By Shirley Harrison, SME engagement manager at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

When people think of the University of Sheffield AMRC, they usually think of global aerospace giants, multi-million-pound carbon fibre wings and the high-profile side of Industry 4.0. That is part of what we do. But 99 per cent of manufacturing businesses in the UK are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – and they are the companies we work with every day.

In a typical year, we work with about 800 smaller firms. In fact, since last April alone, we’ve already supported 547. These businesses aren't looking for a five-year research programme; they’re trying to get high-quality parts out of the door by Friday.

With 25 years of expertise behind us, we’ve already solved many of the problems SMEs are dealing with. The challenge now is helping manufacturers apply that knowledge without starting from scratch each time.

Applying what already works

Ten years ago, if a small shop floor wanted to start collecting live data from its machines, it was a complex research project. We’d have to get researchers to mock up a bespoke system. Today? It’s a commercial, plug-and-play solution. 

A manufacturing analytics system like the one from our spin-out FourJaw can be installed on a machine for about £50 a month. For most SMEs, the issue isn’t access to technology, it’s knowing what to use and how to apply it properly

De-risking technology adoption

We often see business owners who are convinced they need a robot to solve a capacity issue. They’ve seen cobots in the media and they’re ready to spend £50,000. Sometimes that’s the right solution, but often it isn’t. 

One company came to the AMRC recently thinking it needed a new CNC machine. After looking at the company’s workflow, we helped it realise it just wasn't machining efficiently. We reduced its process from six stages down to two. We cut the lead time from two weeks to two days. We even eliminated a heat treatment step that slashed the company’s energy bills. We didn't do new research – we just applied 25 years of research on how to do things better.

The AMRC is for everyone 

The biggest barrier for SMEs is often the belief  that they aren't ‘big enough’ for the AMRC. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Whether it is a pre-revenue startup or a 50-year-old family firm, our message is the same: if a business has a manufacturing problem, they should talk to us.

Often, the best thing we can provide  isn't a piece of high-tech equipment but a fresh perspective on the problem. By getting to know  a business, we sometimes find that the solution isn’t even technical; it can be solved through smarter workflow or better resource management before a single penny is spent on new hardware. 

We aren't here to sell a technical project - we’re here to help businesses grow. You don't need to be a global giant to access our world-class expertise – you just need the ambition to do things better. 

If your business is facing a manufacturing bottleneck, get in touch with us today.