Fife College has been named partners of the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring programme.
The link-up is part of the College’s drive to increase STEM skills, ensuring the digital needs of the Fife region, and Scotland more widely, are met.
The first activity aligned with the project took place on Tuesday 22 June when the College hosted an online event supported by SMAS (Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service) and ESP (Energy Skills Partnership).
Delegates heard from Will Bridgeman, the Chairman of Warren Services, who began the virtual event by explaining what the Shoestring Project is and how it aligns with his company’s vision and values.
Buchanan Orthotics, a SMAS client who has just deployed a live job tracking Shoestring solution, shared how the company has benefited; and Rachel Tulloch, Engineering Programme Manager at ESP, and Stephen Ayton, Academic Head of Engineering, Science, Mathematics and STEM at Fife College introduced how Fife College plan to support with implementation and upskilling.
The Shoestring project presents a huge opportunity for companies and local colleges to work together to advance digitalisation in industry. Colleges can both showcase the potential of low-cost digital solutions in manufacturing, and help deploy these in companies, in the process upskilling employees. In addition, students benefit from the effective project-based learning opportunities which in turn inspire the next generation to follow a career in manufacturing.
Stephen Ayton the Academic Head for Engineering, Science, Mathematics and STEM at Fife College said:
Delivered by the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring programme is developing design guidelines, standards, and interactive software which will help enable small manufacturers to develop low-cost digital solutions from a catalogue of “Shoestring-ready” hardware and software technologies.
Professor Duncan McFarlane, Shoestring Programme Lead, said:
Alex Campbell, Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service’s lead for the project, said:
Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service Practitioner, Gerry Borge, has started working with businesses in the area on the project. He added:
In the autumn, Fife College will invite companies to attend an on-site showcase of Shoestring demonstrations, with the aim to follow up with a rollout of Shoestring solutions in industry. Attendees at the event will be encouraged to support the initiative and help shape the future of further events with other colleges across the country.
If you are interested in finding out how your company or organisation can get involved in the Shoestring programme, or would like to know more, we would love to hear from you!
Please email us at: contact@digitalshoestring.net