Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 Educational Agenda announced

Taking place on 4-5 June 2025 at the NEC Birmingham, the programme has been designed around the core event pillars of: Innovation and Smart Technologies, Digital Transformation, Sustainability and Circular Economy, Workforce Development and Upskilling, and Supply Chain Resilience.

The agenda, developed through extensive research features a rich mix of formats including keynote addresses, solution-led presentations, interactive panel sessions, hands-on masterclasses from the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) and curated roundtables. Each session is designed to deliver actionable insights that delegates can apply immediately to drive performance.

The seven Solutions Theatres cover a range of key topics including Digital Transformation, Industrial Data & AI, IIoT & Connectivity, Design & Innovation, Automation & Robotics, Leadership & Strategy, Maintenance, and a new Technology Showcase Arena.

Among the highlights of the programme is the keynote from Professor Henrik von Scheel, a globally recognised thought leader in manufacturing and industry strategy, otherwise known as the 'Godfather of Industry 4.0'. He will present on The Future of Manufacturing: Megatrends that Shape the Next Decade in the Design & Innovation Theatre on the morning of 4th June (Day 1).

Digital Transformation is another key focus of this year's programme, with sessions delving into the transformative impact of technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), machine learning, and cloud computing. In a standout panel session titled 'The Connected Factory: Unlocking the Potential of IIoT in Manufacturing', industry leaders including Prasad Manorathna, Senior Director at Haleon and Dr Amir Rahbarimanesh, Assistant Professor in Engineering Project Management - University of Manchester, School of Engineering will hold a discussion exploring strategies, technologies, and real-world applications of connected manufacturing ecosystems.

The agenda also places strong emphasis on Sustainability and the Circular Economy. The panel session 'Designing for the Future: Embedding Circular Economy Principles in Manufacturing', is a key example of this and will feature Nick Kemp, Head of Design for Brompton Bicycles' X50 programme, and Sandra Gaspar, Head of Recycling at Eurocell.

Recognising the sector's critical need for Workforce Development and Upskilling, the programme includes a wide range of sessions aimed at addressing the skills gap. One session that will be of particular value for manufacturers seeking to upskill their workforce to meet the demands of an increasingly data-driven industry is Harnessing Data Analytics and Insights for Decision-Making, the headline keynote from Daniel Simkiss, Industry 4.0 Programme Lead at British Sugar.

Finally, the theme of Supply Chain Resilience runs throughout the show and is addressed in multiple sessions, including 'How Industrial Leaders Are Boosting Productivity by 30% Through Smarter Operations and Reduced Downtime'. Delivered by Franois Dechelette and Octave Lapeyronie, co-founders of fabriq.

Grace Gilling, Managing Director of Smart Manufacturing Week, commented on the agenda saying, "Not only are the topics for the sessions derived from our extensive research but we've put a huge focus on curation, ensuring that manufacturing end-user keynotes are strategically scheduled, so they don't compete with one another, and that there's the right balance of leadership insights and technical deep dives."

In addition to the main educational agenda, there are other areas of Smart Manufacturing Week that will provide learning opportunities. One example is the series of expert-led masterclasses delivered by the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), the event's official Knowledge Partner. Taking place at the dedicated IfM Theatre, these sessions cover topics such as navigating the journey to Net Zero, enhancing industrial safety, developing digital skills in SMEs, and fostering inclusive leadership. With limited spaces available, early registration for these free-to-attend masterclasses is strongly advised.

Taking place at the same time is the annual Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit (MDS) which offers a focused two-day programme tailored specifically for senior leaders from the UK's top manufacturing organisations. Accessible via a separate ticket, the Summit features a host of immersive Roundtable Discussion Sessions, led by a combination of world-class manufacturers and technology experts. Summit attendees can choose a stream tailored to their organisation's scale, with the Enterprise Stream tackling high-level digitalisation topics and The Growth Stream focusing on the practicalities of implementing digital strategies in smaller-scale environments.

Smart Manufacturing Week takes place at the NEC Birmingham on the 4th-5th of June 2025. Other exhibitions taking place at the NEC at the same time include Automechanika run by Messe Frankfurt; Med-Tech Innovation Expo and TCT 3Sixty from Rapid News Group and Subcon from the Mark Allen Group. One visitor badge provides access to all events.