Steph Locke

5 Workflow Problems AI Solves in Metal Production

How AI reduces downtime, improves quality, optimises processes, manages inventory and automates compliance in metal production to cut costs and boost efficiency.

Top ERP Strategies for Supply Chain Risks

Modern ERP and AI improve inventory visibility, supplier risk assessment, predictive analytics and compliance for UK metals manufacturers.

How AI Transforms CRM for Metals Manufacturing

How AI-powered CRM unifies ERP, IoT and CRM data to automate tasks, improve demand forecasting, cut costs and strengthen customer relationships.

AI Tools for Production Scheduling in Metals

AI scheduling tools cut scrap, lower costs, automate mill-certificate handling and enable real-time production planning for metals manufacturers.

AI in ERP: Smarter Production Scheduling

AI-powered ERP transforms metals production scheduling with real-time data, cutting planning time and scrap while boosting capacity and on-time delivery.

AI‑Powered Flow Optimisation: What Leading Metals Producers Know That You Don't

How AI boosts metals production: real-time control and planning that raise throughput, cut energy and emissions, and outline steps to pilot.

AI in Steel Inventory: Case Studies and Results

Case studies on AI in steel inventory: vision systems, predictive analytics and logistics that cut costs, reduce downtime and improve stock accuracy.

Cloud-Based vs On-Premise Manufacturing Software: A Comparison

Compare cloud and on‑premise manufacturing software across cost, deployment, customisation, scalability, security and remote access to decide the best fit.

How to Cut Production Delays with Automated Workflows

AI-driven automated workflows reduce manufacturing downtime by digitising certificates, providing real-time inventory data and cutting manual errors.

10 Signs Your Metal Shop Needs Process Automation

Manual processes are holding many metal shops back—rising costs, quality variation and bottlenecks show it’s time to automate.

Manual vs Digital Inventory Tracking: Which Saves More Time?

Digital inventory tracking cuts time and errors versus manual counts by automating scans, providing real‑time visibility and scalable workflows.

5 Best Practices for Managing Manufacturing Documentation

Standardise, digitise and automate manufacturing records to improve traceability, version control and audit readiness.

The Complete Guide to Streamlining Metal Fabrication Operations

How UK metal fabricators can reduce waste, cut lead times and boost output using workflow mapping, KPIs, AI scheduling and automation.

Mill Test Certificate Management: Common Questions Answered

Clear answers on Mill Test Certificates: what MTCs contain, EN 10204 types, verification, common issues and AI automation with digital audit trails.

7 Ways to Reduce Paperwork in Metal Manufacturing

Seven digital strategies—AI docs, MES, cloud inventory, ERP and e-signatures—to cut paperwork, speed production and improve compliance.

How to Automate Mill Certificate Management in 5 Steps

Reduce errors and speed compliance by automating mill certificate handling: assess processes, choose technology, integrate, validate, and train teams.

Compliance Management Checklist for Metals Manufacturers

Comprehensive checklist for metals manufacturers covering UK REACH, import/export rules, ISO standards, supplier qualification, traceability, emissions and digital tools.

Wales Tech Week 2025: Connecting, Showcasing, and Inspiring Welsh Innovation

Wales Tech Week 2025 brought together leading figures from the Welsh tech ecosystem to connect, share insights, and celebrate innovation. Highlights included discussions on digitalisation in manufacturing, honest conversations about the role of failure in entrepreneurship, and a strong focus on collaboration and funding for the sector. Nightingale HQ was recognised with the Best Greentech Award for its work in sustainable manufacturing, reflecting the event’s emphasis on impactful technology and the growing global reputation of Welsh tech.

Nightingale HQ team attend UK Metals Expo

Nightingale HQ team attend UK Metals Expo on 10 and 11 September at the NEC, Birmingham.

Resilient supply chains: Microsoft technologies to assist with productivity and efficiency

Manufacturers can adapt to disruptions successfully, ensuring business continuity during distress, by building a resilient supply chain based on Microsoft tech. By modernising your supply chain you can optimise your workforce, build agile planning and distribution processes, enhance supply chain visibility, and maximise asset uptime and efficiency.

