I recently had the opportunity to join the judging panel for The Manufacturer MX Awards (TMMX), in the Smart Factory category. These technologies are helping manufacturers make great improvements in productivity, quality, predictability, streamlined processes, production visibility, and material, machinery and logistic efficiencies.

Travelling across the country, visiting 6 of the UK’s leading manufacturing businesses over three days, is quite a whirlwind experience, but it provides a fascinating insight into how technologies are being adopted to drive productivity and quality on the shop floor and beyond.

The applicants for the awards have already completed a series of response to questions, rating their level along a journey. This was used to narrow down the list to the six businesses that we then visited. They presented to us and then we toured their factory and were able to ask for additional evidence, if required.

Our team of judges witnessed some of the huge innovations that are being made in the UK’s factories, including:
• Operational and information technologies being combined on touch-screen terminals.
• Intelligent use of data visualisation

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Connected supply chains
• Automation with cobot technologies
• Connectivity to factory equipment with supplementary sensors
• Virtual models of the factory environment (digital twins) to allow scenarios to be simulated prior to activation.

It was a privilege and an honour, hearing about more great examples of UK manufacturing excellence, and being part of a ceremony that gives organisations in our field an opportunity to thank staff and celebrate their hard work, determination and commitment.