Major Manufacturing Conference Coming to Town
I’m looking forward to speaking at Manufacturing Expo Wales, a flagship manufacturing event bringing together manufacturers, technology providers, and innovation leaders from across Wales and the UK. It’s a great opportunity for us to meet with local Welsh manufacturers and businesses in the metal space and to re-connect with industry friends.
The conference takes place for the first time in Cardiff and focuses on the future of manufacturing, with sessions covering digital transformation, productivity, sustainability, skills, and the adoption of advanced technologies across industrial sectors. It is an important forum for practical conversations about how manufacturing organisations can remain competitive while navigating rapid technological and economic change.
Turning Digital Ambition into Industrial Advantage
I’ll be speaking on Turning Digital Ambition into Industrial Advantage, a topic that comes directly from our day to day work with manufacturers.
Time & place: 10.20 - 10.40, Digital Transformation and AI Stage
Across the sector, I see huge enthusiasm for AI and digitalisation, but far too many initiatives stall before delivering real operational results. In this session, I’ll share practical insights from working hands on with manufacturing leadership teams to build effective digital and AI strategies. I’ll explore the common barriers that slow progress, from unclear priorities to lack of confidence at leadership level, and how these can be overcome. My focus will be on how clear, prioritised planning grounded in real factory operations helps leaders focus investment, build confidence, and deploy AI in ways that deliver rapid, measurable impact. The aim is to reframe AI from hype into a practical strategic tool that delivers lasting industrial advantage.
AI in Manufacturing From Experiment to Essential
Time and place: 14.20-14.40, Lean/Automation Stage
My co founder and our Head of Product, Steph Locke, will also be speaking at the conference with her session AI in Manufacturing From Experiment to Essential.
Steph’s talk explores how AI is moving beyond pilots and trials to deliver real world impact on the factory floor. Using practical examples from the steel and metals sector, she will show how manufacturers are already using AI to improve efficiency, build resilience, and gain competitive advantage. Cutting through the noise, Steph focuses on what works in practice and how AI can be adopted without disrupting operations, turning experimentation into essential capability.
Panel Building Allies in the World of Manufacturing
Time and place: 12.00 - 12.40 - Investment, Innovation & Infrastructure Stage
Steph and I will also be taking part in a panel discussion titled Building Allies in the World of Manufacturing, which I’ll be chairing. The panel challenges the status quo by showing how active allyship from male colleagues and leaders can unlock real progress for women in manufacturing. It is a practical, honest discussion focused on concrete actions and proven initiatives that organisations can take now to build more inclusive cultures and stronger, more effective teams.
Panel speakers
- Alex Shufflebottom Jones, Mentor and Non Executive Director, former Managing Director of Shufflebottom Limited
- Paul McDonnell, Independent Consultant, Kinetic3
- Ruth Kearney, CEO, Nightingale HQ Chair
- Steph Locke, Co founder and Head of Product, Nightingale HQ
Manufacturing Expo Wales is a great opportunity to share practical experience, learn from others across the sector, and have grounded conversations about the future of industry. If you’re attending, I’d love to see you there and continue the discussion.
For conference details check out Home - Wales Manufacturing & Supply Chain Expo