ADMC Facilities
The Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) is to be built with a range of flexible spaces and facilities to help businesses embrace automation and to support their journey towards improved productivity and sustainability. These facilities will be accompanied by impartial expertise provided by the ADMC team and its partners and members to guide and advise on this improvement journey.
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Key to the work of the ADMC will be its ability to adapt to automation needs and opportunities and provide bespoke strategies, improvement plans and automation solutions that can be implemented either within a client's facilities or, initially, within the ADMC itself. The ADMC will also be able to aid your people to develop the skills required to implement automation project successfully as well as operate and maintain it in the future. Some of the education and training programmes are available now, delivered by our partners Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University.
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The facilities that the ADMC will provide are outlined under the headings below. The equipment in the facilities will be provided by ADMC partners and/or purchased by ADMC to meet themed demand from businesses members. The list of facilities to be provided is under development and there is opportunity for you to influence this, whether it be linked to automated manufacturing, automated distribution and logistics, or both.
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Please contact the ADMC team should you wish to get involved in this facilities and equipment selection process via info@theadmc.co.uk
Automated Manufacturing Facilities
The ADMC plans to provide a flexible facility for manufacturing businesses to explore, innovate, create, and reduce the risk of implementing an automated manufacturing project, with the aim to address productivity improvement needs and reduce costs. A range of equipment will be available to undertake this work. Some of this will be made available from equipment suppliers and systems integrators who are members of the ADMC, including those partners showcasing their systems in the centre. The ADMC will also purchase production and assembly equipment to complement its offer to partners and members. Please contact the ADMC team should you wish to get involved in this facilities and equipment selection process via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk Typical of the work the ADMC will undertake with businesses are: Providing opportunities for members to review the benefits from automation in their field, including observing demonstrations based on the facilities and equipment housed within the centre. Testing and validating manufacturing automation solutions, either on the equipment available in the centre or by building a bespoke automation cell within it. The latter allows for the development and proofing of new processes, bespoke to specific business needs, without disrupting the existing manufacturing facilities of those businesses. Providing access to and involvement with manufacturing automation research and development being undertaken in the centre by its staff, its partner Nottingham Trent University, and other research and technology development organisations. Providing pathways to sources of manufacturing automation funding to undertake development projects within the Centre, working with the likes of Innovate UK, the UK lead for innovation nationally (https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/). Allowing colleagues to generate the skills and expertise to install, operate and maintain the automated manufacturing cell away from their existing workplace. There may be opportunities to undertake some of this work on your premises whilst the ADMC is being built. If you have a manufacturing automation opportunity to discuss, please contact the ADMC to arrange a review visit via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk Further Education and Higher Education certified/accredited courses will be delivered by the ADMC’s education and training strategic partners Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and West Notts College (WNC). They will also offer access to a much broader Level 2 to 8 course prospectus to provide a holistic education and employability package to businesses. ​ Separately, non-certified industry focused courses will also be delivered by the ADMC itself, as well as by selected third party members.
Automated Distribution and Logistics Facilities
The ADMC plans to provide a flexible facility for businesses to explore, innovate, create, and reduce the risk of implementing an automated distribution and logistics project to address your improvement needs. This reflects the growth in this type of activity in the UK along with the need to improve productivity within this area or work. The ADMC is believed to be the first independent innovation centre in this field in the UK. A range of equipment will be available to undertake this work. Some of this will be made available from equipment suppliers and systems integrators, including those partners and members showcasing their systems in the centre. Alternatively, the ADMC will also purchase automated distribution and logistics equipment to complement its offer to businesses and allow the simulation of methodologies and proving of technology solutions. Please contact the ADMC team should you wish to get involved in this facilities and equipment selection process via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk Typical of the work the ADMC will undertake with business members are: Providing opportunities for businesses to review the benefits offered by automation in their field, including observing demonstrations based on the facilities and equipment housed within the Centre. Simulating, testing and validating distribution and logistics automation solutions either on the equipment available in the Centre or by building a bespoke system within it. The latter allows for the development and proofing of new or amended processes without disrupting the existing distribution and logistics facilities of member companies Providing access to and involvement with distribution and logistics research and development being undertaken in the Centre by its staff, its partner Nottingham Trent University, and other research and technology development organisations. Providing pathways to sources of distribution and logistics automation funding to undertake development projects within the Centre, working with the likes of Innovate UK, the UK lead for innovation nationally (https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/). Allowing colleagues to generate the skills and expertise to install, operate and maintain the automated distribution and logistics facility away from their existing workplace. There may be opportunities to undertake some of this work on your premises whilst the ADMC is being built. If you have a distribution and logistics automation opportunity to discuss, please contact the ADMC to arrange a review visit via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk
Software Suite
Ultimately all automated equipment and facilities requires software on which to operate. Supporting this, software tools exist that simulate the automated solution and go someway to programming it before hardware is assembled. Separately, there is also a need for some businesses to understand areas such as digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and other emerging technologies. It is not always easy to understand how these technologies may impact on their operations. The ADMC plans to develop a software suite using member products and purchased systems to support its wider manufacturing, distribution and logistics facilities as well as support it members to develop automated solutions that are fit for its purpose. The suite will allow members to access: A range of modelling and simulation software tools to commence the building of an automated solution. A selection of programming languages on which to work and with opportunities to simulate the programming of the machinery and equipment. Expertise to support the software development process and guide opportunities presented by emerging technologies. Opportunities to train their employees, either through dedicated short courses or through accredited teaching and learning courses provided by the ADMC’s partner institutions, Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University. Some of the education and training programmes are available now, delivered by our partners Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University. There are still opportunities to influence the decisions regarding what the software suite contains. Please contact the ADMC team should you wish to get involved in this process via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk
Showcasing Areas
The ADMC is being designed to provide dedicated space for automation suppliers and systems integrators to showcase and demonstrate their machines, wider equipment, and systems to their potential client base and wider ADMC membership. This will represent a select cohort of strategic partners and members of the ADMC. Further details of the partners involved, and the configuration of their facility, will be provided in due course. There are still opportunities for automation suppliers and systems integrators to be considered as showcasing and demonstration partners. Please contact the ADMC team should you wish to be discuss this opportunity via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk
Training, Conferencing and Exhibition Space
The ADMC is a groundbreaking facility and one that will make an impression when visited. It will provide flexible training, conferencing, and exhibition space for up to 200 people. It will also have a breakout space and a large informal meeting and networking area adjacent to its entrance. The ADMC will provide an ideal location for companies wanting to align their brand with the ADMC and to create new strategies, communicate with their colleagues, develop their team members, exhibit their products, sell their services, undertake education conferences, and provide networking events. All of this will take place alongside the backdrop of cutting-edge automation technology. More details of the opportunities to use of the ADMC will be provided as its construction advances. Should you have any immediate needs, these could be facilitated by our partners Ashfield District Council, West Nottinghamshire College and Nottingham Trent University. Please contact the ADMC team should you wish to be introduced to any of these partners via andy.dean@ashfield.gov.uk
