Manufacturers urged to open their factories up to the public

Falling on 26 September this year, NMD24 is a national celebration of the UK manufacturing industry and a chance to raise the sector’s profile.

Run by trade body Make UK and now in its third year, the event encourages business to sign up for a UK-wide ‘open house’ to allow members of the public to experience first-hand what manufacturers do and how they utilise the most cutting-edge technology.

Commenting on NMD24, Made Smarter North West director Donna Edwards said: “NMD24 aligns perfectly with the programme’s ambitions to help SME manufacturers achieve their digital transformation with a people-led approach and using technology as a tool. ​

Emphasising STEM

“It is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate UK manufacturing and emphasise the role of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to encourage more students to pursue these subjects, something Made Smarter is passionate about. ​

“By opening their factories – which are normally closed to the public – it is the perfect opportunity for manufacturers to showcase the huge progress that has been made from the traditional oily rag image towards the smart modern factory. I would encourage more manufacturers to join the campaign.”​

Made Smarter is holding a series of workshops that coincide with NMD24 to demonstrate the benefits of better data capture and management, as well as ways for manufacturers to unlock innovation through new technology.

Manufacturing on TV

A special ITN programme will also air on the day (26 September), ‘Manufacturing: Industry, Innovation and Impact’, ​to highlight the positive impact of the manufacturing industry and will feature contributions from Made in Britain and The Manufacturing Technologies Association.

Make UK chief executive Stephen Phipson added: “National Manufacturing Day is a really exciting day where the whole manufacturing sector will come together to celebrate the amazing things that Britain designs and makes.​

“Britain’s manufacturing companies are at the forefront of global renewable technology development and some of the most innovative engineering developments seen anywhere around the world. This is a sector with amazing opportunities and we hope this third National Manufacturing Day will give people who have never had the chance to see inside their local businesses just what is going on and the opportunities available to them.”​

Meanwhile, small and medium sized businesses are hesitant to embrace digital transformation due to a lack of confidence in technology and digital skills,​​ the head of Made Smarter's North West adoption programme has warned.