SMART MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING WEEK PREVIEW 24 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS April/May 2024 www.hpmag.co.uk Adoption in Manufacturing: A ProductBased Approach. In the rapidly evolving landscape of smart manufacturing, AI (artificial intelligence) has emerged as a pivotal force driving innovation and efficiency. However, the harsh reality is that up to 92% of AI initiatives stumble before reaching full-scale production. Charles, a seasoned expert in data strategy and AI, will demystify AI integration by presenting insights into how a simplified, product-based approach can vastly improve adoption rates. In another keynote speech, Roy Haworth, head of digital mock-up process and implementation at Airbus Defence & Space, will be talking about Using CAD Data to Drive Data Fusion and 3D Visualisation (6 June at 12.00 in the Innovation Theatre). He will explore?the ways that CAD data can be used to bridge the engineering-production gap. In addition, at 13.30 in the Digital Transformation Theatre, Robert Clifford, head of digital and data at BAE Systems, will be presenting on The Three Horizons of your Digital and Data Strategy. The manufacturing sector is the latest domain to embrace the digital and data transformation ethos. However, developing an organisation’s digital and data strategy can often seem like a daunting prospect. This presentation will offer an overview of how to start small, move quickly and think big, progressing swiftly from the drawing board to implementation. The full programme of keynote presentations and other sessions is available at: https://www.mandeweek.co.uk/education al-content-2024. Visitors are encouraged to plan their programme in advance, and this can be easily done using the individual theatre exploration tools available on the Web site. There are eight solution theatres in total covering the topics of: Digital Transformation, IIoT & Connectivity, Industrial Data & AI, Innovation, Maintenance, Drives & Technology, AirTech Solutions, Fluid Power & Systems. Learning and networking As well as the summits and educational theatre sessions, there are other learning opportunities during the live events at the NEC on 5 and 6 June – for example, The Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), University of Cambridge Masterclasses. These interactive workshops are free to attend but places are limited and must be pre-booked. Several events for The Manufacturer Directors’ Forum will take place during the week. This network of senior manufacturers is now more than a decade old with members, drawn from across the industrial spectrum, sharing knowledge by attending targeted events and roundtable discussions. A major focus for Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week is people (both young and older) and skills. The STEM programme includes support for the IMechE Apprentice Automation Challenge as well as its Formula Student Programme. Taking place in Hall 5, as part of Drives & Controls, is the Fanuc Industrial Robots Qualifiers which will see teams of two 16–20-year-olds competing in dynamic challenges that will test their ability to gather and apply information, work effectively in teams, follow instructions, and create robot programs. Visitors can also experience the excitement for themselves with an interactive Fanuc robot “try it yourself” session. Also focused on people is the “Oscars” of the manufacturing sector – The Manufacturer Top 100. Held on the evening of 5 June, the programme provides a platform and a showcase to celebrate the best of UK manufacturing – not big businesses and household company names – but the inspiring people who make the industry tick. The Manufacturer Top 100 scours the length and breadth of the nation to find the 100 most dynamic leaders and innovators in manufacturing, nominated by the industrial community and judged by a panel of industry leaders, academics and manufacturing associations. On the key issue of skills (and also taking place on 5 June) is The Enginuity Skills Awards organised by Enginuity, the charity dedicated to supporting UK engineering and manufacturing employers by finding new ways to close skills gaps and open opportunities. The awards recognise apprentices, pioneers of skills development, and innovative engineers who are passionately and diligently tackling some of society’s biggest challenges. Each year, leaders from the engineering and manufacturing industry across the UK gather at the Skills Awards to celebrate the finest talent and commend the organisations dedicated to advancing skills development to ensure a bright future for these vital sectors of the UK economy. This year’s landmark tenth anniversary of the awards is no different, making SMEW an ideal backdrop for the celebration. The Skills Awards offers a variety of categories catering to areas ranging from Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion, to distinctions such as the Large and SME Employer Skills Champion awards, and the Training Partner Skills Champion award. In addition, the awards encompass accolades tailored to individuals committed to enhancing their expertise in the field, such as the T-Level Student award and multiple apprenticeship categories. Winners of both of these stand to gain a £1,000 prize, with two runnersup in each category receiving £500. Notable organisations A notable element of the planning for SM&E Week is the advisory council that the organisers bring together. The advisory council includes representatives from the event’s Strategic Partner organisations such as the British Manufacturing Consortium; The Centre for Compressor Technology; the iMechE; Engineering UK; GAMBICA; IED; BFPA; IFM University of Cambridge; The Manufacturer, Made Smarter. These organisatons collectively steer the educational element of SM&E Week, ensuring that presenters are addressing the crucial topics that people are interested in and in most cases, they have exhibition stands themselves so that they
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