Key Takeaways from SMAS

November 2017

Claire MacLean, Marketing Executive at SP Technology joined managing director Roy Henderson, at last week’s Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) conference in Edinburgh. SP Technology also demonstrated some of our robotic and automation equipment at the show, which attracted a lot of positive attention. Claire shares her thoughts on her first manufacturing conference and the role SP Technology plays in Industry 4.0.

I joined SP Technology five months ago and have learned so much in that short time.  I was looking forward to getting out of our Dundee office to see what the manufacturing industry in the rest of the country was up to.  The conference provided the opportunity to see what our peers are working on and how the new industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, is changing the way we work with customers and influencing the solutions we provide.

It was clear to see when arriving at the SMAS, RBS Centre in Edinburgh how local and national businesses are keen to work together, learn from each other and collaborate on projects.  The level of skill and expertise at the conference was evident in the variety of stands and guest speakers, and our willingness to learn from one another to realise the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0 was encouraging.  Wayne Donaldson from TechnipFMC compared Industry 4.0 to the process of the production of Whisky: identifying the key ingredients, a lot of mixing and going round in circles until the distilled end product is produced.  This resonated with me, as within any organisation there are always a lot of ideas and opinions that are important to be considered at the initial stage of any new business strategy.

The SMAS event was very positive and motivational, although I did sense an undertone of the apprehension the business community feels as Industry 4.0 changes the way we solve problems. A repetitive quote became apparent:  “Top management wants it, graduates ‘get it’, yet middle management fear it.”  It is human nature to be resistant to change, but without change, we simply don’t progress. It’s important for companies such as ours to work with middle management to share our knowledge in ways that matter to them, allowing them to better understand which elements of Industry 4.0 their organisation will require.  Wayne referred to Industry 4.0 as a ‘pick & mix’ in which a diagnostics exercise is used to work out which sweets you require to drive your business forward, whether it be robotics, automation, augmented reality or additive manufacturing – take what you need and leave the rest.

It’s important for us not to lose sight that our automated solutions have a positive impact on the lives of many people.  During a focus session with Life Scan, John Scott described the difficult experience of living with diabetes. This condition requires the patient to draw blood by pricking their finger up to ten times a day.

John demonstrated how Life Scan was able to enhance their end product of blood testing strips used to check blood glucose levels of diabetics, making this process easier to manage for the patient.  He hit the nail on the head by stating that proof of principle was a key requirement that could not always be proven with the use of augmented reality and that concepts had to be drafted. However, he recognised that the introduction of an automated solution caused some initial resistance from Life Scan staff, but they have now embraced the change.  The company’s employees have seen first-hand how automation and robotics can work alongside their human activities to provide an opportunity to innovate and add value to a product.

SP Technology has been providing special purpose production and process solutions for over thirty years.  Over that time, we have worked on automated solutions for most industries – right now, we are working on a project for a pharmaceutical client alongside a contract for the component parts of an air freshener. It really is as diverse as that!  No two projects are ever the same, but in thirty years, our experienced engineers have overcome most problems and are always considering new and innovative ways to use our technology as we advance in Industry 4.0.

I really enjoyed the SMAS conference and finding out about other Scottish businesses in the industry. Changes in Industry 4.0 are happening fast, and the conference provided an opportunity to swap stories and talk about how this is affecting businesses. Those companies that did not attend and are not up-to-date risk being left behind. SMAS can help companies transition to the new digital age of manufacturing, allowing them to provide further value to their end product and giving them a sustainable competitive advantage. I look forward to learning more from them as I start my career in manufacturing.

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