Robotics and automated systems will form a critical part of the future UK manufacturing economy. As the ninth largest manufacturing economy in the world, the UK languishes as the 27th largest adopter of robotics. Brexit and COVID-19 have exposed weaknesses in our supply chains. Industry is facing the tightest labour market we have seen in modern times. These challenges could be addressed, in part, by faster adoption of robotics and automation. How can we accelerate this adoption and develop a competitive UK manufacturing sector? Key to this transformation is creating an environment where the skills of both today and tomorrow can be developed, creating an ecosystem of high-tech businesses capable of deploying complex systems. Additionally, we must enable businesses to make strategic investments through innovative finance arrangements, maximising flexibility and reducing risk. But as manufacturing facilities do get faster and more automated, there are greater challenges, not least the safety aspects of plant and equipment. OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is the gold standard for measuring manufacturing productivity. Simply put, it identifies the percentage of manufacturing time that is truly productive. But worryingly, most UK manufacturers are running below a score of 60% and almost half are scoring under 40%. In most cases. OEE can be easily improved through straightforward measures. All aspects of machine operation contribute to OEE, including the often-overlooked human aspect. Everyone is busy, and the problem with being too busy is a complacency towards everyday issues. Focus becomes directed only to visible issues causing downtime to plant and machinery. But what about hidden downtime, that mounts up and causes cycle times to drift? 10.30 - 11.15 AUDITORIUM 11.15 - 12.15 AUDITORIUM
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