A programme aimed at helping manufacturers to boost their productivity through the adoption of Industry 4.0 technology was launched last week at BAE Systems’ Academy for Skills & Knowledge in Lancashire.

The ‘Access’ programme was unveiled to an audience of regional manufacturers and leaders from education, government and SMEs by North West specialist technology training and consultancy service, IN4.0 plc.

The scheme has been designed through the company’s joint venture with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) (www.uclan.ac.uk) and in collaboration with NatWest’s entrepreneur accelerator.

It is also supported by BAE Systems and will provide access to specialist advisers from the Made Smarter North West pilot, which aims to help Industrial Technology Start-ups and SME manu-facturers embrace Industry 4.0.

A key facet of IN4.0’s business model is to recruit top graduate talent nurtured through the IN4.0 School, which will equip them with the skills they need to be employed by the company as ‘technical disruptors’.

The school will ‘drive’ high-value job and business start-up opportunities for graduates and enable them to support the delivery of IN4.0 ‘Access’.

Mo Isap, CEO of IN4.0 plc, said that by taking advantage of new technologies like artificial intelligence, the Industrial Internet of Things, virtual reality, robotics and 3-D printing, companies can increase their productivity and global competitiveness.

He said IN4.0’s mission is to forge collaborations between business and education to help seize the opportunities brought about by technological transformation.

The delegates also heard from a panel of students and graduates from BAE Systems and UCLan, who described how they are using Industry 4.0 technologies in their current roles.

Dave Holmes, manufacturing director (Air) at BAE Systems (www.baesystems.com), said: “The future is very exciting, and we need a collective approach to addressing the challenges that industry faces.

"The IN4.0 ‘Access’ accelerator programme offers a great opportunity for SMEs in the North West to gain the necessary skills and technologies required to become fit for the future.”