6 board-level agenda items and how AI can help

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.

Digitising your factory floor is hard

Digitising your factory floor is hard, that’s why we try to accelerate digital transformation in other operational areas. Focusing on helping workers, modernising core functions like Finance, and supporting your growth, gives you the opportunity to demonstrate value whilst gaining digital technology maturity. It’s hard to rapidly change, acquire expertise, and digitise the factory floor at the same time. By working in areas that are easier to change you can free up vital staff time to dedicate to the harder challenges.

Investing in digital technology lowers future operating costs for manufacturers

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.

What manufacturing SME's need to know about IIoT and cyber-security

IIoT can have benefits for manufacturing businesses of all types and sizes. It can be particularly useful in providing transparency and tracking along the supply chain but that’s just the start. To stay safe, it is vital you develop strong cyber security practices around IIoT. Here we offer some best practices and how to approach them.

UK Government supports AI approaches to manufacturing sustainability

The UK government released its AI strategy on 22nd September 2021. We’ve looked at the report and broken down how this will affect the manufacturing industry going forward. We outline some key areas such as skills shortages, addressing net-zero challenges, and new product development as well as the next steps manufacturers can take.

Digitalising your business processes to be more sustainable

Digitalising your business processes might help you run a more sustainable, environmentally friendly manufacturing operation. Simply digitising your records and reducing physical resource usage is an excellent place to begin. Taking it a step further and re-engineering the way you work to be smoother, more integrated, and less data entry dependent while digitalising can save you even more compute power (and therefore energy!).

Cloud Migration: important for a green future

Cloud providers like Microsoft are making their data centres greener and carbon neutral, whereas your in-house servers and associated resources are burning energy. As well as potentially lowering your compute costs, revitalising your IT infrastructure, reducing risk, the green advantages make a cloud move a must for any manufacturer with sights on a net zero goal.

Design, manufacture, and ship products more sustainably with AI

AI can help manufacturers design, make, and ship products more sustainably. From lowering waste through defect detection, to generative design to reduce prototype waste, to smart energy management and predictive maintenance, manufacturers can use AI to make a big impact.

What does NatWest's Future Fit report say about digital transformation for manufacturers

The latest Future Fit report focuses on “trailblazers” and what makes them different to other organisations. It covers the importance of innovation and of current developments in the industry such as digital transformation.

Can AI get you sued? How AI impacts IP

AI and intellectual property is a minefield. The UK Intellectual Property Office recently completed a public consultation to inform their policy and here I bring you thoughts and highlights.

What Data Integration Maturity Level Are You? - No-Code Serverless or Code-First

Data integration capabilities are a key part of your ability to make data-driven decisions. Depending on where your business it at, using no-code tools or code-first tools will be right for you.

Manufacturers - you need DataOps

DataOps also helps you build a more agile digital supply chain by enabling analytic teams to automate their processes, which in turn reduces cycle time on data analytics. Getting this data infrastructure right is critical for helping Operational Technology (OT) get the most out of real-time data to optimise processes. DataOps is part of your ability to move quickly in the digital space. It should be part of your overall approach to your developer velocity and can help staff to discover the data they need to drive insightful improvements in your organisation.

Investing in tools scales staff productivity

Businesses with the highest productivity experience more stable and consistent revenue growth, as well as being able to adapt more quickly. With less waste and more staff power focussed on growth, manufacturers with an investment in tooling are more operationally resilient.

Chatbots explained

Chatbots are computer programmes that provide a (primarily) text-based interface to help people access information or perform tasks. Chatbot conversations can help you improve customer service whilst reducing demand on staff. They can process text using natural language processing and build a conversational workflow to support a intuitive interaction with people.

How to move your operations to the cloud - what you need to know

You’ve probably heard of the cloud but what is it and how can it help your business? Learn how moving to the cloud can help you innovate and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to tech.

