Edge Hill launches productivity programme for manufacturers

Edge Hill University has launched a new programme to help SME manufacturers to improve productivity through the use of digital technologies.

The Manufacturing Connect (MC) initiative brings together manufacturing, technology and business experts from the university along with Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NW) and Manchester Metropolitan University.

MC seeks to actively support more than 100 north west SMEs up to February 2021, by running cycles of a digital facilitated Adoption Sprint Process.

The initiative will focus on three digital technology types for SMEs to adopt: Customer Relationship Management, Production Planning, and Resource Planning.

Overall, the project aims to improve the rates at which UK SMEs adopt even well-established and known digital technologies, which is far behind that of other European and North American countries. 

Professor Simon Bolton from the Productivity & Innovation Centre at Edge Hill University said: "Adopting a new technology is a major investment for manufacturing SMEs. It is an important part of their decision-making process that they are fully informed and supplied with real accounts of the impact and benefits of the technologies from vendors, other SMEs and those with significant expertise in the digital technology adoption process.

"The combination of knowledge, advice and experience from a range of industry experts and peers will add real value and depth to SMEs overcoming barriers through to adopting the technology that is right for their business."

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