SME Support for Adopting Digital Technology

Dr Mark Swift

Starting the journey

What does i4.0 mean to SMEs…Isn't this just common sense?Digital is the glue, useful to get the basics right e.g. Lean techniquesIt must address your business questions – winning new business; where is it; operations; future business models; value from data and connectivity?

Be wary of the challenges / barriers:Skills… Time… Resources… Infrastructure… Return Of Investment…

Three levels:Supporting existing (manufacturing) operationsFuture services and business modelsConnecting supply chains

Wickens: Supporting existing manufacturing operations

Manufacture heavy duty racking systems - cars, boats, steel rolls

Used lean techniques = low throughput, bottlenecks time traps

Digital manufacturing retro fit solution:

Open-source platforms (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), industrial grade casings, sensors

15% efficiency saving

Value from data is important!

Accurate tool life prediction

Capacity planning

Supply chain visibility

Hobsons: Future services and business models

Award winning brewery

How many beer casks (barrel) do I have?

Smart beer cask track and trace solution

NFC tagged casks using smartphone and cloud based analytics

Reduced cask ratio from 1:5 to 1:4

Created new business – working with major cider manufacturer

Track high value returnable containers - e.g. gas cylinders, bottles, cages, bins, pallets…

Data business

Where next and WMG can support?

Diagnostic assessment (where do start, identify your business challenge)

Lean Assessment

Manufacturing Excellence Benchmarking Tool (Jay)

Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment (Jan launches today)

Business model tool (under development)

WMG SME Industry 4.0 Prototype Development Toolkit

Asset tracking

Manufacturing operations

Supply chain visibility

Real time costing tools

Contact usWMG SME024 7657 4299 wmgsme@warwick.ac.uk