Made Smarter is the UK national industrial digitalisation movement to drive productivity and growth of manufacturing industries and put the UK at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution

Seven Liverpool city region manufacturing firms are looking to grow their businesses by taking part in the Made Smarter’s digital transformation workshops.

Made Smarter is the UK national industrial digitalisation movement to drive productivity and growth of manufacturing industries and put the UK at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Digital transformation workshops are designed to accelerate manufacturing growth by identifying digital tools and technologies that can maximise operational processes and enhance business growth.

Working with a Made Smarter adviser, the fully-funded workshop, bespoke to individual business needs, involves two online sessions, a two-hour diagnostic of the business’s product, services, processes and people, and a one-hour ‘findings’ presentation to make recommendations for practical solutions to overcome business challenges.

The workshop’s output, together with subsequent sessions with Made Smarter digital technology advisers, are used to develop a digital transformation strategy tailored to the needs of the business.

It will include an easy-to-use guide for decision-makers with recommended first steps, a technology roadmap, and information about how to get further support from the programme such as funding for digital tools. There will also be a printable wall graphic to share with the wider workforce to bring everyone along on the journey.

Seven companies from Liverpool city region are among 51 from the region to sign up to the workshops since they were launched in August including Airsea Containers (Birkenhead); H Miller Bros (Liverpool); Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving (Liverpool); Sigmatex (Runcorn); Generationjuice (Wirral); Todhunter Davies (Wirral); Hall & Roberts Provisions (Widnes).

Karen Cunningham and Simon Edwards, co-founders of GenerationJuice, a manufacturer of juice dispensers based in Wirral, said: “We are in the process of scaling up the business.

“Adopting the right technologies at the right time is pertinent to that journey. We are optimistic about what the Made Smarter programme can offer us and look forward to helping co-create a digital roadmap with its team of advisers.”

The workshop will also identify other ways the Made Smarter programme can support a manufacturer’s transformation including: the trailblazing Made Smarter Leadership Programme delivered in partnership with Lancaster University.

Kevin Smith, Made Smarter technology expert and one of the specialists running the new workshops, said: “The use of technologies is becoming essential in order to cut costs and enhance the customer experience. Without capitalising on digital tools, SME manufacturers risk getting left behind.”