On the 20th April in Milton Keynes, a confluence of hundreds of business people, academics, engineers and exhibitors join to network and learn at the Manufacturing & Supply Chain conference.
Along with the stalls, organisers Premier Publishing saw it fit to have seminar spaces for seven topics it deemed important for attendees to get the chance to hear more about: automation and robotics, supply chain, logistics and procurement; productivity and improvement, high-tech manufacturing & 3D printing, sustainable manufacturing, and of course, IoT & Industry 4.0.
As with the event mere days earlier in UWE Bristol, this event also brought in an eclectic mix and highlighted how things like IoT is becoming more integral to manufacturing as the technology develops and businesses become more open to its implementation.
IoT is increasingly being used in manufacturing to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality control. IoT sensors are installed on machines and equipment to collect data on their performance and usage. This data is then analysed using machine learning algorithms to detect patterns and anomalies, which can be used to optimise production processes.
It is also being used to monitor the supply chain, from raw materials to finished products. Sensors can track the location of goods in real-time, allowing manufacturers to identify bottlenecks and optimise logistics. They can also monitor the temperature and humidity of goods during transport, ensuring that they arrive at their destination in good condition.
The use of IoT in UK manufacturing is being touted as a way to help businesses improve their operations by reducing downtime, minimising waste, and increasing output. It is also enabling them to identify potential problems and take proactive measures to prevent them from occurring.
Highlighting these truths were speakers like Professor Michael Short of Teeside University, who used his talk ‘Smarter energy, smarter manufacturing and smarter supply chain: IIoT, interoperatability and Web 3.0’ to illustrate how the recently inaugurated Teesside Freeport is utilising these methods in its operations. This helping hand in productivity goes in tandem with the profitability angle the government had in mind when creating the Freeports policy following the Brexit referendum.
These minimising waste elements are also becoming increasingly important in the immediate term as soaring energy bills and inflation mean companies are looking for ways to save costs on either materials or energy, and in the long term, to help them hit net zero targets that much of the world is moving towards.
The Manufacturing & Supply Chain is a UK-wide conference that exhibits in Milton Keynes, Belfast and Glasgow, along with Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.
There’s also plenty of other news editorials at IoT Insider’s sister publication, Electronic Specifier. And you can always add to the discussion at our comments section below or on our LinkedIn page here.