Across two days, you’ll take part in four small-group, 60-minute Discussion Sessions. These are candid conversations with senior manufacturing leaders and tech experts, where challenges are shared, real-world experiences are discussed, and practical solutions are uncovered.
Each topic is carefully crafted in collaboration with senior leaders from manufacturing businesses and expert solution providers – blending proven Summit favourites with the latest urgent industry themes.
These are conversations you won’t find anywhere else.
Manufacturers have invested heavily in ERP, MES, BI dashboards and analytics platforms, yet many still lack a trusted single version of operational truth. This discussion explores why data programmes stall, where visibility gaps remain, and how leaders are building decision-grade data foundations.
Real-time data means little if frontline and leadership teams cannot act on it confidently. This session examines how manufacturers are reducing latency between information, action and outcome.
As AI copilots and recommendation engines enter frontline operations, leaders must determine where they genuinely improve quality, throughput and responsiveness and where they simply create noise.
The majority of digital manufacturing initiatives still struggle to move beyond isolated proof-of-concept deployments. This roundtable focuses on organisational, financial and technical blockers to enterprise scale.
Manufacturers cannot achieve intelligent operations while digital, operational and engineering teams remain fragmented. Explore how leading businesses are creating integrated governance, shared visibility and connected decision-making.
Enough experimentation. This discussion focuses on the real use cases where AI is now delivering throughput gains, predictive maintenance improvements, scheduling optimisation, quality uplift and labour productivity.
Digital twins have moved beyond conference buzzword territory, but adoption remains uneven. This session looks at where simulation and virtual modelling are producing operational value and where expectations still exceed reality.
As margin pressure intensifies, reducing scrap, rework and warranty exposure becomes critical. Explore how manufacturers are using advanced inspection technologies to shift quality from reactive to predictive.
Without robust plant connectivity, smart manufacturing ambitions stall. This discussion focuses on infrastructure readiness, legacy equipment integration and the realities of scaling connected operations.
Continuous disruption is now the operating norm. Manufacturers discuss how they are redesigning supplier strategies, inventory models and planning assumptions for a permanently unstable global environment.
Visibility tools have improved, but many supply chains remain opaque when stress hits. Explore the systems, supplier relationships and governance models needed to create genuinely responsive supply networks.
With tariff uncertainty, logistics volatility and sovereign capability concerns rising, manufacturers must reassess global footprint decisions through a harder commercial lens.
This session examines flexible power strategy, demand management, onsite generation, storage and smarter energy visibility in a market where stability cannot be assumed.
As sustainability budgets come under CFO scrutiny, manufacturers discuss how to keep decarbonisation commercially viable and measurable.
UK productivity remains under intense scrutiny. This discussion tackles automation, process redesign, labour deployment and performance culture as manufacturers seek output gains without escalating cost.
Continuous improvement models built for stable conditions are no longer enough. Explore what operational excellence looks like when volatility is constant.
Engineering, supply chain, operations, quality, digital and finance often remain structurally disconnected. This session focuses on practical models for faster cross-functional execution.
How are leading manufacturers creating a connected digital thread across engineering, production, supply chain and customer fulfilment?
A hard strategic conversation on footprint planning, export confidence, localisation and executive scenario planning.
When budgets tighten, transformation projects face tougher internal challenge. Learn how leaders are prioritising and justifying spend that still moves the needle.
Connected plants create connected vulnerabilities. Explore how manufacturers are protecting critical operations without slowing innovation.
As AI becomes embedded across planning, design, quality and operations, governance, compliance, data integrity and cyber risk are becoming urgent board issues.
Manufacturers continue to battle for engineers, technicians, analysts and digitally fluent leaders. This session explores what differentiated talent strategies now look like.
How do you create consistent standards, adoption and momentum across geographically dispersed operations with very different cultures and maturity levels?
In a climate of constant restructuring, technology adoption and labour pressure, people resilience is becoming a direct performance issue.
Growth is the goal, but scaling too quickly without the right systems, people and financial discipline can expose smaller manufacturers to serious operational strain. Explore how ambitious businesses are expanding capacity, customers and capability while keeping control of performance, quality and cash.
Digital transformation can feel overwhelming when budgets are limited and every investment decision must show value quickly. Hear where smaller manufacturers are placing their smartest bets, avoiding expensive missteps, and building digital maturity in manageable stages.
Many growth manufacturers know what they need to invest in but face constant pressure from restricted budgets, cautious lenders and uncertain returns. Gain practical insight into accessing grants, tax incentives, finance partners and phased investment models that make transformation achievable.
Smaller manufacturers often face the dual challenge of supply vulnerability and limited routes to new customers. Uncover how growing firms are strengthening supplier resilience, building strategic partnerships and opening doors to new sectors, regions and revenue streams.
Competing for skilled people is especially difficult when larger employers can outspend on salaries, benefits and brand recognition. Learn how mid-sized manufacturers are attracting strong talent, developing future leaders internally and building cultures people want to stay in.Competing for skilled people is especially difficult when larger employers can outspend on salaries, benefits and brand recognition. Learn how mid-sized manufacturers are attracting strong talent, developing future leaders internally and building cultures people want to stay in.
