@inproceedings{48ab0b9047e442d186ab3ff626bfa2c4,
title = "Towards the Development of a Smart Systems Preparedness Tool for Manufacturing SMEs",
abstract = "Smart Systems (SS) are being seen as an approach towards achieving significant improvements in manufacturing productivity. However, there is little evidence to indicate whether UK manufacturing SMEs are prepared for the implementation of such systems. The purpose of this research is to explore the applicability of Smart Systems in UK manufacturing SMEs, and to identify the key priority areas and improvement levers for the implementation of such systems. A two-stage research approach is adopted that includes a questionnaire and, visits to 36 manufacturing SMEs. The questionnaire and interviews are guided by the development and application of a unique measuring instrument developed by the authors for this study that focusses upon measuring the preparedness of companies towards implementing Smart Systems. This tool enabled the research team to identify a number of key issues and suggests that the current turbulence in the industry could be bringing manufacturing SMEs closer to the adoption of such systems.",
keywords = "Manufacturing, smart systems, survey, sustainability profile",
author = "Claire Haven-Tang and Andrew Thomas and Rachel Mason-Jones and Paul Byard",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 The authors and IOS Press. All rights reserved.; 17th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, ICMR 2019, incorporating the 34th National Conference on Manufacturing Research, NCMR 2019 ; Conference date: 10-09-2019 Through 12-09-2019",
year = "2019",
month = aug,
day = "19",
doi = "10.3233/ATDE190004",
language = "English",
series = "Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering",
publisher = "IOS Press BV",
pages = "9--15",
editor = "Yan Jin and Mark Price",
booktitle = "Advances in Manufacturing Technology XXXIII - Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Manufacturing Research, incorporating the 34th National Conference on Manufacturing Research",
}