Graeme Ralph, Head of Digital Factory Group at The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC), Queens University Belfast discussed the future of manufacturing technology, digital transformation and the importance of building the right foundations for innovation.
Graeme explained that while the AMIC is a relatively new organisation, it has been created by bringing together existing innovation centres under a larger, more ambitious vision. The organisation’s presence at this year’s Smart Manufacturing Week is focused on raising awareness of its plans for 2027, when it intends to showcase a large-scale, interactive ‘Factory of the Future’ demonstration. The initiative aims to bring together a range of physical automation technologies, software platforms and digital tools to demonstrate how integrated manufacturing systems can deliver greater value than isolated technology investments. A key theme throughout the conversation was the challenge manufacturers face when adopting new technologies.
He argued that many businesses focus too heavily on individual solutions rather than the broader ecosystem needed to support them. While robotics, automation, AI and digital platforms can all offer significant benefits, their impact is often limited by poor integration and outdated infrastructure. He suggested that manufacturers have become increasingly sceptical after experiencing costly or underwhelming digital transformation projects, leading to a greater focus on understanding the underlying problems they are trying to solve before investing in new technology.
To address this, AMIC is developing approaches that simplify integration and allow manufacturers to adopt technologies more quickly and at lower cost. Through programmes in Northern Ireland such as the soon to be launched Datum, the organisation works directly with smaller manufacturers to assess their needs, understand operational challenges, implement solutions that are tailored to their specific circumstances, and solve the problems that they don’t yet know they have.
Looking ahead to next year’s Factory of the Future showcase, Graeme said visitors will be able to interact with a live manufacturing environment featuring multiple technologies working together. The goal is to demonstrate how systems can be reconfigured, components redesigned and new technologies swapped in and out without costly redevelopment projects. Ultimately, he hopes manufacturers will recognise that successful digital transformation begins with strong data foundations, making future technologies – from automation to AI – far easier to adopt and scale.
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