Dr Martin Clocherty, chief information officer at Hayward Tyler, manufacturer of performance-critical motors and pumps, explains why data and automation are crucial for the Luton based company.
Clocherty is an experienced lean manufacturing engineer and people manager with a diverse manufacturing knowledge gained within Motorola & Freescale semi-conductor facilities in both the UK and Japan.
As current CIO at Hayward Tyler, he focusses in his work on improving the company’s products, people and processes through the development of Industry 4.0 business systems.
How automated is Hayward Tyler, in which areas and why?
Hayward Tyler is a business that still operates across the 1st to 4th industrial revolutions.
On the face of it, we have very little automation and robotics, but under the surface the company has many cutting-edge automation examples that will help other UK manufacturing businesses understand how with very little investment automation and robotics can help grow their business.
What benefits has automation brought to your business?
We have improved on-time delivery, reduced costs, improved quality and automation helped us further develop and educate our workforce.
What is your approach to exploring and adopting new technologies?
I would say, I am ravenous in my thirst to explore and adopt new technologies and this is reflected in the many awards, recommendations, innovation grants and achievements despite operating within a very challenging global market.
How important is data to your business today, and is that going to change moving forward?
For example, historical data is extremely valuable to our company but understand that, many companies do not truly understand how to utilise such large data sets.
No data should be deleted or discarded as you never know when it will become a valuable asset in the future.
Data allows companies to be utilise predictive foresight and creative foresight even though they may not understand how to do so at this time. The use of data in a positive way is the key.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges data-driven manufacturing presents?
How to bring the data to life and change it from rows and columns to meaningful insightful, usable business information that can be used to drive business growth.
What market demands are encouraging you become more proactive towards data and/or connectivity?
In simplistic terms: The need to hunt for customer orders rather than farm customer orders.
