The DigitME2 project based at our Burnley Campus in East Lancashire assists SME manufacturing companies to help grow and develop, increase productivity and become more efficient. The team introduces new digital 4.0 based technologies into your manufacturing process, such as IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things) and data analytics, as well as robotics and automation. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by the University of Central Lancashire.
How will it benefit your business?
- The project support and assistance will showcase modern technology and how it can assist your company to develop.
- We will provide independent expert advice and consultancy for your business.
- 12 hours of a bespoke technology assessment maps out your manufacturing process and will help show where technology can add value.
- A further 140 hours is available to provide a bespoke feasibility study which will then take recommendations from the technology assessment. This will help to prove that new technologies can provide added value to your business.
- You will gain access to industry 4.0 technologies and university expertise via the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Centre (ADMT). Industry 4.0 includes a combination of old and new technologies which will allow cyber-physical systems to monitor physical processes and make decentralized decisions. The Centre provides a manufacturing simulator, robot manipulators, IIoT equipment and RFID equipment.
Our team can provide this support to manufacturing companies in Lancashire that fall into the SME category, which currently includes companies with fewer than 250 employees.
What will this involve?
- Phase 1: A member of the team member carries out a technical visit which helps to form the basis of a technical assessment. The assessment details your company’s current position for digital manufacturing and helps to identify areas where productivity could be improved.
- Phase 2: The delivery of a funded feasibility study. We take a concept identified by your company and the team and work with our expert engineers to test the feasibility of the process/product via our ADMT Lab.
- Phase 3: On completion, we will hand over work developed in the feasibility study. This work can then be trialled by your company for further integration in the manufacturing environment.
- Phase 4: Here at the University of Central Lancashire we develop long-term relationships with local SMEs and on completion of the project we provide further opportunities to develop the potential partnership.
As the government funding for this project ended on 30 June 2023 please contact our Business Enquiries Team or call us on +44 (0) 1772 895500. We can discuss with you what other options may be available to you to support you. This could be in your research, development, training and consultancy needs.
Contact us
Kelly Aitken, Business Development Officer, DigitME2
Email: digitmeproject@uclan.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1772 896091
Twitter: @UCLanBusiness
