We were delighted to welcome SMEs to our ‘Get Connected: Practical Digital Solutions to Transform your Business’ event on the 7th February 2017.

The event aimed to show SMEs the variety of support available at WMG to help evaluate current processes and implement cost-effective and practical digital solutions to overcome a range of business challenges. In attendance were small businesses, academics and large companies spanning a range of sectors, including automotive, motorsport, marine, digital health and aerospace.

Chris White, MP for Warwick and Leamington, gave the keynote address, speaking passionately about why adopting the techniques and philosophies of ‘Industry 4.0’ are vital to our economy, output and competitiveness, both as a nation and as a region.

During the morning session, delegates heard from Cox & Plant, Simco and Autins, who described how working with WMG on collaborative projects has helped them to embrace digital technologies and improve productivity, efficiency and make cost savings.

Delegates were also given the opportunity to experience first-hand the breadth and depth of the capability at WMG, by participating in four interactive workshops run by our academics, on the topics of Cyber Security, Digital Manufacturing, Simulation Tools and Supply Chain Strategy.

After lunch, the audience put questions to our panel, which included Alan Norbury of Siemens, Malcolm Herald from KTN, our Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, Jan Godsell and  Paul Nicol of Simco. This provoked lively discussions around upskilling the next generation of professionals; the role of culture change in adopting digital technology; co-ordinating supply chains to embrace digital technology; and how relatively small process changes can lead to a big change in productivity.

The day was rounded off with a tour of our facilities, including the manufacturing automation workshop, 3xD simulator for intelligent vehicles and Energy Innovation Centre (EIC).

To register your interest in attending one of our future events on a similar topic please contact Hannah Dodd