“Decarbonizing with Digital: Leveraging Technology to Make Manufacturing Smarter and Greener” is a practical guide to the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities.
UK manufacturing is worth £170 billion, sustains 2.6 million jobs, produces half of UK exports and spends nearly two-thirds of all companies’ research and development to drive critical innovation I am in charge. But the environmental impact is also huge, accounting for her 17% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Today’s producers are under pressure from all sides – governments, shareholders and consumers – to reduce their carbon footprint. Reaching the UK’s net zero target by 2050 would require a reduction in industrial emissions of at least 90%, which would be equivalent to removing all cars from the road immediately.
A few cents to change
According to Made Smarter, manufacturers working to combat global warming report significant benefits from implementing decarbonization measures throughout their supply chains.
- 34% of businesses report cost savings due to increased productivity.
- 16% recorded an increase in sales due to access to new markets where customers expect them to be environmentally friendly.
- 14% said that reducing emissions has enabled them to secure funding for new projects.
- 15% succeeded in attracting new talent by informing them of the value of sustainability.
But it’s a quagmire of where, how and what needs to be done to get there, which is not a priority for time-pressed small business producers. is often Digital technology is key to the net-zero transition, but its adoption is still far from widespread.
It’s not an easy task, but
Importantly, Made Smarter’s whitepaper aims to be an “ice breaker,” offering a range of solutions that enable snack makers to become smarter and greener while driving growth and creating jobs. To provide insight into technology.
“Decarbonisation is not a distraction. It is a must. We must stick to the belief that we will be transformed.” Donna Edwards, Director of Northwest Adoption Programs at Made Smarter, said:
“Made Smarter is committed to helping small and medium sized manufacturers achieve their goals through vision, technology, leadership and collaboration.
“It is our hope that our ‘Decarbonization through Digitalization’ white paper will be a valuable part of the toolkit that supports any manufacturer’s net-zero journey.”
This guide provides a digital roadmap to follow, and the Digital Transformation Workshop provides practical steps towards going digital.
“We start by demystifying some of the key terms and demonstrate how sustainable practices can help businesses, both large and small.”said Edwards.
“How do we use digital technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), data, systems and data analytics, automation and robotics, 3D printing, and augmented reality to increase efficiency and reduce energy usage? We are looking for ways to reduce waste and reduce waste generation.”
Whether you’re a 5-person company or a 250-person company, the first fundamental step to a net-zero strategy is understanding your company’s footprint (Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions measure volume to identify where the emissions are the highest). One useful tool is business carbon calculator,This helps us look at producer emissions through the lens of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) framework.
“We then show how manufacturers supported by Made Smarter are already pursuing decarbonization and finding the sustainability sweet spot between economic, social and environmental goals.”
One such case study is the decarbonization efforts of Preston-based Fylde Fresh and Fabulous, which processes over 1,000 tons of potatoes per week. The skins and rejected potatoes are fed to an on-site biogas plant that produces enough electricity to power the factory and is exported to the grid.
“We helped potato growers and manufacturers Filde Fresh and Fabulous to digitize their quality control processes.”said Edwards.
“This has reduced waste, made our production lines more energy efficient, increased product yields, and allowed us to consistently meet customer specifications.”
Path to funding
According to Made Smarter, one of the biggest obstacles to net zero is the cost of decarbonisation.
Research reveals that 42% of manufacturers are primarily concerned with funding, 17% lack the capital to transform, and 31% are concerned about being able to remain cost-competitive became.
Made Smarter hopes to overcome these barriers by highlighting the funding available to help SMEs in selected regions of the UK invest in technology and other support systems.
The document also supports manufacturers to other initiatives, such as the UN’s Race to Zero and the SME Climate Hub, a non-profit global initiative that provides companies with tips and tools, such as business carbon calculator tools. is also shown.
“In recent years, we have seen technology play a very important role in tackling disruptive new challenges.”said Edwards.
“This has helped businesses bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, negotiate supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, and focus on solutions to mitigate the energy crisis.
“During the climate emergency, digitization offers manufacturers enormous opportunities to increase operational efficiency, decarbonize heat and power, optimize design and materials, improve logistics and transportation, and help companies do business, It benefits revenue, the environment, and there is also reputational improvement that helps ensure customer loyalty and attract new talent and investment.
“Decarbonization may feel daunting, it is by no means an easy task, but it is important for manufacturers to realize that they are not alone. Yes, and that is exactly what Made Smarter is for.”
The Made Smarter whitepaper can: I downloaded it from here.
Made Smarter is an industrial digitization movement to boost productivity and growth in UK manufacturing. Working with the UK government and supported by industry players, Made Smarter connects companies with R&D to develop new technologies and help manufacturers adopt new digital tools, thereby making the UK a better place for her. We are at the forefront of four industries.thindustrial revolution.