Tools matter for Developer Velocity

Businesses with the highest developer velocity experience the highest revenue growth, according to new research by Microsoft and McKinsey. Read on to understand how tools impact developer velocity and what the business case is for investing in them.

Developer Velocity

Businesses with the highest developer velocity experience the highest revenue growth, according to new research by Microsoft and McKinsey. Read on to understand the factors impacting developer velocity and how you can start building a strategy to improve this vital area of technology in your business.

Manufacturers: Are you digitising or digitalising?

To digitise your business means to perform traditionally analogue processes or actions digitally. Rather than a few changes here and there, digitalisation involves a change in how to the process is performed to better leverage technology.

Microsoft Build 2021 announcements for manufacturers

Microsoft Build 2021 is kicking off and whilst it tends not to be as announcement heavy as Microsoft Ignite, it’s still got some great things for manufacturers to pay attention to. This post gives a quick run down of the most important stuff you need to read about. Enjoy!

Smart Manufacturing is all about Real-Time Data Analytics

Manufacturers are spending far too much time on data entry or looking at stale data which is hindering growth. Here are seven ways real-time data can turn things around.

Announcing GoSmarter In A Day

Our GoSmarter In A Day workshops solve one problem like processing Accounts Payable incoming invoices to demonstrate the value such automation can bring.

Reports supported by AI & automation

Data compilation for reports created by experts is usually more time consuming than writing the valuable content. Using AI and no-code automation techniques, data collation and visualisation can be greatly streamlined, letting staff focus on the value.

Checklists make everything better - including responsible AI!

Building a checklist to cover the six key areas of responsible AI can drive better outcomes and returns for your business. Start with the list of areas as a discussion aid and grow your checklist with use.

Using AI to make your warehouse operations smarter

You can benefit from lower overheads by using AI to manage stock levels, whilst building a more scalable warehouse operation that is safer for employees, using AI.

Detecting defects with AI - a computer vision challenge

With the pace of output on machines ever increasing, quality control becomes a lot tougher. Using AI to detect defective products sooner can help scale your quality processes and avoid significant stops.

EU to recruit world-class AI researchers

While Europe is a global leader in academic research of human-centric artificial intelligence we lag behind when it comes to putting research into practice.

Microsoft Ignite 2021 announcements for manufacturers

Microsoft Ignite is kicking off and as usual it's packed with announcements. This post gives folks in manufacturing a quick run down of the most important stuff they need to read about. Enjoy!

Artificial Intelligence growth in the EU

This article is part of an ongoing series - link no longer works sharing insights into the development of AI policy in Europe. In November last year we were appointed to the European DIGITAL SME Alliance focus group on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and as an 'AI intensive' SME, we provide feedback on the adoption of AI technologies in relation with the impact of EU initiatives on the topic.

Building operational resilience in times of crisis

Operational resilience has always been a key factor in business success, but not enough businesses consider their ability to take stress in turbulent times until it is too late. Covid-19 has been a huge wake-up call for many, presenting uncertainty and disruption.

Ethical AI monitoring in the post-COVID workplace

With the excellent news of the first COVID-19 vaccines being administered in the UK, things could be back to normal by next winter. In the meantime, we must remain vigilant and take precautions such as monitoring temperatures, social distancing, and other health and safety measures, to keep the impact of the virus to a minimum. AI can help to enforce these safety precautions, however ethical conduct and compliance with data privacy regulations remain imperative.

Breaking the chain with contact tracing

There is no doubt that contact tracing apps can play a key role in crisis management especially as social distancing measures are lifted in countries across Europe and the rest of the world. In this guest blog, Dr Iain Keaney talks about solving the contact tracing privacy paradox with decentralised AI. He outlines how decentralised AI can preserve anonymity and solve privacy issues, not just in contact tracing, but as a business standard for AI, going forward.

