SME manufacturers in Cumbria are upskilling over 120 workers to create the teams of tomorrow.
The Made Smarter Adoption programme in the North West has worked with more than 1,200 businesses since 2019, supporting them to introduce digital tools and technologies to help boost productivity and growth, and navigate the impact of COVID-19.
Among these, 160 businesses have secured matched funding to develop projects using technologies which enable them to integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes.
Others are using 3D-printing, automation, and robotics to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.
These manufacturers are upskilling 1,822 roles to meet the demands of these emerging technologies and ensure successful digital transformation.
They include 20 Cumbrian businesses upskilling 123 jobs.
But SME leaders are also navigating the cultural challenges of digitalisation: good digital leadership; bringing the team along on the journey; effective communication of the benefits of change; capturing the technical skills and know-how of older workers before they leave the industry; attracting new digital talent into the organisation; and plugging skills gaps.
Made Smarter is supporting manufacturers in a variety of ways to meet these challenges.
DM Engineering, based in Maryport, launched in 2019 as a start-up engineering firm offering precision machining, manufacturing, and site-fitting services to a wide range of customers in West Cumbria.
With an ambition of becoming a fully connected digital manufacturing facility, Made Smarter supported the business to invest in 3D modelling software replacing time-consuming 2D methods.
Darren Martin, owner, said his team has embraced the opportunity to upskill to keep up with the digital manufacturing landscape.
He said: “I have a small team of handpicked engineers with old school engineering values but a forward thinking approach to modern manufacturing methods.
“New technologies can be daunting for some engineers. But my team is onboard.
“They’ve seen the benefit of having the most up-to-date software, saving time and effort by reusing designs from previous, similar jobs, and having opportunities to do more challenging and highly technical work.”
Engineer John Mattinson, 55, admitted he was uncertain about the new approach.
“Engineering has changed a lot over my career with new technologies coming in,” he said.
“Admittedly, I was hesitant at first as I didn’t fully appreciate how it would work or how it would make things better.
“But with patient tutoring and plenty of practice it has become much easier and I am now comfortable using the software and operating the CNC machines, and have picked up some new skills.
“Change can be unnerving, but once you see the outcomes it makes complete sense to pursue new ways of doing things.”
Ruth Hailwood, organisational and workforce development specialist adviser for Made Smarter, said: “Choosing and implementing the right technologies and solutions is only one part of digitalisation.
“Technologies are tools, but digitalisation is all about connecting systems and processes and sharing data to inform decisions made by people.”
“Empowering staff on the front line is vital to a successful digital transformation, so manufacturers need to have or work to create a culture that is open to change and looking to grow and innovate.”
