Full Programme

• Developing skills and expertise for an agile workforce
• Preparing for the cultural shifts required from the evolution into smart factories
• Global partnerships and collaboration for market access and innovation
• What are the trends for smarter cost management, increased use of sustainable materials and resilient supply chains
• How will UK supply chains be impacted by increasing ‘on-demand’ manufacturing?
• Expectations of UK and Government policies and incentives

Listen, learn and ask questions in our quick fire innovation spotlight sessions. 

Subcon innovation showcase 

For example:  

• Alternative materials for products and packaging 

• Robotics 

• Smart factory technologies 

• Innovations in additive manufacturing 

• High temperature materials production 

• Recycled and recyclable options 

• What changes are necessary to integrate additive manufacturing into production workflows? 

• Design processes and factory interfaces 

• Where can small batch ordering reduce inventory levels and create efficiencies 

• Contract manufacturing v in-house capability 

We will share an understanding of the challenges involved in commercialising an innovative product idea and how to avoid them, as well as a roadmap to follow to take your own concept and commercialise it successfully. 

• What does it mean to take a product from the back of a napkin idea to success in the global marketplace? 

• How to finance development of disruptive technologies 

• Working collaboratively to co-develop new tech 

• IP and patent management  

The Challenger 3 team at Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) is delivering the most advanced battle tank in NATO within budget and on schedule. DE&S and the British Army announced that they have approved the Critical Design Review ahead of schedule, marking a great success! Given current threats, the Army needs tanks on, or preferably ahead of, schedule.

With support from the BAE Systems Corporate PM Function, RBSL has adopted Critical Chain Project Management, supported by Goldratt UK, to ensure adherence to the schedule.

The session will provide valuable insights into leveraging digital supply chain tools for enhanced efficiency and transparency, with working examples from Thyssenkrupp Materials UK. Additionally, it will help with developing an understanding of the significance of accurate product carbon footprint calculations, empowering manufacturers to make informed decisions towards reducing their environmental impact and achieving sustainability goals. 

• Unlocking efficiency through digital control tower solutions in supply chains 

• Understanding the critical factors impacting manufacturers' carbon footprints 

• The first DNV certified Product Carbon Footprint Calculator 

This session aims to give participants an overview of modern simulation practices for composites engineering and the breadth of insight it can yield across the product lifecycle. Simulation allows many more candidate designs to be considered than would be possible through manufacturing test samples, providing significantly more information about a process. The talk will cover techniques and methodologies as well as some practical examples of applying these. Participants will come out with a deeper understanding of composites simulation, where to begin for those who are new to simulation and some advanced methods for those who are already heavy users. 

• Understanding the role of simulation in modern composites engineering 
• How simulation can be used to improve performance throughout the lifecycle of a component 
• Using simulation to understand the impact of process uncertainty, such as raw material variability and machine variation 
• How to undertake digital prototyping to accelerate the design process and give confidence in manufacturing processes 
• Practical example of applying these tools and techniques to real cases 

In today’s dynamic business landscape, forging strong and lasting partnerships between manufacturing suppliers and buyers is crucial. The panel will explore the critical factors that ensure top-quality, long-term collaborations. 

• Joint business planning and shared long-term strategies for mutual growth and innovation 

• Balancing price and quality: Negotiating fair pricing while maintaining product excellence 

• Leveraging technology: Assessing suppliers’ adaptability and tech utilization 

• Scalability and stability: Ensuring suppliers can meet increasing demand without compromising quality 

• Trust and transparency: Building trust through reliability and consistent communication 

• Security:  Ensuring your digital links are cyber-safe 

Unlike other easily replicable processes, tube deformation is a complex manufacturing process requiring continuous research, material knowledge, and understanding of mechanical reactions. This workshop will delve into a compelling case study showcasing a production line's endeavour to achieve fully automated manufacturing of an aluminium tube component (entailing high productivity and tight tolerances), starting from raw material processing, including accessories insertion, marking, and quality inspection. 

- Complexity Mastery: - understand nuances in tube deformation
- Automation Advancement - explore achieving high productivity with tight tolerances
- Material Insight - learn the significance of continuous research and material knowledge
- Case Study Spotlight - analyse a journey towards fully automated production

• Encouraging younger professionals into the steel industry

Join this session to gain practical understanding of how cutting edge technologies are being applied in manufacturing.  

You will gain appreciation for role of digital supply chain systems in overall digitalisation of your business. Industry 4.0 discussions will explore approaches for targeted technology adoption to achieve highest impact across your entire value chain. 

• Real world examples where Industry 4.0 technologies are already making tangible impact in manufacturing 

• How is technology driving supply chain optimisation and lead time reduction? 

• Learn how to use the Smart Industry Readiness Index to prioritise your digitalisation efforts to maximise return on investment for your organisation 

• Bringing together start-ups with larger companies 

• Accessing top quality talent   

• Apprenticeships and community connections to inspire young engineers 

• Encouraging skills development in older workers 

• Exploring diverse sources for finding new employees

How to create a structured framework between daily management, breakthrough changes and strategy deployment involving the people and developing their culture and capabilities. 

• Hoshin planning and review to get management direction and commitment: How will we manage the business to achieve breakthrough results?
• Value stream analysis to attain breakthrough results: How will we design and implement breakthrough improvement initiatives?
• Daily management to change behaviours and company culture: How will we develop improvement behaviours and sustain improvements?

Peer discussion and knowledge sharing about key success factors for successful large scale (1 year +)  digital transformation projects. Sharing ideas in interactive round tables, you will learn from your peers about their successful digital transformation projects and you will understand key success factors behind these projects. 

• Monitoring and measuring plant operations and creating energy efficiencies 

• AI, automation and machine learning 

• CASE STUDY:  A smart factory in practice 

Supply chains are constantly at risk, and problems can cause serious harm to exporters. You need to know the risks you can predict, those you can't, and how to secure against all of them. 

Engaging with attendees, the discussion will cover: 

• Black Swan events: how to ensure unforeseen events don’t disrupt your supply chain. 

• Past is prologue: old solutions to modern problems. 

• The limits (and utilities) of supply chain risk management tools. 

• Why taking smaller risks to protect against greater ones is vital knowledge that's too rare to ignore. 

• Protection against bad debt: assessing international credit risks while forging supply chain safeguards. 

• Simplification: saving time and money. Complexity is not always beneficial. 

As an attendee, whether you're already exporting or considering it, you'll emerge from this session with essential, often overlooked methods that will sustain and grow your supply chain, and boost your firm's productivity. 

• New materials, proof of strengths 

• Additive manufacturing  materials characterization 

• A practical and dynamic workshop designed to explore how you can embed sustainable business practices within your value chains, from sourcing raw materials to product end-of-life cycles, in sectors like aerospace, automotive, rail, and medical.

• Generate innovative ideas for new product design and how sourcing alternative raw materials can reduce environmental and social impacts.

• Gain insights into the environmental and social impacts of products across every part of a manufacturing value chain.
• Understand the importance of mapping your value chain to achieve business success.
• Understand how using strategic business tools like value chain mapping play an important role in embedding sustainable business practices in your operations.