Event categories: Events

The future of manufacturing is dependent on successful digitalization, but UK manufacturers struggle with their investments in digitalization. This threatens lost business opportunities and missed innovation cycles. What can we learn about digital technology adoption from history? As part of the InterAct network, an interdisciplinary team from Aston and Cranfield Universities is reviewing historical cases of industrial transitions. By identifying cases related to mechanisation, electrification and computerisation, we aim to support the successful adoption of industrial digital technology for the digitalisation of manufacturing.

Simultaneously, another team from Aston University is using a systematic literature review method to identify the range of technological, organisational, and social barriers that inhibit effective digital investments and how manufacturers should overcome these. The webinar will present the findings of the research and outline how future research could support UK manufacturers with their digital investment challenges, as well as showcase the work being undertaken to bring historical technology adoption stories to life, to help address the human side of digitalisation.

As we embark on the next stage of our industrial evolution, digitalisation will shape the future of our economy, manufacturing ecosystem, and workplace. Digital technologies can enable us to create the future we want and move beyond consumption driven economic growth.

Our challenge is to create a future digital manufacturing ecosystem that meets our net-zero ambitions, whilst being resilient and productive. Thus, ensuring that everyone has the things that they need, at a price that they can afford, without damaging the environment or society.

To create the future digital manufacturing ecosystem we want, we need to work together. To combine our expertise from the broadest range of perspectives around this common goal. We need to InterAct.

By joining the inaugural InterAct conference, you are becoming part of the movement for change. Actionable insights from 12 leading experts will provide the building blocks for change. Participants will further shape these through a storytelling workshop and co-creation of a series of ‘critical questions’, which will be posed to our expert panel.