From experts on blockchain and
new material developments,
to demonstrations of how to
transfer the lessons of one
industry to another, Subcon will
show UK manufacturing and
engineering businesses how
they can capitalise on
their investments.
But it is clear that even without
high levels of confidence in their
understanding of Industry 4.0, UK
manufacturers and engineering
businesses are investing in these
technologies. The question is why?
THE CONTEXT OF INVESTMENT
The simple answer is new product
development and improvement to
processes. These two considerations
dominate thinking when it comes to
investment – and set the tone for the
anticipated return on investment. The
technology must enable, accelerate
or reduce the cost of new product
development, or reduce the costs and
time spent on design and production
processes. And it is the design and
production processes that drive this
investment, not those in the back office,
which are much less of a drive for any
spending.
These contexts will feature heavily in the
educational programme at Subcon. This
year there is a 36-session conference
programme based over two theatres and
Industry 4.0 and the development of
digital manufacturing technologies forms
a key part of the subject matter.
36
PECM Issue 32