Digital Factory Accelerator

The Digital Factory Accelerator programme is designed to help any business involved in manufacturing by assessing and improving their digital manufacturing capabilities. Using the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI), this programme provides businesses with a clear roadmap to leverage digital technologies for growth and competitiveness.

Supported by the council and delivered by the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) and LMAC, this initiative offers dedicated support to help businesses prioritise their digital transformation. This is achieved by benchmarking against industry standards and identifying immediate solutions that deliver impactful results.

• Five days of support from AMIC and LMAC representatives.

• A comprehensive SIRI Smart Industry Readiness Index digital manufacturing assessment.

• Benchmarking against a global pool of manufacturers & organisations in your sector.

• Quantification of the financial value for selected digital transformation initiatives.

• Tailored technology scans based on your business needs.

• A bespoke roadmap for digital manufacturing transformation in your business.

• Debrief presentation for your leadership team. 

• Opportunity for knowledge sharing with other manufacturing businesses.

• Signposting to any available relevant funding or business support. 

The Digital Factory Accelerator programme is designed for manufacturing businesses (organisations involved in the production of goods using machinery and labour) in the Antrim and Newtownabbey borough council area looking to initiate or accelerate their digital manufacturing transformation in the next 12 months. It is most suitable for companies with established processes and a foundation in lean manufacturing principles, with the aim to focus their resources effectively for long-term strategic growth supported by digital technologies.

To encourage participation, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council are subsidising the cost of the programme, (standard cost is £7,500), ensuring accessibility for our local businesses.

Cost depends on the size of your businesses 

Micro: £250
SMEs: £500
Large Enterprise: £1,500  

Click here to register your interest in the Digial Factory Accelerator Programme.

Andrew Reavy - General Manager, Survitec Dunmurry

Before we began our sessions I admit I was somewhat sceptical about the benefits Survitec would gain from a SIRI assessment.

However having experienced the engaging and enjoyable sessions firsthand, I now wholeheartedly recommend them to any business eager to pinpoint areas for maximising returns. The sessions were not only enjoyable but also effectively delivered a powerful message and offered clear direction.

We are now much better placed and informed with regards to our targeted areas for improvement in 2024.

William McColgan - Director, McColgans

It was immensely useful for McColgan's to commit the time to engage in the SIRI assessment. I feel the entire leadership has a much better view of how we are positioned (quite well as it turns out!) and what specific investments we should make to take us to the next level. The team from LMAC were fantastic and the senior team all agreed that it was a good use of their time. We are engaged in several preliminary conversations now with providers who can target the initiatives identified by the team, with LMAC facilitation, through this process. It was particularly helpful to identify the areas with most potential for immediate commercial impact. This is not necessarily where the focus would have been before the assessment, as opposed to the agenda drivin by the technology silo, or that best put in front of us by technology vendors.

You can download additional resources to learn more about the Digital Factory Accelerator Programme and SIRI.

For more information on the Digital Factory Accelerator programme or assistance with registration, please reach out to the Digital Innovation team: 
E: digitalhub@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk
T: 028 90 340091