The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) is committed to helping food and drink businesses boost productivity through Lean techniques and smart capital investment.
In partnership with Opportunity North East, Aberdeenshire Council, and Scottish Enterprise, this event brings together practical insights and live demonstrations. As well as this, attendees will receive a tour of the cutting-edge ONE Seedpod facility, which is designed to support innovation and growth in the sector.
Whether you're a small artisan producer or a large-scale manufacturer, this event will show you how Lean and automation can help you scale efficiently, reduce waste, and stay competitive.
Event Schedule: 09:00-13:30
Collaborative Robot Demonstration
See automation in action and explore how robotics can be integrated into your production line.
Automation Possibilities for Your Business
Hear directly from Scottish Enterprise’s automation expert on how new technologies can be tailored to your needs.
Interactive Lean Session
Discover how Lean principles – like line balancing and layout optimisation – can prepare your business for automation.
Explore ONE Seedpod
Learn about the facilities and support available, including food-safe manufacturing units, NPD kitchens, and pilot plant capabilities.
Industry Networking
Connect with other producers over lunch and hear how they’ve overcome common challenges in scaling and modernising operations.
Why It Matters
Scotland’s food and drink sector faces growing pressures – from rising costs to labour shortages. Historically, automation was only accessible to high-volume producers. But today’s solutions are more flexible, affordable, and scalable than ever before.
Lean techniques offer low-cost, high-impact ways to improve productivity. In fact, deploying Lean is often the first step toward successful automation.
This event will help you:
- implement basic improvements through engagement and layout design
- understand how automation can fit your scale and budget access support from ONE, SMAS, and Scottish Enterprise
Spaces are limited. Priority will be given to Food and Drink Manufacturers. Book now to secure your spot!
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