Blog and Articles
Articles Written for the Shop Floor, Not the Boardroom
Practical reads for people who run metal processing, distribution, and manufacturing operations. No generic thought-leadership. No consultancy waffle. Just articles written for people who care about what actually happens on the shop floor.
Our articles cover the decisions that actually matter for metals businesses:
- How to cut scrap without replacing your equipment
- How to stop chasing mill certificates before every delivery
- How to get real inventory visibility without a six-figure ERP bill
- How AI is changing the economics of metals manufacturing
You’ll also find articles on industry terminology, compliance standards, and the wider context of digitalisation for metals SMEs. Turns out knowing what’s broken is step one.
If you’re looking for a specific subject, browse by topic or category. The glossary is a good starting point if you’re new to the terminology your customers use on purchase orders.
Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference highlights
- Ruth Kearney
- Blog , Archive
- Sep 15, 2024
- Updated
It was great to contribute to the Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition Titanic Exhibition Centre last week. I was there to talk about our approach to greener software, to promote Strada and to network with the wider manufacturing community.
NHQ attend Databricks's Data + AI World Tour
- Richard Jackson
- Blog , Archive
- Sep 12, 2024
- Updated
We were invited to attend Databricks’s “Data + AI World Tour” event, held at the ExCel in London, UK, on 11th Sept 2024. The data platform Databricks has been an increasingly valuable tool for Nightingale HQ’s software development.
South West Manufacturing Digitalisation Series
- Ruth Kearney
- Archive , Blog , News
- Oct 26, 2023
- Updated
South West Manufacturing Digitalisation Series from RDI Hub in the South West of Ireland.
Manufacturing excellence with Astellas Ireland
- Ruth Kearney
- Archive , Blog
- Mar 14, 2023
- Updated
Learning from manufacturing best practice with Astellas Ireland.
Change is hard but equipping your teams with the right tools makes it easier
- Ruth Kearney
- Archive , Blog
- Dec 21, 2021
- Updated
As we see the back of 2021, another year of disruption and change, I reflect on organisational practices and share some thoughts on how to implement more effective change. Change is hard, so best to start with small doses of change.
Industry 4.0 in a post-Covid world
- Will Harris
- Archive , Blog
- Nov 23, 2021
- Updated
Mckinsey’s report on manufacturing operations after Covid-19 takes an interesting look into the potential adoption pathways companies will take on the way to Industry 4.0 and some of the ways technology is changing the sector. It also identifies what ’lighthouses’, organisations successfully transforming at scale, are doing to make them succeed.
6 board-level agenda items and how AI can help
- Steph Locke
- Blog , Archive
- Nov 23, 2021
- Updated
Persistent COVID-19 uncertainty, disruptive technologies, and supply chain challenges are some of the big concerns facing manufacturing CEOs and corporate leaders right now. However, despite uncertainty, we are seeing some promising trends around automation and transforming processes from the back office to the factory floor. Here are the top six board-level agenda items and a look into how AI can help.
The State of AI and learning from Transformers
- Ruth Kearney
- Archive , Blog
- Nov 2, 2021
- Updated
Deloitte’s State of AI in the Enterprise report is an enlightening read. This edition focuses on becoming an ‘AI fueled’ organisation. The results come from a survey conducted on 2,875 executives from across the Americas, Europe and Asia. They separated companies into four groups based on their success with AI implementation and identified what was driving the success of the highest performers.
Procurement best practice – what manufacturers can learn
- Will Harris
- Archive , Blog , Learning
- Oct 27, 2021
- Updated
The National Audit Office (NAO) report on ‘Managing the Commercial Lifecycle’ is a great guide to improving your own procurement processes. Here we share some interesting findings and the key areas to make changes in.
Investing in digital technology lowers future operating costs for manufacturers
- Steph Locke
- Archive , Blog
- Oct 19, 2021
- Updated
There are so many benefits to going digital with your business including cutting your future operating costs and becoming more sustainable. We’ve taken a look at the UKRI’s report on productivity opportunities and risks in a transformative, low-carbon and digital age which looks at this in more detail.
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