Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector risk stagnation due to confusion surrounding digital transformation, warns a new white paper from Made Smarter, aimed at guiding businesses through the adoption of technology and skills.
AV Metals, a sheet metal manufacturer in Radcliffe, experienced firsthand the benefits of digital leadership training with the support of Made Smarter.
Donna Edwards, Director of the North West Adoption Programme, highlighted the hesitation among businesses to embrace digital change, often due to a lack of confidence in technology and digital skills among both leadership and staff. Edwards cautioned that delaying digital transformation could result in businesses falling behind their competitors or squandering resources.
This warning is underscored in the foreword of Made Smarter’s latest white paper, Digital Transformation: A Made Smarter Roadmap for SME Manufacturers. The free guide is designed to help manufacturers begin their digital transformation journey, offering clear explanations of the process, available services, and success stories from businesses across the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and the Midlands.
The white paper also highlights partnerships with organizations like Make UK, Innovate UK, the Centre for People-Led Digitalisation (PLD), InterAct, and the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH), all of which collaborate with Made Smarter to support manufacturers in digitalizing and reducing their carbon footprints.
Edwards remarked, “If you ask a hundred SME manufacturing leaders what digital transformation means to them, you’ll get a hundred different answers. But there’s a common sentiment that it’s daunting and confusing. Although SMEs understand the benefits of technology, they often lack the resources and expertise to approach digital transformation correctly. This hesitation or paralysis can lead to missed opportunities and wasted resources.”
She emphasized that the Made Smarter Adoption Programme offers a proven approach, providing businesses with fully funded support to understand the necessary steps for digital transformation. The program equips them with the tools and strategies needed to realize these steps and accelerates their path to growth and success.
Since its launch in the North West five years ago, the Made Smarter programme has engaged thousands of manufacturers, offering a range of services from expert technology advice and digital transformation workshops to leadership programs, internships, training opportunities, and match-funded technology projects.
The impact of the programme is beginning to be felt, with North West GVA projected to increase by £242 million in the coming years. Additionally, the programme has led to the creation of 1,300 new jobs and upskilled 2,500 existing roles.
One notable success story featured in the white paper is AV Metals. Co-managing director Scott Brooks reflected on the transformative impact of their partnership with Made Smarter, stating, “We are transitioning to a data-driven organization with a new digital culture. The biggest lesson we’ve learned is the value of embracing possibilities. Once you take that first step, acknowledge your flaws, and seize opportunities to improve, you won’t look back.”
As adoption programmes extend across the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the Midlands, their positive effects on regional productivity, job creation, and economic growth are becoming increasingly evident.
Following a Government pledge to roll out the programme nationwide, by 2027—marking the 10th anniversary of the Made Smarter Review—every SME manufacturer in the UK will have access to a regional adoption programme to expedite their digital transformation.
“As we near a decade of Made Smarter, the pace of change is accelerating,” Edwards added. “The conversation has evolved from Industry 4.0 and smart factories to a new era where humans collaborate with advanced technology and AI-driven robots to optimize workplace processes. Made Smarter must intensify its efforts to reach more SME manufacturers and demonstrate the opportunities that technology can offer.”