So…..what is Advanced Manufacturing?

Advanced Manufacturing is: The utilisation of enabling technologies, incorporating design and business process innovation to deliver high value-added processes and products in ways that are novel and competitive. Advanced Manufacturing is: The utilisation of enabling technologies, incorporating design and business process innovation to deliver high value-added processes and products in ways that are novel and competitive. There are many definitions, but NAMIG uses:

So what does that mean? Let’s break it down

Industries using advanced technology which enable them to achieve the result they want more effectively and efficiently. For example: –using keyhole surgery doctors can now perform some procedures with only a 5-15mm incision; –manufacturers can use “robots” to perform high-precision jobs such as welding and riveting; –farmers can use GPS technology to monitor the application of fertilisers and pesticides, map fields and mark areas of disease or weed infestation. The utilisation of enabling technologies…

…incorporating design and business process innovation… Using new and improved methods to design their product and operate their business. For example: –Using lean manufacturing principles a factory uses the minimum amount of manpower, materials, money, machines, space etc to get the job done on time.

…high value-added processes and products… Incorporating manufacturing processes and techniques that add value to the end product, for example: –A German company Manitowac launched a brand-new technology in the world's lifting industry with its new telescopic mobile crane. The crane can be used in locations where height and mobilisation is a key issue, such as erecting wind turbines or working on industrial or city centre sites

…ways that are novel and competitive. Incorporating new methods or utilising new materials that will give their business the edge in terms of competitiveness or quality, for example: –Coopers Brewery’s state-of-the-art brewhouse design employs cutting edge technology which combines energy conservation and yield efficiency. –Power for the Brewhouse is produced on site by a 4.4MWatt, natural gas, cogeneration plant. Excess power is put back into the domestic power grid.

So in summary…. Advanced Manufacturing is all about: –Using technologies and techniques to optimise the product design and the manufacturing process, creating a quality end product that is cost effective to produce and competitive in its market.