I WAS delighted to present at yesterday’s Digital Engineering Mash-Up event at Yamazaki Mazak.

It was great to see more than 80 businesses in attendance to discuss the latest innovations in digital engineering. Throughout the day, we were able to discuss the latest updates on the Worcestershire 5G Testbed, how it’s leading the charge in pioneering Industry 4.0 and helping to create a connected, creative and dynamic economy for its businesses, residents and investors.

Our initial findings from augmented reality trials at Yamazaki Mazak show factory productivity has increased by a total of up to two per cent.

When scaled for businesses across the UK, this would mean a £3.6 billion increase in output for the manufacturing sector each year.

It’s a pleasure to be able to show others how our county is able to develop a unique 5G ecosystem that can create business models for 5G and Industry 4.0. By innovating with 5G applications, businesses are capable of developing increased factory output, preventative maintenance, manufacturing detection and remote maintenance.

What we also saw from yesterday’s event is that Worcestershire is able to train the next generation of 5G engineers, and develop a workforce that is skilled in a critical area for the future development of businesses.

Ultimately, Worcestershire and its landmark step towards the creation of smart factories has become proof that new technology is set to transform British industry. It’s important that local businesses continue to take the opportunity to learn about the variety of digital tools that can help to boost productivity and enable companies to innovate within their markets.

For more information on the latest events that are helping local businesses to innovate, visit our Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership website, wlep.co.uk