CASE STUDIES
MADE SMARTER
MADE SMARTER INNOVATION RESEARCH CENTRE FOR CONNECTED FACTORIES
The Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories (MSIRCCF) is building the foundation for the next generation of resilient, connected and adaptive manufacturing systems. The Centre is developing a blueprint for the factories of the future, where production units can be repurposed, reconfigured, relocated and redeployed to meet rapidly changing market demand.
Launched in April 2022, the Centre is part of the national Made Smarter Innovation programme, which supports UK manufacturers in adopting digital tools, leadership and skills to drive sustainable growth. It brings together expertise from the University of Nottingham, University of Cambridge, University of Sheffield and the AMRC, creating a multidisciplinary hub for research, industrial collaboration and skills development.
The UK manufacturing sector must evolve to remain competitive in the face of global uncertainty, climate pressures and supply chain disruption. Traditional manufacturing systems are often rigid and centralised, making it difficult to adapt production capacity quickly when faced with sudden shifts in demand.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limits of these systems, highlighting the need for a more distributed, reconfigurable and data-driven manufacturing network. The MSI Connected Factories project directly addresses this challenge by enabling the creation of “morphing factories”. These are dynamic production environments that can rapidly scale up, down or switch to new products when required.
This approach helps manufacturers reduce waste, localise supply chains, reduce costs and strengthen resilience, ensuring production continuity in changing conditions while supporting the UK’s net zero goals.
The project is guided by a series of strategic objectives designed to accelerate the UK’s transition toward a digitally connected industrial future:
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Develop novel technology solutions to meet industrial manufacturing needs.
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Design and test proof-of-concept demonstrators for connected factories.
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Create digital testbeds and frameworks to simplify technology adoption.
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Support industrial digital transformation through business engagement and skills programmes.
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Establish new standards and best practices for smart manufacturing.
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Enable the creation of spin-outs and start-ups through protected IP and patents.
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Deliver knowledge transfer and training for over 100 researchers and industrial practitioners.
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Develop innovative business models for resilient and sustainable manufacturing.
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Reduce industrial cost, energy and material consumption while improving productivity.
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The Centre has delivered the concept of the “Connected Morphing Factory”, a new manufacturing model built around flexibility, connectivity and data intelligence. This concept demonstrates how factories of the future can automatically adapt to changes in market demand, workforce availability and resource constraints.
The project has delivered impressive results:
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33 new technology solutions created.
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4 patent applications filed.
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4 demonstrators built to validate core research.
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3 new industry and BSI standards established.
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150 businesses engaged in knowledge transfer activities.
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139 people upskilled with new digital manufacturing competencies.
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3 spin-outs and start-ups launched.
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Over 500 full-time equivalent jobs supported across UK supply chains.
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Over £2.7 million in additional research funding secured through industrial collaboration.
The Centre’s research and demonstrators are being used to help UK manufacturers adopt digital technologies, increase productivity and reduce waste while contributing to sustainability and net zero goals.
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The MSI Connected Factories project is redefining how UK manufacturing systems operate.
Its research contributes directly to several national priorities:
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Productivity growth through widespread digital adoption.
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Sustainability via reduced waste, smarter energy use and localised supply chains.
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Resilience through flexible and distributed production.
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Innovation and skills development across industry and academia.
The Centre’s work also supports the broader Made Smarter Innovation programme, which aims to transform UK manufacturing by connecting research excellence with industry application.
The vision of the MSI Connected Factories project is clear: to create a future manufacturing landscape that is connected, flexible and sustainable, where every factory can seamlessly adapt to new products, processes and challenges, ensuring long-term competitiveness, cost-effectiveness and environmental responsibility for UK industry.
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