Made Smarter honours Lancashire manufacturers

Two Lancashire businesses are among the first recipients of the Made Smarter Awards, which celebrate excellence in manufacturing.

The scheme has been launched to mark the fourth anniversary of the pioneering Made Smarter adoption programme, a government-funded and industry-led initiative helping SME manufacturers digitalise, decarbonise and drive growth.

158 businesses, representing every part of the North West and a diverse range of sectors, have been recognised for their committed approach to digital transformation.

There are three levels of certification - bronze, silver, and gold - depending on a recipient's engagement and advocacy of the programme.

Among the first 19 ‘gold’ award winners are Logs Direct, kiln-dried wood manufacturers based in Lancaster, and IOT Horizon, a manufacturer of Internet of Things solutions, based in Rawtenstall.

Silver awards have been given to 40 companies, and bronze awards to 158.

Logs Direct worked with Made Smarter to invest in a real-time kiln monitoring and heat-recovery system, which will improve productivity, efficiency and product quality. The solution is forecast to increase growth by 15 per cent, create five new jobs, significantly reduce energy use and introduce new eco-friendly products.

Liz Foulds, finance director at Logs Direct, said: "We are truly honoured and surprised to receive our Made Smarter award. 

"Made Smarter has been instrumental in allowing us to move forward with a greener, more efficient and cost-effective drying process, and given us the confidence to look at the next steps of improvement."

IoT Horizon worked with Made Smarter to develop a sensor that utilises state of the art security protocols to secure sensor data, and a platform to support multiple sensors to manage the energy and environment of buildings. As a result the business has doubled turnover and recruited four new members of staff.

Deyrick Allen, managing director, said: "We were one of the first companies to get involved in the North West programme when it was launched four years ago and we continue to be vocal advocates of the multitude of benefits digital transformation offers the manufacturing industry.

"Made Smarter helped our own manufacturing processes which in turn has helped other companies develop their solutions up and down the country. We are absolutely delighted with this award."

To date, the North West programme has provided specialised support to over 2,500 businesses. Its advisors have imparted expert, impartial technology advice and digital transformation workshops to help create a digital roadmap, skills support and leadership training, and grants towards technology projects.

Some businesses have adopted technologies that enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes. Others have adopted 3D-printing, automation, and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.

These investments have created 1,300 new manufacturing jobs, upskilled 2,400 existing roles and added over £209m in GVA for the North West economy. Businesses are also benefitting from improved productivity and revenue, increased exports and lower energy bills, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Commenting on the awards, Donna Edwards, director of Made Smarter’s North West adoption programme, said: “The Made Smarter adoption programme is a huge success story for UK manufacturing. It has inspired leadership and evoked change in hundreds of businesses through technology and new skills. 

“Digital transformation can be hard, particularly in the current climate and given the challenges the sector has faced in recent years, so it is right we recognise the hard work, dedication and forward-thinking nature of these businesses and their employees. They have embraced digitalisation to become a leading example of UK manufacturing excellence. 

“We are delighted to launch our first Made Smarter Awards and hope that recipients will wear them like a badge of honour to inspire others around them.”