According to Made Smarter, confusion surrounding digital transformation is causing stagnation among small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers. Donna Edwards, the Director of the North West adoption programme, noted that many businesses are reluctant to embrace change due to a lack of confidence in both technology and the digital skills of their leaders and employees.
Edwards warned that delaying digital transformation could lead to SMEs falling further behind, as well as wasting valuable time, effort, and resources.
This cautionary message is highlighted in the foreword of Made Smarter’s latest white paper, ‘Digital Transformation: A Made Smarter Roadmap for SME Manufacturers’. The guide, available for free download, is designed to assist manufacturers who are unsure where to begin, offering clear explanations of the concepts and steps necessary for a successful digital transformation.
Importantly, the white paper outlines the Made Smarter process, details the services on offer, and features case studies of hundreds of businesses across the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and the Midlands that have already benefited.
The white paper also highlights some of the partner organisations collaborating with Made Smarter to assist manufacturers in digitalising and decarbonising. These partners include Make UK, Innovate UK, the Centre for People-Led Digitalisation (PLD), InterAct, and the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH).
Donna Edwards remarked: “Ask a hundred SME manufacturing leaders what digital transformation means to them, and you’ll likely get a hundred different answers. But the common view is that it is daunting and confusing. SMEs, while aware of the benefits technology brings, lack the resources and skills to approach digital transformation in the right way. Many hesitate or become paralysed, risking being left behind, or wasting time, effort and money.
“The Made Smarter Adoption Programme is a tried and tested approach that offers businesses access to fully funded support so they can improve their understanding of what steps they need to take, to arm them with the tools and strategy to take those steps, and accelerate them towards the multitude of benefits and growth opportunities.”
Since its launch in the North West five years ago, thousands of manufacturers have engaged with Made Smarter’s specialised support, which ranges from expert, impartial technology advice and digital transformation workshops to digital leadership programmes, internships, and other training opportunities, as well as match-funded technology projects.
The programme’s impacts are beginning to materialise, with North West gross value added (GVA) predicted to increase by £242 million in the coming years. Additionally, 1,300 new jobs have been created, and 2,500 existing roles have been upskilled.
Adoption programmes in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Midlands are also beginning to positively impact regional productivity, job creation, and growth.
Following a government commitment to a national rollout, by 2027—the 10th anniversary of the seminal Made Smarter Review—every SME manufacturer in the UK will have regional access to an adoption programme to accelerate their digital transformation.
“As we approach the first decade of Made Smarter, the pace of change has quickened. The conversation has already shifted from Industry 4.0 and the smart factory to an emerging phase of industrialisation where humans work alongside advanced technology and AI-powered robots to enhance workplace processes,” added Edwards.
“It means we at Made Smarter need to redouble our efforts to reach more SME manufacturers and showcase the opportunities afforded by technology.”
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