Management Perspectives: Executive Insights into the Future of Smart Manufacturing

Oliver Reisch, Vice Chairman of the MESA Special Interest Group for Germany, investigates some of the challenges organisations face when trying to identify value in Industry 4.0. This new industrial revolution is more than simply modernising technology – it needs to drive real business value, as well. Learn more about MESA at mesa.org.

Stefan Beyeler, Packaging Engineering Lead for Consumer at the Johnson & Johnson Centre of Excellence, discusses the challenges faced by manufacturers as they try to adapt to the future. Many companies are trying to achieve a seamless integration of emerging technologies with their traditional legacy systems. But how can they best implement innovation at scale?

Tim Figures, director of technology, sustainability and innovation at Make UK, asks if the UK is doing enough to support SMEs through digital transformation. Join him and Mike Loughran as they discuss the latest policy paper from Make UK (https://bit.ly/2BbZueC), which suggests significant improvements that will help the UK to bounce back smarter from the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim also invites listeners to take part in Make UK’s 2020 Innovation Monitor survey (https://bit.ly/2Ya55uW).

Christoph Pressleitner, senior manager at EY, explores how the manufacturing world is evolving rapidly, with digitalisation and Industry 4.0 at the heart of it. Processes and production are key to data quality. Data analytics is thriving while blockchain is showing potential. And you must have the courage to ideate.

Rob Goossens, CEO of Technologies Added, shares important lessons learned while developing a shared smart factory in the Netherlands in this episode hosted by Mike Loughran, chief technology officer for the UK and Ireland, Rockwell Automation.

What is the status of digital transformation efforts across industry? How are firms approaching these programs with funding and implementation? Mike Loughran, chief technology officer for the UK and Ireland, Rockwell Automation, explores how executives are driving digital transformations in this discussion with Beth Parkinson, director market development, customer insight at Rockwell Automation, who shares her latest research.