On Thursday 15th March 2018 at Cutlers’ Hall Sheffield, nearly 100 people from regional businesses and local university academics gathered to network and hear about digital transformation in the manufacturing sector. The Sheffield Innovation Programme hosted the event which saw Juergen Maier, CEO of Siemens Plc, and Mark Webber, Managing Director of Tinsley Bridge Ltd, share their experiences and knowledge on digital-manufacturing collaboration, the future of the sector and the importance of digitalisation for survival.
Juergen was commissioned by the government to put forward proposals for an Industrial Digitalisation sector deal and led on the Made Smarter Review. This sets out how UK manufacturing can be transformed through the adoption of industrial digital technology and play a stronger leadership role in driving the 4th Industrial Revolution. Juergen’s presentation focussed on building the manufacturing sector both regionally and nationally and how digital will lead the way; his comments included “We’re still not digital enough, we need to embrace it… what’s going to drive prosperity in this region is manufacturing and digitalisation”.
“Who is standing in your way? I can’t see anyone. It’s up to us to take the initiative, get out there and do it. Sheffield absolutely can lead the way for the 4th Industrial Revolution.”
Juergen Maier, March 2018, ‘Digital Transformation’ Event by the Sheffield Innovation Programme
Mark, coming from an award winning engineering and manufacturing business based in Sheffield, spoke about a perspective from Tinsley Bridge and the impact and importance of innovation for them as a thriving business.
Other speakers throughout the evening included Roger Eccleston, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Global Engagement at Sheffield Hallam University, Andy Curtis, Knowledge Transfer Manager at KTN UK, Alison Money, Events Development Manager for the Sheffield Innovation Programme, and Rab Scott, Head of Digital at The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.
Comments from the evening included:
“Great event with top level business leaders highlighting Sheffield City region has the ability to lead the way in the digital transformation of manufacturing”
– Paul Gott from Oxeng
“Fantastic opportunity to network with peers”
– Peter Rose from MediPlan
“It was great to share the perspective of a digital transformation from two differing perspectives: Juergen Maier for Siemens and Mark Webber for Tinsley Bridge. The first a blend of massive industrial scale and government influence and the second a local company striving to stay ahead of the competition by all mean possible. Both were inspiring in different ways, both were highly relevant”
– Gary Panes from EDR Medeso
“We need more of these events!”
– Agata Walker from InVMA
