For the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector, digital technology adoption is often framed in terms of productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. But what if we looked at it through a different lens – say, music? At first glance, the two worlds may seem miles apart. Yet the evolution of music technology offers surprisingly rich parallels to the digital transformation journey of UK manufacturing, especially when viewed through the prism of sustainability and STEM careers. Consider the arrival of the synthesiser in the 1960s and 70s. Traditional musicians were sceptical. It was seen as a threat to their craftsmanship, to the authenticity of analogue sound. Fast-forward to today, and synthesisers are not only mainstream – they’ve expanded what music can be. Entire genres, from techno to ambient, owe their existence to digital sound manipulation. From EDM to drum-and-bass, today’s artists rely on high-tech sound manipulation to achieve the hits that play at raves and festivals, yet some of those DJs were certainly against adoption at first. Manufacturing is experiencing its own “synthesiser moment”. Technologies such as AI-driven predictive maintenance, digital twins and robotics, are reshaping how factories operate. Just as musicians learned to blend analogue and digital to create hybrid sounds, manufacturers are learning to integrate legacy systems with cutting-edge tech to build smarter, more responsive production lines. The music industry’s shift from physical media to streaming wasn’t just technological – it was cultural. It required artists, producers and listeners to rethink value, ownership and access. If 30 years ago you were told your entire music collection could be stored on one small handheld device, you’d have considered the suggestion foolish. Similarly, digital manufacturing isn’t just about installing sensors or dashboards. It’s about reimagining workflows, retraining staff, and redefining what “value” means in a circular economy. This is especially relevant in the UK, where sustainability targets are driving manufacturers to adopt energy-efficient systems, reduce waste, and embrace servitisation models. Just as streaming platforms use data to personalise the user experience, manufacturers are using real-time analytics to optimise resource use and minimise environmental impact. The recent resurgence in the sales of vinyl records can also be seen as an example of how, where technology is great, it may be replaced temporarily but it will always have its place in society. This can be paralleled to legacy industrial equipment and how upgrading and modifying new equipment is essential to keep up-to-date, but it doesn’t always mean getting rid of the old. Music thrives on collaboration. Between composers, performers, producers and of course engineers. The best tracks are often not solo efforts but also contain collaborations. Likewise, successful digital transformation in manufacturing requires cross-disciplinary collaboration: engineers working with data scientists, operators with software developers, SMEs with policymakers, the IT with the OT! This is exactly the message that we at Gambica want to spread. Collaboration is the key to success. Between all departments, companies, industries and more, from our University and Industry Collaboration group to our NextGen council, collaboration is essential. This collaborative ethos is central to the UK’s industrial strategy, which increasingly emphasises ecosystem thinking. Associations such as ours, and initiatives like Made Smarter and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, are helping manufacturers to co-compose their digital futures, with sustainability as a key refrain. Furthermore, just as the rise of music tech created new roles such as sound designers, remix artists, digital engineers and more, digital manufacturing is spawning new career paths. Data analysts, automation specialists, robotics experts and sustainability strategists are essentially the new rockstars of industry. But unlike the music world, manufacturing still struggles with its image problem, especially in the public eye. To attract young talent, we need to reframe manufacturing as a creative, impactful, and future-facing field. Imagine a campaign that compares coding a robot to composing a track or designing a circular supply chain to remixing a classic hit. The metaphor isn’t just cute – it’s powerful. Ultimately, if you look deeper into “production” from both a manufacturing and musical point-of-view, both music and manufacturing are about creating something meaningful from raw materials. Whether that’s sound waves or sheet metal. They both require precision, creativity, and a willingness to evolve. And they both have a role to play in shaping a more sustainable future. As the UK “charts” its course through economic uncertainty, climate imperatives, and global competition, it’s worth remembering that transformation isn’t just technical – it’s cultural. If we can learn from the way music embraced digital disruption, we might just find a more harmonious path forward for manufacturing, STEM careers, and the planet. n * Gambica is the trade association for the automation, control, instrumentation and laboratory technology sectors in the UK. You can get in touch with Nikesh Mistry on 020 7642 8094 or nikesh.mistry@gambica.org.uk, or via the Gambica Web site: www.gambica.org.uk 44 October 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com Manufacturers: take note from the music industry British manufacturers could learn from the way that the music industry has embraced digital disruption, argues Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for automation. He believes that both sectors require precision, creativity, and a willingness to evolve. And they both have a role to play in shaping a more sustainable future.
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