Social listening for small businesses

Our latest webinar was on social listening. Social listening is monitoring social media for feedback, mentions, or relevant chatter to gain insight or act. The price tag on this capability is at least $150 per month putting it outside the budget of a small business. With #GoSmarter, we're introducing a practically free and highly extendable option for small businesses.

Understanding the techniques behind AI in manufacturing

It’s no secret that the disruption of Industry 4.0 and the challenges presented by Covid-19 have been a push for manufacturers to evaluate digital transformation and consider going smart with AI in their factories. This article, adapted from the webinar shared below, is aimed at manufacturers who are interested in the techniques, data infrastructure and processes needed to support building internal data science & AI intellectual property.

The Historian and AI Webinar (AIFightsBack)

AI for manufacturing has huge potential. As well as clear AI use cases like robotics and automation, the wealth of data being consolidated into industrial time series via historian appliances presents an opportunity for further AI applications. Using the data being consolidated, we can build early warning systems for critical issues, optimise maintenance programs, and improve processes.

AI in Manufacturing (presentation, video, and quick guide)

Yesterday, we ran our first AI in Manufacturing webinar, in association with the Irish Centre of Business Excellence. You can grab the slides, read up on the topic, and/or watch the webinar below.

Augmenting Customer Services with Chatbots

Last week we kicked off our AIFightsBack series to help businesses understand how AI can be used to support a safe and productive business during COVD-19 and beyond. The slides and video are now available.

Announcement: Ruth Kearney appointed Product & Commercial Director

I'm delighted to announce the appointment of Ruth Kearney as our Product & Commercial Director here at Nightingale HQ. Ruth brings a wealth of commercial and brand experience to the team and will be helping drive our commercial strategy and AI Learn product.

Low ROI from AI is a people problem, not a tech problem

The top blockers to effective AI use in businesses aren't technical issues. They're people problems.

AI Winters and hype

This is not the first time AI has been all the rage in the business world. In particular, AI was big in the eighties with solutions called expert systems. Will AI be a passing fad now?

The AI Hierarchy of Needs meets the Minimum Viable Product

Two of my favourite pyramids are the Data Science Hierarchy of Needs and the Minimum Viable Product. Combining them helps us build effective artificial intelligence (AI) proof of concepts in businesses. It also supports building AI competency at the same time as demonstrating Return on Investment (ROI).

Mastering AI in manufacturing: the three levels of competency

Manufacturers have been facing continual pressure to improve their technology base, reduce costs, and improve quality since the Industrial Revolution. Manufacturers are used to change but not every manufacturer can or will embrace it at the same rate. Also, no manufacturer jumps straight to being an expert at the new thing they're needing to adopt. The same goes for Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an emerging change in manufacturing.

How to score your first AI quick wins: Knowledge Worker Productivity

When you choose to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your organisation or department there can be a lot of resistance and uncertainty, which is why it is important to start small and win fast. By taking on smaller fail-proof projects, you can build up confidence among your team as they begin to see the value of the projects and stop fearing failure and resisting changes. In this project we discuss how to boost knowledge worker productivity, something employees will be able to track themselves and see the true value of. Building momentum in this way will pave the way for greater successes down the line.

Announcing our Research Panel

We want to help more than one million businesses adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in the next five years. To do that we need your help. We're working on the world's biggest dataset on AI adoption via what we collect on our site, but qualitative data from knowledgeable people can be extremely valuable. As such we're launching our research panel to engage with people around the world.

Most Innovative Woman in Artificial Intelligence - UK

Acquisition International is Proud to Announce the Winners of the 2019 Influential Businesswoman Awards

Decoding the hype around AI

As the powers and capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) expand and evolve, the same cannot be said for the general understanding of the topic. This has resulted in AI becoming a blanket term that gets misused and thrown around for all things, including things that it’s not. People also have very unrealistic expectations of what AI can do leading in some cases to fear and paranoia over things like potential world domination, in others, disillusion when the AI doesn’t perform to the high standards they were hoping.

Steph Locke

Posts by Steph Locke