Textile manufacturers accelerate digital transformation through skills initiative

Two textile and apparel manufacturers in the North West of England are strengthening production efficiency and modernising legacy workflows after partnering with university talent through the Made Smarter Digital Internship programme.

Innovative Outdoor Products, a Nelson-based manufacturer of outdoor bags and cases, worked with an engineering student from Lancaster University to digitise long-standing production patterns used in cutting and assembly.

The three-month paid placement enabled the company to convert legacy patterns into digital formats, improving accuracy, reducing material waste and introducing clearer production documentation.

Max Malavasi, CEO of Innovative Outdoor Products, said: “Having Milanka on board to digitise all our patterns has been invaluable. The factory has been using old-style patterns for decades and we can now move into the 21st century. It means we can reduce waste, cut far more accurately and add clear instructions into our production process.”

Milanka Manathunga, 22, added: “The placement gave me valuable industry experience and a clear understanding of how manufacturing operates in the real world. Leading the project helped me turn academic knowledge into practical solutions.”

Meanwhile, Burnley-based TheWorkwear Ltd used the internship programme to improve digital design, branding and production workflows.

Working with a graphic design student Ibrahim Syed Shah from University of Lancashire, the business reviewed its digital assets and streamlined design-to-production processes to better align branding with operational efficiency.

Ibrar Syed, Director at TheWorkwear Ltd, said: “Ibrahim brought fresh creative thinking and practical design skills that added real value to our business. The placement allowed us to explore new ideas and approaches we may not otherwise have considered.”

Ibrahim Syed Shah added: “The placement helped me develop my design skills in a real working environment and understand customer and market needs. I created brand assets the team can continue to use and contributed ideas around the future direction of the brand.”

The internship was delivered through Made Smarter North West, the government-funded programme supporting SME manufacturers to adopt advanced digital technologies. The initiative enables businesses to test digital workflows in a structured, low-risk way before committing to wider operational change.

Over the past year, Made Smarter North West’s latest cohort of 18 interns have worked directly on factory floors and in engineering teams, applying a wide range of digital technologies to real production challenges. These include robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, CNC and CAD-to-CNC workflows, virtual reality and digital twins, system integration and wider workflow digitisation.

Donna Edwards, Programme Director for Made Smarter North West, said: “These digital internships are delivering exactly what manufacturers need, practical digital skills and fresh thinking, while giving students and graduates paid, hands-on experience on real industrial projects, and a direct stepping stone into employment.”

Since its inception in 2019, Made Smarter has supported over 2,500 manufacturers across the North West, providing access to expert digital advice, technology adoption roadmaps, skills development opportunities, and funded technology projects.

Find out more about the Digital Internship programme and read the recent white paper, visit the link below.

MADE SMARTER’S INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

About Made Smarter

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. 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.

Made Smarter was formed following a nationwide review into UK manufacturing that recommended key changes: more ambitious leadership; greater innovation in developing new technologies; faster implementation and adoption of these technologies; and deeper understanding of the sector’s skills requirements. We’ll be boosting digital skills in the sector, bringing businesses and R&D together to develop new technology, and helping makers embrace new digital tools. In doing so, we’ll inspire the next industrial revolution and make the UK a leader in digital technologies. For more information, visit www.madesmarter.uk