Sheffield Forgemasters, the UK’s only manufacturer of large cast and forged components for nuclear power programmes, has agreed to trial ‘The Quorum Principle’ approach for its digital transformation which is a collaborative framework, designed to address systemic problems that can hinder manufacturing transformation projects, bringing finance, operations, and engineering functions together. The company’s management aims to reduce internal silos between departments as it transforms its operations through the roll-out of digital systems which will run through its entire operations.
Sheffield Forgemasters’ CEO Gary Nutter said: “We have seen substantial investment by the Government to increase our capacity for defence manufacture. As part of this recapitalisation, we are developing an ERP strategy, while also simultaneously developing a smart manufacturing strategy. The recapitalisation programme is a no-fail enterprise, and a trial of The Quorum Principle approach aims to support the transformation of our digital assets.”
Following its acquisition by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2021, Sheffield Forgemasters embarked on a comprehensive modernisation programme to underpin its manufacture for the UK’s defence programmes. The Digital Transformation work-stream encompasses enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution systems (MES), product lifecycle management (PLM) and smart factories.
Centre of ExcellenceThe Quorum Principle, created by Industry 4.0 thought leader John Robinson, addresses what he identifies as a systemic problem in global manufacturing — the silos that exist between strategy, IT, operational technology, engineering, and operational excellence within manufacturers, compounded by insufficient collaboration between external solution providers. Under the new approach, Sheffield Forgemasters is establishing a Centre of Excellence that brings together internal stakeholders to collaborate on the transformation programme.
Mr Robinson explained: “The systemic problem is not just within a single enterprise – it is across multiple enterprises, where entire supply chains are not in sync because the organisations that make them up are all siloed and don’t have access to each other’s data. Manufacturing is a complex system, and no single vendor has the complete solution.”
The approach is designed to work across the solution provider ecosystem, from start ups to multinational vendors, systems integrators, and consulting firms.