DIGITAL MANUFACTURING ON A SHOESTRING OFFERS A LOW RISK, LOW COST APPROACH TO DIGITAL SOLUTIONS.
Many companies are not ready for a complete digital transformation. Yet they are keen to digitalise but might not know where to begin.
Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring has devised an affordable, easy-to-implement approach that helps companies try out small-scale digital solutions that will not disrupt core operations but can provide immediate benefits.
This simple approach shows how it is possible for small-to-medium sized companies with small budgets to capitalise on advances in technology and implement low-risk digital solutions. By engaging staff in an on-site pilot, companies can see first-hand how digitalisation can benefit their business, giving them the confidence and knowledge to further digitalise their processes.
By taking low cost, readily available digital technologies that can be implemented using a simple procedure, Shoestring can address a company’s most pressing business needs with a solution that matches each need.
Carl Dean, Engineering Director at PCML Group, explains why it is beneficial to be involved in the Shoestring project, how Shoestring’s low cost solutions are important to help SMEs get “a flavour” of what is possible in a market where many digital solutions are costly. “If we can help being involved in these processes and these processes can be rolled out to other businesses across the country it means that a lot of people can actually win out of this project.”
Professor Duncan McFarlane and Dr Greg Hawkridge present “Low-cost Digital Solutions on a Shoestring: Overview & Design Guidelines”