May 2021

26 n MANUFACTURING May 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com Smarter can also be greener E arlier this year, the Government announced £8m in funding to expand the Made Smarter manufacturing technology support programme, rolling it out beyond the pilot project, which has been running for two years in NorthWest England. The expanded scheme will help up to 1,000 SME manufacturers in the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside, and the West Midlands to adopt digital technologies such as robotics and automation. Over the past two years, the pilot programme has worked with 1,165 firms in the NorthWest and provided intensive support for 568 manufacturers, including expert advice, funded internships and digital workshops. Almost 150 businesses have received £3.5m in funding for more than 180 projects, attracting a further £10m of private sector investment. These projects are predicted to deliver an extra £147.8m in gross added value for the NorthWest economy over the coming three years, creating more than 800 jobs and upskilling 1,700 existing roles. Made Smarter was set up following a review into UK manufacturing that recommended key changes including: more ambitious leadership; greater innovation in developing new technologies; faster implementation and adoption of these technologies; and deeper understanding of the sector’s skills requirements. As well as improving the efficiency, productivity and profitability of their operations, businesses working with the technology adoption programme have also been investing in new machinery and digital tools to make their buildings, equipment, manufacturing and transport processes more energy-efficient and less wasteful. Some manufacturers have been implementing measures such as switching to LED lighting in their factories to cut electricity bills, and investing in renewable energy sources and biomass boilers to power their plants. As a result, the manufacturers are cutting costs, boosting their profit margins, and increasing competitiveness, helping them navigate the Covid crisis, and paving a path to recovery and growth with a new resilience. Sustainable The drive towards a more sustainable approach to manufacturing is reducing the businesses’carbon footprint and impact on the environment, helping to move the UK towards its net-zero target by 2050. “Climate change can no longer be ignored,” says Donna Edwards, Made Smarter’s North West Adoption programme director.“The manufacturing industry, together with the transport and storage industries, produce 15% of the UK's greenhouse gases. “Manufacturers are facing pressure to become more sustainable from their own employees, customers, the government, investors, and wider communities,”she adds. “Technology has played an incredibly important part in enabling businesses to navigate the pandemic and recover. There is no doubt that digital tools are also key to addressing the challenge of decarbonisation and help the UK achieve its net-zero aim. Edwards believes that digitalisation “offers a huge opportunity for manufacturers to deliver operational efficiencies, decarbonise heat and power, optimise design and materials, and improve logistics and transport, benefitting their business, their bottom line and the environment. “It is encouraging that so many Made Smarter supported manufacturers have started this journey and found the sustainability sweet spot between these economic, social, and environmental goals,” she says. For example, Creative Apparel , a Stockport-based clothing manufacturer, has ambitious plans to build a new state-of-the- art factory combining renewable energy sources and full digitalisation where a central IT system drives and measures smart machinery, linking production through to its customers and supply chain. Made Smarter is supporting the integration of data and systems at the company to automate processes from receiving orders through to production management and dispatch. It is also supporting the development of bespoke software that uses AI (artificial intelligence) tools to respond more rapidly and effectively to fast-moving fashion trends. Creative Apparel’s ambition is to quadruple its production capacity, increase its productivity by 30%, and cut waste by 20%. According to managing director, Phil Millar: “The fast fashion industry suffers from a reputation as being one of the most damaging to the environment due to the amount of waste generated during the production process and the throw-away nature of many of its products. We want to help address that by becoming a leader for change in the sector by putting sustainability at the heart of our production processes. “By introducing digital technology and tools that reduce waste and consume less energy we want to prove that you can help save the planet and can save money,” he adds. “Accessing support from Made Smarter Following a two-year pilot project in North-West England, the Made Smarter technology support programme is being rolled out to help SME manufacturers in some other parts of the UK. Companies that took part in the pilot programme have not only improved their operations and bottom lines, but have also demonstrated environmental benefits. Donna Edwards: digitalisation offers a huge opportunity for manufacturers