From Factory Floor to Lighthouse Leader: What Mid-Market Manufacturers Can Learn from the 2025 WEF Global Lighthouse Network

by Nick LeederBeyond the Buzzwords, White PapersPosted on Comments are Disabled

The 2025 WEF Global Lighthouse Network highlights how 189 factories have achieved operational excellence through strategic digital transformation. They emphasize investing in workforce capabilities, integrating technology across operations, and localizing change. Mid-market manufacturers can adopt these principles to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and successfully implement digital solutions without exorbitant budgets.

The National Manufacturing Summit: An Echo Chamber or a Catalyst for Change?

by Nick LeederEvents, ManufacturingPosted on Comments are Disabled

The author reflects on the disconnect between UK manufacturing discussions at the National Manufacturing Summit and the pressing real-world challenges faced by manufacturers. Despite covering key issues like the skills gap, digitalization, and supply chain resilience, the summit’s focus on abstract ideas and jargon overshadowed practical solutions, highlighting the need for urgent, reality-based conversations to foster meaningful change.

The Predictive Maintenance Illusion

The Predictive Maintenance Illusion: What Operational and Financial Leaders Should Know Before Investing

by Nick LeederThought Leadership, White PapersPosted on Comments are Disabled

The report analyzes the complexities surrounding Predictive Maintenance (PdM) in industrial settings. While promising increased efficiency and reduced downtime, many PdM projects fail due to inadequate asset prioritization, lack of human expertise, cultural resistance, and insufficient operational capacity. Effective implementation requires a comprehensive approach, addressing both technology and personnel needs.

Manufacturing Cost Pressures in 2025 - Key Trends & Risks

Manufacturing in 2025: Growth, Risk, and the Strategic Path Forward

by Nick LeederManufacturing, White PapersPosted on Comments are Disabled

The Make UK Executive Survey 2025 reveals that manufacturers are facing significant cost pressures, particularly from rising employment costs. Many are shifting to technology-driven efficiencies rather than expanding their workforce. Despite financial strains, nearly half are prioritizing product innovation and sustainability, suggesting a proactive approach to long-term growth amid volatility.

WEF Building Resilience Over Cutting Costs in Manufacturing Title

Rethinking Manufacturing – Building Resilience Over Cutting Costs

by Nick LeederBeyond the Buzzwords, White Papers, World Economic ForumPosted on Comments are Disabled

For years, manufacturers relied on cutting costs to stay competitive, but recent challenges have exposed the need for building resilience over cutting costs. Global supply chain disruptions, geopolitical shifts, and growing sustainability demands have made resilience, adaptability, and innovation critical for survival. It’s time to rethink manufacturing strategies for a stronger future. The World Economic Forum’s …

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Breaking Through the Digital Transformation Bottleneck: Reflections from the Digital Manufacturing Summit UK 2024

by Nick LeederBeyond the Buzzwords, Events, IGNITEit!Posted on Comments are Disabled

Last week, I had the honour of delivering the keynote at the Digital Manufacturing Summit UK 2024 from Transform Industry. I was invited by Ryan —a company dedicated to helping businesses unlock funding for innovation—and it was a whirlwind of insights, debates, and, let’s be honest, more than a few buzzwords. While the summit showcased …

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Rockwell Smart Manufacturing Report

Rockwell Smart Manufacturing Report : Key Insights to Unlock Efficiency and Growth

by Nick LeederBeyond the Buzzwords, Transformation Tuesday, White PapersPosted on Comments are Disabled

Executive Summary This week in Transformation Tuesday, we take a look at Rockwell Automation’s “9th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report”, illuminating the path to enhanced efficiency, innovation, and profitability. The report distils key trends and technologies into six vital themes: Adoption of Emerging Technologies, Data Management and Utilization, Cybersecurity, Sustainability and ESG, Workforce Development, …

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The New Era of Industrial Strategies

by Nick LeederIGNITEit!, Thought Leadership, World Economic ForumPosted on Comments are Disabled

We are excited to share that Nick Leeder & Co. has contributed to the new report The New Era of Industrial Strategies: Tackling Grand Challenges through Public-Private Collaboration in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, UNIDO and Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy. The background of the report looks at the impact on industrial strategies as the …

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Thoughts on Industry 4.0

by Nick LeederIGNITEit!, Podcasts, Thought LeadershipPosted on Comments are Disabled

A week back from Hannover Messe 2023, I am sharing my thoughts on Industry 4.0 and what this means to manufacturers. In collaboration with Konektio, I will be looking at the implications of technology on manufacturing operations over the next few weeks though a series of podcasts. Last week I posted about what industry 4.0 …

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Nick Leeder talks to SME Focus Programme

by Nick LeederACCELERATEit!, Podcasts, REDUCEit!, SEEit!, Thought LeadershipPosted on Comments are Disabled

Our very own Nick Leeder talks to SME Focus Programme last Saturday about things ranging from condition based monitoring, data and the spiralling cost of energy for UK manufacturers. SMEFocus is the new programme showcasing our brilliant SMEs. For manufacturers, by manufacturers. The weekly show is hosted by Chris Greenough, Chief Commercial Officer of Shrewsbury-based SDE …

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