This trial developed by KTN and Innovate UK aims to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the 4Manufacturing® tool and the extra support offered by experts. 4Manufacturing® is an innovative support programme based on diagnosis and one-to-one consultant advice, which aims to accelerate the adoption of industrial digital technologies for manufacturing SMEs.
The increasing availability of industrial digital technologies (IDTs) – including artificial intelligence, robotics, and increased interconnectivity and automation – is widely seen as having the potential to result in major increases in productivity in the manufacturing sector. However, Innovate UK KTN has seen that SMEs lack access to good information and advice about how to best use these new technologies. The 4Manufacturing® tool was created to support Innovate UK KTN’s business advisors in working with SMEs to explore options and develop plans for their implementation.