We're excited to be attending Smart Manufacturing Week 2025, taking place on 4–5 June at the NEC Birmingham. Here’s what you can expect at the event.
A hub of innovation and insight
Organised by The Manufacturer, Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 is the UK's largest festival of advanced manufacturing and engineering, bringing together over 13,500 manufacturers, engineers, and technology leaders.
Smart Manufacturing Week offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest advancements in manufacturing and engineering. Attendees can expect to:
- Discover cutting-edge technologies from global brands and innovative SMEs.
- Engage in interactive workshops and live demonstrations, providing hands-on experiences with emerging tools and processes.
- Network with industry leaders, gaining insights into the future of manufacturing and engineering.
What the Columbus team are most looking forward to...
We asked some of our digital advisors which speaker session they’re most looking forward to at Smart Manufacturing Week. Here’s what they said.
Toby Mankertz, Manufacturing Industry Director
Which speaker session are you most looking forward to seeing?
“The Human Factor in Industrial Data: Harnessing Connected Workers and AI for Manufacturing Advantage”
Why?
“When insights are added to data, true value is unearthed. Organisations can see not just what is happening, but have the added value of understand the context behind when and how it's happening from those who know the manufacturing processes the best. There is true alignment between this talk and our conversation on Case study: How Swift are improving operating margins with aligned manufacturing metrics.”
Nicholas Lea-Trengrouse, Head of Business Intelligence
Which speaker session are you most looking forward to seeing?
“The Human Data Connection”
Why?
“As we move from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, a robust data foundation becomes a clear catalyst for innovation. Yet, true success in this evolution lies in aligning data, technology, and talent. It’s no longer about amassing data—it’s about turning the right data into actionable insights that empower timely, informed decisions. A secure digital thread, scalable architecture, and strong governance form the backbone of AI-driven operations. But long-term advantage depends on people, enabling them through reskilling, engagement, and cross-functional collaboration.”
Kevin Bull, Product Strategy Director
Which speaker session are you most looking forward to seeing?
“Overcoming Barriers to Digital Transformation: Lessons From The Field”
Why?
“The productivity and cost benefits that are promised by digital transformation are clear and proven. So, I’m keen to learn about the blockers - what prevents a business from moving forward with their digital transformation projects? Do they lack vision and purpose? Are the required skills available in their workforce? Are there just too many other competing projects? I’m looking forward to getting some insight and perspective on how businesses can scope, gain approval, plan and implement successful digital transformation projects.”
James Willett, Customer Engagement Director
Which speaker session are you most looking forward to seeing?
“The Maintenance Advantage: How Smart Teams Are Moving from Reactive to AI-Ready”
Why?
“To understand how companies can better manage their maintenance schedules through AI, reduce the risk of systems downtime and be able to spend more time extracting more value from their technical business assets.”
Glen Bignall, Business Development Manager
Which speaker session are you most looking forward to seeing?
“Overcoming barriers to digital transformation: Lessons from the field”
Why?
“Understanding more about the real world issues experienced by others and how they have overcome them is something we can all learn from and share experiences with our own customers. Why wouldn’t you want to learn from other people’s experiences?”
Steve Lyon, Business Development Manager
Which speaker session are you most looking forward to seeing?
“Marketing for Industry - 9 principles that underpin your future success”
Why?
“Speaking the same language is essential to gaining trust as a digital partner”
Take a look at the full Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 speaker session agenda below.
And don’t miss our own speaker sessions...
From Raw Data to AI-Powered Decisions: The Role of the Modern Data Platform
11:30 | 4 June | Industrial Data and AI Theatre
Speaker: Nicholas Lea-Trengrouse, Head of Business Intelligence
AI is only as good as the data behind it. In industrial settings, the journey from raw sensor data to AI-driven insights depends on a robust modern data platform. This session explores how data architecture, storage, and compute impact AI performance, ensuring models deliver accurate, real-time decisions. Learn best practices for designing scalable, high-performance platforms that bridge the gap between operational data and AI-driven automation.
Read more about this topic in our recent article here.
Case study: How Swift are improving operating margins with aligned manufacturing metrics
14:00 | 4 June | Digital Transformation Theatre
Speakers: Toby Mankertz, Manufacturing Industry Director; Michael Jacobs, Senior Business Transformation Advisor
🌟With guest speaker Jodie Derbyshire, IT & Process Improvement Director at Swift
This speaker session explores the critical role of data-driven leadership in manufacturing excellence, delving into key performance indicators crucial for success and how to align manufacturing metrics with your business purpose. Join Toby Mankertz and Michael Jacobs from Columbus and hear about how effective leadership is essential for ensuring your business goals are embedded into your organisational culture.
We will also have Jodie Derbyshire, IT & Process Improvement Director at Swift, joining us on stage to share her perspective on how Columbus has helped the business align its manufacturing production metrics with its goals. This case study provides real-world insights into the transformative impact of data-driven leadership, including improvements in operating margins and increased product quality.
By adopting these best practices, manufacturers can position themselves at the forefront of industry innovation and competitiveness.
Read more about this topic in our recent article here.
Curious about seeing more of our manufacturing case studies? Read our customers’ stories below.
Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit
A key feature of Smart Manufacturing Week is the Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit, a two-day event focusing on the application of digital technologies to enhance the processes, efficiencies and outcomes of the manufacturing industry.
This summit brings together the UK’s most senior digitally-minded manufacturers to discuss how digital technologies and processes, including IT/OT convergence, AI, machine learning, IoT, 5G, digital twins, automation, and advanced analytics, can improve competitiveness and profitability, as well as reduce carbon footprints and environmental impact.
Don’t miss our roundtable discussions titled ‘Bridging the Divide: Unifying IT and OT for Scalable, Secure Connectivity’, where we will explore how leaders are approaching convergence to enable real-time insights, end-to-end visibility and improvements in efficiency and asset utilisation. We’ll discuss the infrastructure, governance, and cultural shifts needed to build a truly connected enterprise that scales with digital ambition.
The Manufacturer Top 100
We are particularly excited to be the Headline Sponsor of The Manufacturer Top 100, a prestigious recognition celebrating the most dynamic leaders and innovators in UK manufacturing. This award highlights individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the sector, showcasing their achievements and inspiring others in the industry.
The award ceremony will be held on the evening of the 4th of June as part of Smart Manufacturing Week. Expect champagne and canapés, suits and cocktail dresses, and a night celebrating the best of UK manufacturing.
Will you be joining us at Smart Manufacturing Week 2025?
We're looking forward to attending these events at Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 and connecting with fellow professionals, sharing knowledge and exploring the innovations that are shaping the future of manufacturing. Whether you're a seasoned industry expert or a student considering a career in engineering, Smart Manufacturing Week offers valuable insights and opportunities for all.
For more information and to book your free event pass, visit the official Smart Manufacturing Week website below.
We hope to see you there!