In this very challenging period, new technologies and processes are vital to help companies recover and diversify their business. The manufacturing industry needs to be transformed and modernised to be able to face the economic and health crisis that impacts it deeply. In order to rise to the challenges of tomorrow and remain competitive, companies need to develop new strategies, target new sectors, enhance their productivity and efficiency, rethink and optimise their value chains and make their supply chains more reliable.
The second edition of the Smart Manufacturing event will address the following topics, technologies and processes:
- Value and supply chains
- Sustainability
- Businesses and strategy
Why participate?
Participants will obtain information on EU trends in terms of digitalisation and sustainability and get a deeper understanding of how the manufacturing industry needs to be transformed to be able to embrace future technological and environmental challenges. The event is also an opportunity to learn about how Luxembourg companies that have implemented smart processes. A digital matchmaking platform will offer you the opportunity to liaise with providers offering services supporting your transformation.
Objectives
- Provide information on the EU’s key strategic orientations for supporting the transformation of the manufacturing sector
- Cover a large spectrum of sectors under the umbrella of smart manufacturing
- Address issues related to sustainability, businesses, value chains and production
- Provide information on digital and innovative technologies available in Luxembourg or the Greater Region
- Inform companies about Ministry of the Economy state aids provided to support the industry
- Share information within the manufacturing sector, for both small and large companies
- Digital matchmaking: connect offer and demand of services supporting company transformation or share experience and best practices between peers
Webinar 1 – Introduction to EU trends: Digitalization & Sustainability
Monday 16 November 2020
Adopting smart, digital technologies is essential for the manufacturing industry: they can improve aspects such as productivity and supply chain management while also helping companies become more sustainable and align their production with the principles of the circular economy. This webinar will present European trends in the fields of digitalisation and sustainability and provide an in-depth understanding of how the manufacturing industry needs to be transformed to be able to embrace future technological and environmental challenges.
Dr Juha Heikkilä, Head of Unit at the European Commission’s DG CONNECT, will speak about digitalisation and robotics. The Process4Planet Partnership will also share insights on how to transform the process industry in order to achieve climate neutrality and circular economy goals
Webinar 2 – Smart Manufacturing processes
Tuesday 17 November 2020
Digitalisation and automation have enormous potential to improve manufacturing processes. This webinar focuses on robotic process automation (RPA) for production lines and will provide concrete examples of how to apply automated quality controls and integrate robotics in the construction sector. You will also hear about how research projects can facilitate the digital transformation process of manufacturing industry.
3D scanning specialist Artec 3D will share its experience of implementing an in-house automatic PCB assembly line and describe the challenges and trade-offs for the company. Construction company Stugalux will provide a real life example of using robots on construction sites and discuss how the robotic industry could better meet the needs of the building sector. The company will also talk about its collaboration with the Automation & Robotics Research Group of the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT).
Webinar 3 – Smart value & supply chains
Wednesday 18 November 2020
Smart tools and technologies are essential to simplify the everyday life of manufacturing companies. This webinar will show how they can be used to optimise the tracking and tracing of products and enhance supply chains and why they are a must to answer today’s challenges of matching supply and demand. The session will also showcase how the development of local value chains can be a competitive asset to overcome the current economic and health crisis.
Smart bottle cap specialist Guala Closure will discuss the role of smart packaging and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the wine and spirits value chain and highlight how IoT solutions can facilitate supply chain management through tracking and tracing, authentication and certification, and information about consumer engagement.
Medical equipment company B Medical Systems will present its new strategy for increasing the flexibility of its supply chain, which has been put to the test during the COVID-19 crisis, by implementing smart tools and systems as well as by changing some supply chain paradigms.
Champ Cargo Systems and Vallair will speak about how they are digitalising air cargo processes in order to maximise their local value chains and provide new capabilities for a post-crisis global trade recovery.
Webinar 4 – Smart Eco-technologies
Thursday 19 November 2020
Smart manufacturing is today one of the key solutions for the implementations of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals in Luxembourg and in Europe. The increased awareness about sustainability issues results in changes in markets and customer behaviour and a growing demand for sustainable products and services. This demand is further boosted by the development of smart cities and eco districts.
This webinar will highlight smart and sustainable solutions for smart cities, with a particular emphasis on water treatment, energy production and distribution and the optimised construction of smart cities. Innovative water and fertilizers extraction equipment producer AMA MUNDU Technologies, sustainable building expert Steligence by ArcelorMittal and sustainable energy provider Encevo will provide concrete examples and insights.
Webinar 5 – Smart Business strategies
Friday 20 November 2020
This webinar will address how digitalisation can transform different functions of a company – sales, marketing, customer support, finance and so on – in a way that generates added value for the company itself as well as for its customers. The session will showcase expertise and solutions in the fields of artificial intelligence support and new business models and present new tools for improving customer experience.
Artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Aividence will speak about how AI can be used to support the CFO function. Deloitte will share insights about new business models, and electricity and lighting expert Minusines will present its contactless desk set up to provide a new customer experience.