News | Friday, 9th October 2020
New leadership programme brings smarter manufacturing to North West SMEs
University to deliver Made Smarter virtual workshops alongside partners
An innovative leadership programme equipping business leaders with the vision and the skills to pursue smarter manufacturing is being rolled out by Manchester Metropolitan University among other leading universities in the North West of England.
The Made Smarter Leadership Programme, run in partnership with Lancaster University Management School (LUMS), the University of Liverpool and Manchester Metropolitan, will see an eight-month blend of fully subsidised workshops made available for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
The programme offers business leaders virtual visits to SME manufacturers around the region who are already on the journey of adopting digital technology, as well as facilitated-learning sessions and short-term projects - delivered by Siemens Digital Industries - to test new ideas.
The leadership programme is part of Made Smarter, the UK’s national industrial digitalisation movement to drive productivity and growth of manufacturing industries.
With 22 business leaders in the North West already empowered to transform their individual businesses through the leadership programme, Manchester Metropolitan University will begin delivering the programme in November.
The expansion gives more SME leaders, based in Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the Liverpool City Region, the opportunity to learn the strategies to support the adoption of high-tech and digitally based manufacturing techniques into their own production processes.
It also explores organisational culture and how to engage and enthuse employees and other stakeholders about their digital transformation journey.
Mandy Parkinson, Head of Business and Public Engagement at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “The Made Smarter Leadership Programme will provide vital support to business leaders at such a critical time.
“Since 2015, Manchester Metropolitan has supported more than 1,000 SMEs in areas including growth, innovation and resilience and we are looking forward to seeing the difference our range of expertise will make to many businesses across the region.
“This innovative programme builds on our expertise in delivering practical programmes aimed at helping business owners to successfully develop their company and grow themselves as modern leaders.”
Adopting digital technologies
From Thursday, November 12, experts at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business School will deliver six virtual workshops on topics including: Setting the strategic context; Value Stream Mapping; Introduction to Sprints; Performance measurement; Scoping and leading change; and Implementing change.
Workshops and seminars will be held online, with one workshop each month taking place across a six-month period and a final graduation event in May 2021.
Throughout the programme delegates will test their digitalisation ideas with employees within their own business to build engagement, thereby breaking down the barriers to adoption.
The cost of the programme is subsidised for any businesses applying and is open to any decision makers, leaders or managers within a North West manufacturing business.
Donna Edwards, director of the Made Smarter North West adoption pilot, said: “I am delighted that current leaders and leaders of the future are signing up to start their digitalisation journey with Lancaster University Management School, and that two more leading universities across the region are joining the Made Smarter movement.
“The Made Smarter Leadership Programme has been a success story, giving 22 of the region’s leaders the vital tools and insight to accelerate the adoption of advanced digital technologies within their business.
“The roll out of the programme means more SME manufacturers will have the opportunity to take time out of their business to reflect on the bigger picture and share ideas and experiences alongside their peers in manufacturing, and then return to their own business and develop a digital strategy to create growth and efficiencies.”
Transformational journey
Sarah Poynter, operations manager at Arden Dies, a Stockport-based die and tooling manufacturer, has signed up for the programme. The former secondary school art teacher joined the family business last year and will start the Leadership Programme in October.
Sarah said: “As a company we are at the start of a transformational journey. We have always invested in the best technology and machinery, but there are historic challenges that need our focus if we are to capitalise on the next stage of our growth.
“I was drawn to the Made Smarter Leadership Programme because it combines leading academic expertise with practical activities to apply that knowledge into our business.
“I am looking forward to connecting and collaborating with other leaders from different types of business and learning how they do things.
“Digitalisation should be the focus for all manufacturers and this programme is the perfect place to start.”
Registration for the next Leadership Programme is now open. For more information or to apply for your place visit madesmarter.uk.
