Abstract
The adoption of Smart Manufacturing Systems in manufacturing companies is often seen as a strategy towards achieving improvements in productivity. However, there is little evidence to indicate that UK manufacturing SMEs are prepared for the implementation of such systems. Through the employment of a triangulation research approach involving the detailed examination of 36 UK manufacturing SMEs from three manufacturing sectors, this study investigates the level of awareness and understanding within SMEs of Smart Manufacturing Systems. The development of a profiling tool is shown and is subsequently used to audit company awareness and understanding of the key technologies, collaborative networks and systems of SMS. Further information obtained from semi-structured interviews and observations of manufacturing operations provide further contextual information. The findings indicate that whilst the priority technologies and systems differ between manufacturing sectors, the key issues around the need for developing appropriate collaborative networks and knowledge management systems are common to all sectors.
Highlights
The dynamic nature of the UK manufacturing industry requires companies ( SMEs) to continually adapt and become more technologically advanced and innovative in terms of their products and processes
SMEs selected for the study had previously implemented advanced manufacturing technologies and systems and were aware of SMS technologies
The technologies employed in these companies consisted of advanced Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) and automated manufacturing machinery and design capability and connectivity to their manufacturing machinery and these technologies were embedded in all SMEs regardless of size of company
Summary
The dynamic nature of the UK manufacturing industry requires companies ( SMEs) to continually adapt and become more technologically advanced and innovative in terms of their products and processes. Increasingly complex customer requirements, increased legislation and regulation have all resulted in a requirement for organisations to respond on a number of different fronts and on a range of different issues in order to achieve greater productivity [1,2]. As these new demands and drivers take effect, many SMEs, are becoming increasingly isolated from new manufacturing trends and systems [3]. This in turn, can lead to the creation of an environment where smaller manufacturing companies may become uncompetitive when it comes to adopting and realizing the benefits from new and advanced manufacturing systems and technologies [3,5]
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