit on Kent motorways will be introduced on Friday ahead of the end of the transition period. The situation at the ports has been described as a perfect storm with operators overwhelmed by a surge in freight volumes at a time when their ability to handle it is hampered by coronavirus restrictions.
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