Lancashire manufacturers backed to adopt AI with new Made Smarter toolkit

Manufacturers across Lancashire are being supported to take practical steps into artificial intelligence with a new toolkit designed to help SMEs turn AI from hype into real-world impact.

The guide highlights how firms such as Darwen's Ritherdon and Co. and Nelson's ELE Advanced Technologies, pictured above, are already applying AI to improve customer workflows and monitor machine performance, demonstrating how practical adoption can deliver measurable results.

AI Adoption in Manufacturing: A Practical Toolkit from Made Smarter has been developed by Made Smarter North West, the government-backed programme helping SME manufacturers adopt technology and digital skills, and co-authored by Professor Chris Dungey, AI Champion for Advanced Manufacturing at the Department for Business and Trade.

The guide aims to strengthen the region’s manufacturing base by supporting SME leaders as they navigate one of the most significant technological shifts in decades.

Professor Chris Dungey said: “AI has moved quickly into everyday business, but for many manufacturers, especially SMEs, it still feels complex, distant and risky. That is why practical adoption matters more than technical novelty.

“This toolkit is not about pushing manufacturers faster than they are ready to go. It is about helping them move with confidence, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure AI delivers measurable impact rather than stalled pilots.

“If the UK is to realise the productivity, resilience and competitiveness gains that AI can offer, we must focus less on isolated success stories and more on repeatable adoption pathways.

"This toolkit is an important step in that direction, helping manufacturers move from curiosity to capability, and from pilots to scaled industrial impact.”

While awareness of AI is high, many manufacturers remain unsure where to start, how to manage risk, and how to translate potential into measurable business value.

Rather than focusing on complex technologies, the guide sets out a clear, task-first approach, helping businesses identify where AI can reduce low-value work, improve decision-making, and strengthen day-to-day operations.

At the centre of the toolkit is a structured “Scan, Pilot, Scale” framework, reflecting how manufacturers successfully adopt AI in practice. It encourages businesses to start with real operational challenges, test solutions safely, and scale only what proves its value in live environments.

The launch comes as AI is increasingly recognised as critical to the UK’s industrial future, yet many SMEs remain cautious. Unlike office-based tools, AI in manufacturing operates in complex, safety-critical environments, where decisions can directly impact quality, productivity and compliance.

Kevin Smith, lead technology adoption specialist at Made Smarter North West, said: “AI is no longer out of reach for SMEs. It doesn’t require major investment or specialist teams to get started.

“The opportunity now is to act with confidence and clarity. By starting small, testing safely and focusing on real business value, manufacturers can turn AI from an abstract concept into a practical tool for growth.

“Made Smarter provides hands-on support to help manufacturers adopt digital technologies, including AI, in a way that delivers measurable results.

"From initial diagnostics and roadmapping through to pilot projects and scaled implementation, the programme helps businesses move at a pace that suits them.”

Made Smarter supports SME manufacturers, giving them access to expert technology advice, leadership training, digital skills development and match-funded grants to boost productivity, drive innovation, create high-value jobs and cut carbon.

AI Adoption in Manufacturing: A Practical Toolkit from Made Smarter is available to download now.