IN MY VIEW: NICK SHIELDS, SMAS
http://www.insider.co.uk March 2020 INSIDER 87
2020 is a watershed moment for Scotland. The creation
of the industry-led £65m National Manufacturing
Institute Scotland (NMIS) sits at the centre of the new
Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland,
turning the country into a global leader in advanced
manufacturing and a magnet for investment.
Then there’s the phoenix that is the newly created
Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) in Dundee.
This ambitious £60m joint venture between Michelin,
Scottish Enterprise and Dundee City Council has
turned the former manufacturing site into a focal point
for clean transport and low carbon energy.
Added to that, is the soon to be announced Advanced
Manufacturing Challenge Fund initiatives. Designed
to complement NMIS, these will create a national
network of regional bases to ensure the manufacturing
sector fully capitalises on advancing manufacturing
opportunities.Exciting times are ahead and to support this
significant investment and raised ambition, the Scottish
Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) biennial
National Manufacturing Conference – Making
Scotland’s Future – returns in 2020, bigger, better
and bolder than ever before. Already a key event in
Scotland’s manufacturing calendar, it will move to the
EICC in Edinburgh on 26 May. Six hundred delegates
from across the manufacturing community and beyond
will attend the only event of its kind in Scotland.
Along with a shift in venue, is a refreshed format- a new flexible agenda will allow attendees to build
their own programme ensuring a tailored conference
experience. The key themes are Industry 4.0,
underpinned by Leadership & Culture, Investment and
Operational Excellence. Leading industry keynotes,
workshops, clinics, think-tanks and innovation theatres
will run throughout the day to help delegates learn,
share, debate and network. A dynamic, interactive
technology showcase will demonstrate the art of the
possible and a learning zone will help delegates navigate
the wealth of support that’s available.
Along with the practical, we also have the
inspirational. We’re delighted to welcome keynote
speakers Henrik von Scheel and Indy Johar to the
conference main stage. Henrik is best known as the
originator of Industry 4.0 and named as a leading
authority on strategy and competitiveness by The
Financial Times. Indy Johar is a founding director of
Dark Matter Labs and in high demand as a thought
leader in how to transition society to a technology
revolution. I’m certain both speakers will be extremely
thought provoking.
The day will be rounded off with a networking
drinks reception, sponsored by the Michelin Scotland
Innovation Parc, when the First Minister’s Award for
Manufacturing Excellence will be announced. This
inaugural award celebrates competitive and innovative
Scottish manufacturing companies who champion
fair work and inclusivity and invest in the skills and
wellbeing of their employees. The competition is open
to Scottish companies across the manufacturing supply
chain and details can be found at http://www.smas.co.uk. It
could be your organisation collecting this prestigious
award from the First Minister in front of your industry
peers on 26 May!
Putting on an event of this scale would be difficult
without the financial backing of our sponsors. We
are delighted that long-term supporter of the SMAS
conference, the Bank of Scotland will return as
our Gold sponsor. Silver sponsor is the National
Manufacturing Institute Scotland and global
engineering solutions company Booth Welsh has joined
us as Bronze sponsor. We thank them all for their
support. Helping spread the word about the conference
and Scotland’s growing resurgence in manufacturing
excellence is hugely important and we are grateful to
have Business Insider magazine as a key media partner
for the event.
Historically the SMAS conference has provided
an outstanding platform to showcase Scottish
manufacturing and this year’s event will continue to
shine a light on a flourishing sector, build momentum
and showcase the integrated network of support that
businesses can leverage from the public and private
sector. ■
To find out more and book your place, go to http://www.smas.
co.uk. At £200 plus VAT for a ticket, it represents fantastic
value for money, and I look forward to welcoming you on
the day to learn, share, debate and network.Nick Shields is director of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory
Service (SMAS).MANUFACTURING
- MAKING
SCOTLAND’S
FUTURE
Historically the SMAS conference
has provided an outstanding platform to
showcase Scottish manufacturing