People are key to a thriving digital future in UK manufacturing

Posted on 30 Jun 2024 by The Manufacturer

People are at the heart of driving innovation in manufacturing. From design and research to developing new production methods, a skilled workforce is essential for staying competitive in a global market.   

Boasting a 2.6-million strong direct workforce and supporting millions more, UK manufacturing is undergoing a digital revolution, helped directly by the Made Smarter Innovation programme. This government initiative has empowered businesses and researchers, resulting in a staggering 1,558 workers upskilled in industrial digital technologies (IDTs) and the creation of 164 new jobs within just four years.

Tackling the ‘human’ challenge

Interact, an Economic and Social Research Council-led network funded through the Made Smarter Innovation challenge that has brought together economic and social scientists, UK manufacturers, policymakers and digital technology providers to tackle the challenge around ‘human factors’ that are currently hindering digital adoption in manufacturing. The focus of the project is to investigate barriers to digital uptake, knowledge diffusion and how to practically achieve and de-risk the process of digital technology adoption.

From tech-centric to people-centreed innovation

Another programme initiative, the Materials Made Smarter Research Centre has been focusing on people-led rather than tech-led innovation. Organisations often have difficulty getting employees to adopt new technologies. There are often issues such as lack of trust, low confidence, uncertainty, with too much focus on what technology can do and less thought on how it influences employees and their work. 

A six-step ‘digital change toolkit’ has been created to help organisations to responsibly prepare, understand and evaluate the people aspects of digital change; designing people into more meaningful work, facilitating engagement and focusing on retention.

Digital readiness and adoption

EDGE Digital Manufacturing is a specialist in digital readiness diagnostic tools, strategy and road mapping services, and supporting in-house digital transformation teams. Their digital readiness diagnostic tool, used by the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub, has helped 700+ users begin their smart manufacturing journey, producing actionable insights aimed at producing significant productivity improvements, focusing on profitability and sustainability.

Ultimately, this supports manufacturing leaders to adopt digital technology, improve their data and digital readiness, and to support implementation of digital transformation projects.

While digital innovation is driving a revolution in UK manufacturing, the human element remains paramount. Initiatives like Made Smarter Innovation, Interact and the Materials Made Smarter Research Centre recognise this, focusing on upskilling the workforce and fostering a culture of collaboration between people and technology. By addressing the human factors that can hinder adoption, the UK can ensure its manufacturing sector remains not just digitally advanced, but also adaptable, efficient, and staffed with a future-proof workforce.

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