Challenge

To support companies in upskilling employees to improve productivity, sustainability and knowledge in key Industry 4.0 areas.

Background

The Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity through Training and Skills (ADAPTS) project, funded by £250,000 of Powys Council’s allocation of the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, is designed to enhance the capabilities of employees within the Powys manufacturing sector through a series of engaging and educational activities.

At the heart of this initiative is a commitment to immersive knowledge transfer and upskilling. By directly engaging with the staff of Powys-based manufacturers, the programme aimed to empower individuals to not only assess their current technological status, but also to explore opportunities for decarbonisation and enhanced productivity.

One key challenge faced by companies in adopting Industry 4.0 technologies is a lack of skills associated with the key themes, including automation, manufacturing intelligence and design. The programme also supported businesses with creating and implementing decarbonisation plans to reach increasingly ambitious sustainability targets. Supporting these companies with the upskilling of employees provides them with the skills and knowledge to identify key challenges within the business and implement changes, enabling them to be more competitive in the global market.

Innovation

AMRC Cymru developed a comprehensive programme including an initial assessment of technology adoption and development opportunities for employees. This allowed engineers to assess which training opportunities would be most appropriate from a range of online and in-person workshops surrounding data, automation, design, sustainability and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Result

The project gave employees the opportunity to learn technical methodologies to identify and address challenges, as well as the soft and technical skills needed to implement change. Throughout, 81 individuals engaged with the programme, through participation in offered courses ranging from Industry 4.0 technologies, sustainability, presentation skills, and online courses on technical subjects including data and automation.

Through the delivery of workshops, 12 businesses adopted new processes, with each process adapted and delivered to their individual needs. This individualisation enabled the opportunity to put new methodologies in practice to improve problem solving and communication skills, improving process efficiency and productivity.

After having an original assessment to identify their current technology adoption levels and identify areas for improvement, AMRC Cymru engineers created a personalised two day in-person workshop to help them innovatively tackle one of these areas, resulting in 12 businesses increasing their innovative activity. 

Following sustainability training and instruction in how to create their own comprehensive decarbonisation plan, ten businesses saw increased business sustainability, with five businesses developed a decarbonisation plan to meet future goals.

Impact

The ADAPTS Powys programme means companies now have clear pathways on how to implement Industry 4.0 technologies in their businesses, as well as upskilled workforces that can take projects and ideas forward, supporting Wales to become more competitive in the global market and helping communities thrive through job security.