Bury-based DRM Industrial Fabrics, a British manufacturer of specialist technical textile solutions for the filtration and industrial laundry industry, is among 60 digital leaders with the vision and the skills to pursue smarter manufacturing through Made Smarter’s Innovative Leadership Programme.

Made Smarter is the UK national industrial digitalisation movement to drive productivity and growth of manufacturing industries and put the UK at the forefront of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

The programme encourages current and future leaders to develop a new way of looking at their business and create a clear strategy to enable the adoption of digital technology, including how that can drive the net zero agenda.

Five cohorts of managers and directors at SME manufacturing companies have now completed the programme through the Lancaster University Management School, the University of Liverpool and Manchester Metropolitan University. DRM Industrial Fabrics director Andrea Kuehne is now empowered to transform his business, according to a press release from the movement.

Backed by world-renowned businesses and working in partnership with the UK government, Made Smarter will make a real, everyday difference to people from the boardroom to the factory floor.

It uses a blend of workshops delivered by academics and experts in digital and leadership, site visits to small and medium enterprises that are already on the journey of adopting digital technology, facilitated-learning sessions, and special project ‘sprints’ to test new ideas.

The programme also uses peer-to-peer coaching to create a trusted network of leaders, many of whom have remained in close contact.