Improved productivity is now on the radar

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) North West has won additional funding to support a further 200 SME manufacturers in Lancashire.

The new programme, RADAR (Rapid Digital Assist Programme) aims to enhance the competitiveness and productivity of the county’s SMEs.

It will run until the end of February 2023 and will engage in collaborations with 200 eligible manufacturers.

In the 2017 Made Smarter Review it was identified that the North West of England has the greatest manufacturing output, producing nine per cent of the UKs total exports.

However, it also revealed that the GVA per job was lagging behind the rest of the UK by a huge £6,000.

The new AMRC ERDF-funded project will help manufacturing SMEs develop new products and manufacturing processes through the application of rapid, flexible digital manufacturing techniques.

Melissa Conlon, commercial director at the AMRC North West, says: “We are very pleased to be awarded this additional funding to work with more of Lancashire SMEs. There is a definite correlation between GVA and productivity.

“The use of software, automation and connected manufacturing equipment will enable manufacturing processes to be rapidly accelerated, creating the catalyst for a step change in productivity and profitability.

Resource efficiency through digital technology adoption will improve sustainability and contribute to the move to zero carbon manufacturing, ensuring SMEs can compete in an increasingly environmentally aware and competitive global markets

“Whilst many manufacturers are being encouraged to think big and embrace digital technology within their operations, many are not yet fully ready to implement cutting edge technology.

“For some, there are a number of initial steps to take before any Industry 4.0 implementation.

“These steps can typically include production optimisation activities such as lean methodology and waste reduction/elimination, and implementation of Industry 3.0, such as basic automation and numerical control.

“The AMRC North West through RADAR aims to help Lancashire’s SME’s bridge that gap and help companies introduce Industry 4.0 technologies into their processes with less risk”.

AMRC North West has already worked with more than 170 Lancashire SME manufacturers since 2019. Here are just some of the projects it has been involved in:

• Pendle Doors approached AMRC requiring a drill fixture that would guarantee the correct angle a pin would go into wood. AMRC North West created and designed a prototype using one of its vast range of additive manufacturing printers.
• Mike England Timber wanted to alter and reconfigure its factory layout.  Using the fully funded ERDF Assist Programme, AMRC used specialist REVIT software to create a factory plan and virtual reality fly-through. This enabled the business to visualise the new layout, as well as having exact dimensions and machines plotted into the facility.
• NIS in Chorley, manufacturers of large pieces of bespoke equipment, wanted to visualise how its designs would look and how structures would interrelate prior to manufacture. Working with the AMRC virtual reality team, the business found it possible to immerse itself in the design simulating the final build.
• DA Techs in Adlington needed to gather data and information from its processes.

AMRC mapped out the workflow processes and identified how it could use sensors and the internet of things to capture the data in one place.

Many organisations struggle with new technology insertion into their manufacturing enterprises. The AMRC North West will help overcome the challenge of integrating smart manufacturing and big data for both new and old capital equipment.

It is able provide to support by identifying the need for improvement, developing the business case for investment, in-house versus vendor implementation/training and the effect on the workforce, as well as productivity and cost implications.

The AMRC North West is currently operating from its interim facility in Preston and will move the new purpose-built world class research facility on the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone in September this year.

It is an integral part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult network (HVMC). The HVMC’s factory-like facilities provide the perfect environment to test, scale and derisk technology before transferring capability into industry and are supporting businesses to invest in the UK, to bring new products to market and improve performance.

This new ERDF RADAR programme will provide a dedicated team at AMRC North West that will develop rapid, flexible digital manufacturing programme that Lancashire SMEs can utilise to improve productivity and competitiveness.

For further information on the RADAR Programme contact. Nick Hall Business Engagement Manager 07510 409646 n.hall@amrc.co.uk