Home Business Local Business Lancashire manufacturers help Made Smarter reach major milestone

Lancashire manufacturers help Made Smarter reach major milestone

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lantex
Lantex

Lancashire SMEs to experience jobs and growth boost from trailblazing North West technology adoption programme

Lancashire manufacturers have helped Made Smarter’s trailblazing technology adoption programme in the North West mark its third anniversary by reaching a major milestone.

The programme has now matched funded 200 businesses, supporting them to drive growth and decarbonise through digitalisation.

This includes 65 SME manufacturers in Lancashire who have secured £1.4M matched funding for 76 projects, worth £5.8M after private sector investment.

These investments are forecasting the creation of 444 new jobs and 937 upskilled roles, and are forecast to deliver an additional £68.7M in gross value added (GVA) for the Lancashire regional economy over the next three years.

Among the latest wave of manufacturers starting their journey to use technology to benefit their business, their bottom line and the environment are: Business Insight 3, a security technology business in Preston; Northern Diver (International), a manufacturer of divewear and scuba diving equipment in Appley Bridge; Stirling Moulded Composites, a plastics manufacturer in Burnley; Fitzpatrick Bourne Flexible, a manufacturer of filter materials for pyramid tea bags in Rossendale; Lantex, a textile manufacturer in Accrington; Linx Paper, a toilet paper manufacturer in Preston; Kavia Tooling, a manufacturer of precision injection mould tools in Burnley; Morrow Brothers, a brewery container repair and refurbishment specialist in Chorley; Mantle Packaging Machinery, a food packaging machinery manufacturer in Clitheroe; and CoolKit, a specialist manufacturer of temperature controlled vehicles in Burnley.

Lantex, based in Accrington, secured support from Made Smarter for a data and systems integration project using a bespoke ERP system.

Tim Daverage, Managing Director, said: “Lantex is a traditional textile manufacturer and has been converting and manufacturing textiles in Lancashire since 1918. However, growth is being hampered because we cannot effectively manage and predict production schedules, as well as monitor stock.

“Our ambition is to implement an ERP system to reduce time-consuming manual administration and automate order processing, stock monitoring, on and off site, and give us real-time production data which we will be able to analyse to drive efficiencies. The next step will be to introduce a customer portal to enable direct ordering.

“We forecast that the new technology will reduce 100 hours of administrative work per month, improve customer experience, and drive profitability, setting Lantex up for another 100 years of business.

“This project is a huge step forward on our digitalisation journey and we are grateful for Made Smarter’s ongoing support.”

Meanwhile, several manufacturers who have already experienced the benefits of Made Smarter support, are taking the next step in their digitalisation journey, including: Dan Hurtley Installs, a furniture manufacturer in Lancaster; Fairbrother & Grimshaw Engineering in Blackburn; Pendle Doors in Darwen; and The Protein Lab (UK), a manufacturer of protein powders and supplements in Blackpool.

Pendle Doors, based in Darwen, a manufacturer of doors, is adopting additive manufacturing, data and systems Integration technologies, cognitive computing and AI to help improve productivity of all areas of the company from the sales team to production staff.

Ryan Anderson, Operations Director, said: “The investment in bespoke quoting software which is in the final stages of development before being implemented, and the purchase of a 3D printer meaning that machine parts and production jigs can be printed, has already saved the company a vast amount of money.

“Once the software has been implemented, we predict that this will accelerate our business goals to grow and create new jobs within the next 12 months and beyond.

“Meanwhile, further investment in the software is planned to help the company become paperless which links into our commitment to the environment, and becoming carbon neutral.”

Dewlay Cheesemakers, based in Garstang, invested in a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system to manage the full end to end factory process including purchasing, sales, bill of materials, production scheduling, as well as introduced touchscreens and mobile scanners to manage the flow and usage of stock throughout the factory.

Ben Ardern, Financial Controller, said: “This has allowed us to greatly improve our traceability of products, as well as having up to date production information and more accurate stock. The data captured also allows the business to better see factory efficiencies and yields.

“The funding from Made Smarter allowed the business to look at a wider range of product offerings and choose the system that was the best fit for the business. Without this, and the uncertainty that the pandemic brought, the business may not have taken the plunge to make such a wide impacting change.”

Since launching in 2018, Made Smarter has engaged with 1,381 businesses from every corner of the region to help them introduce digital tools and technologies to help boost productivity and growth, navigate Covid-19, and tackle climate change.

670 have reaped the rewards of intensive support including expert, impartial technology advice, 248 have used digital transformation workshops to help take their first steps to transform their business, and 56 business leaders have developed the vision and the skills to pursue smarter manufacturing through the Made Smarter Leadership programme, developed in partnership with Lancaster University. Meanwhile, manufacturers have benefited from funded digital technology internships which offer students and graduates paid placements to work on live technology projects.

Across the wider North West, Made Smarter’s £4.6M matched funding for 241 projects, worth £16M after private sector investment, will potentially create 1,177 new jobs, 2,205 upskilled roles, and an additional £192.9M in GVA.

Technologies that integrate systems, capture and analyse data, and even create simulations of their plants and processes, are being used to drive efficiencies and reduce waste. Meanwhile, 3D-printing, automation, and robotics are being used to solve business challenges and meet increased demand.

Over 80% of SMEs working with Made Smarter to adopt cutting-edge technologies have seen a boost in productivity, while others have benefited from increase in revenue and exports, job creation and providing new skills to workforces, as well as improved visibility and enhanced integration with supply chains. More than 25% reduced their carbon emissions, while others cut energy bills, reduced waste, and became more environmentally sustainable.

Donna Edwards, Director of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme in the North West, said:

“Over the last three years we have worked extremely hard to drive digital technology usage among makers across the North West. We have engaged with 1,381 SMEs in the region to help them start their digital journey by providing them with specialist advice to help them select the right approach, level of investment and tools for their business.

“We have seen huge success with Made Smarter-supported businesses reporting growth, productivity and efficiency gains, as well as upskilling their workforce and creating new high-value jobs. We’re also playing a crucial role in helping the UK grow sustainably and reach its ambitious aim of net-zero greenhouse gases by 2050.

“Digitalisation enables businesses to find the sustainability sweet spot between these economic, social, and environmental goals. We look forward to continuing our drive to enable hundreds more manufacturers in Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Liverpool City Region to learn how digital transformation can help them recover, grow, and create resilience.”

For more information, visit www.madesmarter.uk

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