Digital Factory
The Digital factory Project assists regional manufacturing firms improve competitiveness and productivity by delivering:
- high level skills in relation to the use of Digital Engineering technologies and their application across the whole product lifecycle to improve product quality, cost and time to market as well as supporting skills and academic short-courses.
- consultancy and practical assistance to improve Innovation (product, process & strategic).
- practical support to remove barriers and risk associated with Investment in technologies for both established firms and start-ups (Enterprise), i.e. three, if not four of the drivers of productivity.
Started in early 2003, the project is currently funded by One NorthEast and ERDF funds. It will have delivered over 6500 learning opportunities by March 2011 and has assisted hundreds of firms in the region (See Metrics and References). As part of the original NEPA programme, it was awarded 3rd place in the 2006 Best of British Industry Awards in the Supporter of Industry Category and recognised as an exemplar by the reinforcing synergies report and others.
The project delivers 19 elements of support which add value in their own right but together provide a flexible and integrated model.
These can be grouped into four interlocking hubs:
- Blended Flexible Learning
- Open Innovation & Collaboration
- R&D and Investment Support
- Design and Innovation
It has also acts as a "resource centre for the region ", in so much as it addresses market failure to provide a centre for high level skills and short courses, access to expertise and technology transfer and access to physical technologies that would be beyond the reach of many firms, particularly SME's. It delivers practical and pragmatic support to assist firms move up the value chain and create sustained competitive advantage.
It is, however, a resource centre that covers the whole region and one that will come to you and that integrates with and complements other regional initiatives and business support.
Alan Stafford, AMAP/Digital Factory's Project Manager explains:
If you would like to find out more about the Digital Factory Project or any particular digital technology, please contact:
Alan Stafford - Digital Factory Project Manager
Institute for Automotive & Manufacturing Advanced Practice
University of Sunderland
The Industry Centre
Colima Avenue
Sunderland Enterprise Park West
Hylton Riverside
Sunderland
Tyne & Wear
SR5 3XB
Tel : 0191 5153328
Email: alan.stafford@sunderland.ac.uk
